Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-03-13
!; Hrs. Browns (lIrlry!. 5

newspaper. | wrote up a wedding Of
couple named Brown. Mrs. Brown did
not take kindly TO married life, and after
a few weeks of overindnlgence in stimu-
lants she assembled the golden stairs via
the morphine route. | wrote her biogra-
ply, referring to her as a member of that
circle OF society which finds its mentor in
the police justice. | was rather proud Of
the effort and secured a copy of the pa
per as soon as it came from the press and
viewed the alliterative headline and well
rounded phrases with admiration. After
the paper was distributed about town
took walk down street. As I passed
the Blue Front palace of refreshment
ran across Mike Kelsey, Jack Browns
old partner in crime. He had copy of
the paper in his hand and looked at me
with n rather quizzical expression in his
eyes, remarking:
$50 you're goin away. are your
Rather surprised, said that / had not
heard of it rs yet.
Il thought you were when read this"
he said, pointing to my obituary effort.
"Why?' said rather anxiously.
"Oh, nothin," said Mike.
/ passed on to the Office, too proud to
ask an explanation. but just little bit
uneasy. There was but one door to my
Office, and my desk was across a far cor
ner of the room, so that when | was at
work my back was TO the corner and my
face toward the door.
In the wisdom of fate there was to be
no delay in my first lesson in practical
journalism. As luck would have it. the
train from the west came in about that
hour, and as it slowed up Jack Brown
stepped off the cars, as big and as proud
of his killing record" as ever. Some
kind friend was at the depot and showed
him my literary gem. He read it with
close attention. muttcred a few words not
transferable and started for my office.
l was sitting at my desk writing a let
ter to friend back east, telling him how
well | was getting along and how easy it
was for a man with fair intelligence to
hold his own in the west, when suddenly
l heard the door open. and looked up.
saw in front of me man about six feet
tall. broad shouldered and muscular. His
face was a type that furnishes deputies
for the sheriffs' offices in the west and re-
cruits for the desperate gangs-square
jaw, well developed nose, regular fea-
lures and dropping mustache. There was
nothing in this so far to awaken any emo
tion in my breast, but when l realized
that IL was Jack Brown. that he held in
his right hand a big .45 Colts six shooter
and that the tears were streaming down
his cheeks my heart stood still 1t has
been my experience that one should as
promptly as possible get out of the way
of any determined man with a six shoot
err in his hand. but il. in addition, he is
crying mad" say your prayers, for the
outlook for your safety is more than
gloomy.
Jack advanced toward my desk, a copy
of the paper in his left hand, his gun in
his right. covering me as | sat behind my
desk. pale and motionless.
did you write this?" he demanded.
knew what he had reference to with
out further plans or specifications. 1t
was my literary gem. | made an effort
at a sickly smile, intended to be concilia-
tory, and after swallowing two or three
big Jumps in my throat l managed to
say:
"Well, I-I-work on the paper you
know. and the paper is responsible for
what is published in it."
None of your - palaver" said Jack.
81 want TO know who wrote that. I'm
goin to kill the man that did" And he
Edlstu tut VI lis sun to"aAb mt
| was thinking. thought so hard that
my head ached for hours afterward. |
finally decided that had but one chance
for life, and said:
"You know Ed Smith owns this paper.
and he stands good for everything pub
lished."
where is hep demanded Jack. I'D
ruther kill him anyhow, cos he's always
claimed to be my friend, and this shows
he's liar"
With a realization in my soul that the
crisis had passed, rose from my chair
and said:
Hes at home. You know where his
house is?'
Yes" said Jack. II know where his
house is, and that is where I'm goin now,
and I'll kill him in his own door in sight
of his wife. He insulted mine after she
was dead, and no man will do thing like
that when a woman's dead. it's no matter
il she did do wrong. She's entitled to be
let alone, and I'll see that she is" And
he was gone like flash out of the door.
/ Immediately ran up the street in the
opposite direction, intent upon carrying
out my hastily conceived plan. | rushed
into a store the owner of which was an
influential business man and well &C.
quainted with everybody. l explained
the situation and told him to go around
the block in the opposite direction, meet
Jack Brown and detain him while |
warned Ed Smith. He realized the sit
nation, as he knew the man, and did as
told him. | ran up to Smiths house and
told him what was the matter. Fortu-
nately his horse and buggy were hitched
in front of the door. He lost no time,
but got in and drove furiously out of
town. l started back to the Office feeling
fairly easy in mind. In the distance
saw my friend the merchant and my
would be slayer walking rapidly up and
down the back streets arm in arm.
Jacks gun was in its holster, and knew
the danger was over.
That night the merchant came around
to the Office and shook hands with me.
Jack has left on the evening train," he
said. you've had narrow escape,
young man, and I'm mighty glad there
was no trouble, but let me tell you it's q
mighty Sight better to sacrifice a good sto-