The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-15

The door was not locked. for the rCa-
son that there was no lock on it,
Bill entered.
There's an early freight leaves the
depot for Cherrydale at T." he said
IT'S haif-past 6 now. so if you climb
into yOre clothes in a hurry you kin
ketch it."
What for" asked Bangs, sitting up.
You amt partIckler about bein' shot
plumb fun o. holes by Jim Curley. be
ye?" asked Bill gravely.
I'm not going 10 run away" answered
Bangs contemptuOusIy.
''Jim's a crack shot"
I'm not going to run away"
Are you a pretty middlin' fair shoot
er. tenderfoot2"
No, but I'm not going to run away"
BY God. you got grit" exclaimed Bill
admiringly. u m sorry for We. but yet
I'm going 10 help ye out II I kin. 1
amt nOthin agin Jim. but he's got plumb
| the advantage OF we, so 1 allow I'll mis-
In this leetle rumpus a bit myself CT.
| yore clothes on and come buy gun. I'll
give ye a pointer how 10 handle It. but
I can't make crack out OF We in a dav.
Z Git a gait on. and I'll wait down be-
/ low" and Bill hurried out OF the room
/ before Bangs could thank him.
Ten minutes later Bangs descended.
and met Bill and the woman whom he
/ had defended the night before. She ran
up 10 him. bill and I are going 20
save you" she said. You heard what
CurIey said about never lending or Dor
rowing guns. last night? Well, he slept
i
sneak into his room and steal his gun.
/ He raised the Old Harry when he found
/ it out. a while ago, but he doesn't know
where his gun is" and with that she
produced the stolen property from under
! her shawl
/ Just then Bill came up with the infor-
nation that thar want no time to
/ lose"
..Yo're a gritty gal" he said to the
woman, and you got level head. Gin
me the gun: I'll padS it," He took IT
and thrust it into mis- belt. and then TAX
/ ing Bangs by the arm, walked out Of the
door with him.
God bless you and give you luck"
called the girl after him. That was the
last Bangs ever saw OF her.
The two men visited the town gun
store. and Bill selected long ugly look
! ing Colts revolver and a box OF forty
four caliber cartridges. The man who
sold them impaired the information.
] with a significant look AZ Bangs, that
Jim Curley had been in half an hour be
fore and had bought d new gun Bill
smiled Fr!mly, but said nothing. and
nodded 10 Bangs 20 follow him They
walked toward the prairie. neither
speaking for some moments. Bangs no
ticed that the day was dawniny clear and
cold. The sun was low in the heavens.
like big. red ball. He wondered II he
would ever see it set again. and the idea
made him shivcr slightly. He caught up
with his companion, who was a few STEPS
ahead. and asked
Where are We going2"
To the old quarry. to hev a Ieetle gun
practice" replied Bill. Now. listen &c
what I tell ye. Keep yore eyes skinned
for Jim. As soon as ye see him. draw
quick; don't lose no time takin' aim
and shoot till yore guns empty Pull
the trigger easy like Don't yank it,
thatu throw ye out OF aim. When "
pull wore gun. bring it down TO yor,
left arm. like that and Bill crooked
his left elbow in front Of him. and rest.
ed his right fist on the crook. Shoot
as soon as We see his head through tn,
sight he continued. and IL he dom
flop at the first shot aim d Ieetle lower
Bits directions were given in tn,
most matter Of fact manner imaginable
BY the time be had said all he couIJ
think Of on the subject they had com,
upon a sharp decIivity or draw in III,
prairie. On enc side was a rocky sIop,
leading gradually into II, and the ri
ended abruptly at the further end in
7 perpendicular wall OF sandstone Bill
/ was in the lead again and had jus
started down the dehle. when he gave .
sudden start and returned to the level
'Jim's down thar" ne whispered
J Hes come 10 try his new gun. La,
O. down fat in the grass.
He threw himself down on his stom
ach at the very edge Of the decIivitv
' and Bangs followed his example. III
- saw CurIey below. with a shining re
volver in his hand. He was standin,
about twenty feet from the straight wal
5 Of rock. apparently looking for SOM
r mark at which to shoot.
Hes going TO try her at short rang
uTEl, NNlSltLfu Dill Jim got
o. I level head. "
Bangs saw Curley fix his eyes on
narrow, projecting ledge OF rock which
70 hung down like huge red icicIe II,
2 saw him bring his revolver uD until. IN,
! muzzle pointed to heaven. then gradual
{ ly lower il TO a horizontal position
. There was sharp report a puff o
smoke. and then, to the amazement o
both men. Curley reeled and fell heavily
K Bill jumped to his feet
s What the devil does that meau?'' h
| exclaimed. Then he advanced a step o
two. and stopped. mOtioning 10 Bangs {,
. join him. He leaned over and stare,
n ahead al the PROSTATE form. After
S moment. seeing that there was no sigl
- of movement, he trudged boldly dow
. the deiile and stopped over the body.
Plumb dead" he shouted back q
= Bangs. who was descending.
= How on earth did il happier? ." sal,
[ the latter. as he joined him.
? shot hisself," replied BILL pointin