The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-10-16
OUT OF A PIONEERS
TRUNK.


ing Of the better sort and suitable 10
his urban needs There were a few arr
ticles OF lcwelry, which hc put rcilg-
lousy aside. There were some letters
which seemed TO be Of a purely bust
ness character There were a few da-
eucrrcotypes of pretty faces, one of
which was siugularly fascinating TO
him. But there was another. OF a
young man. which startled him with
rs marvellous resemblance 20 himself!
In q flash of intelligence he understood
It all now. II was the likeness of the
former owner of the trunk, for whom
the assistant had actually mistaken
him! lie glanced hurredly at the en-
yclopes of the letters. They were adj
dressed to Shelby Fowler, the name by
which the assistant had just called him.
The mystery was plain now. And for
the present he could fairly accept his
good luck and trust TO later fortune TO
justify himself.
Transformed in his new garb, he left
his lodgings to present himself once
more to his possible employer. His
way led past one of the largest
gambling saloons. Ii was yet too early
to find the dry goods trader olsen
gagged; perhaps the consciousness Of a
more decent, civilized garb emboldened
him to minglC more freely with stran-
gers and he entered the saloon lie
was scarcely abreast of one OF the
faro tables when a man leaped up with
an oath and discharged a revolver full
in his face The shot missed. Before
his unknown assailant could fire again
the astonished Flint had closed with
him and instinctively clutched the
weapon. a brief but violent struggle
ensued. Flint felt his strength failing
him, when suddenly a look of astonish.
! ment came into the furious eyes of his
adversary, and the mans grasp me.
chanlcally relaxed. The half-freed PTS
tol, thrown upward by this movement
was accidentally discharged point
/ blank into his temple and he fell dead
No one in the crowd had stirred or in.
terfered
you've done for French Pete this
time, Mr. Fowler" said a voice at his
elbow. He turned gaspingly and recog
nized his strange benefactor, Flynn
Il call you all to witness, gentlemen
continued the gambler, turning dicta
torily to the crowd, that this man was
first attacked, and was unarmed." III
lifted Flints limp and empty hands
and then pointed to the dead man, whC
still grasped the weapon. Come" HI
caught the arm of Flint and dragged
him into the street.
But" stammered the Mortified Flint
as he was borne along, what does
all mean? What made that man at
tack me?"
Il reckon it was a case of shooting
on sight; Mr.. Fowler; but he missed j
by not waiting to see if you Wer
armed. 1t wasn't the square thing
aud you're all right with the crow,
now, whatever he may have had agil
you"
But" protested the unhappy Flint
Il never laid eyes on the man before
and my name isn't Fowler"
Flynn halted, and dragged him in
doorway.
who the devil are you?" he aske
roughly.
Briefly, passionately, almost hystel
ically, Flint told him his scant stor!
An odd expression came over til
gamblers face.
, LOOK here" he said abruptly,
have passed the word to the crow
yonder that you are dead broke mine
called Fowler l allowed that yo
might have had some row with th3
Sydney duck, Australian Pete, in til
} mines. That satisfied them. If 1 g
back now and say it's a lie, that yor
name amt Fowler and you never kne.
: who Pete was, they'll jest pass yc
l over to the police to deal with you, an
wash their hands Of it altogether. YC
! may prove to the police who you ar
t and how that ID clerk mistook yo
but it will give you trouble. And wi
= is there here who knows who you real
are?"
!. mo one"
(, "Then take my advice and be Fowle
e and stick to it! BE Fowler until Fowl
K turns up and thanks you for it;
p you've saved Fowler's life, as Pc
Il would never have funked and lost L
t grit over Fowler as he did with 70
and you've a right to his name"
s He stopped and the same odd supC
L stitious look came into his dark eyes
nnnn,t r-n11 coo MINT thnt oil 1n,nn n