Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-10-01
TRUNK.


his urban needs. There were few ar
ticles of jewelry, which he put rclig-
iOusly aside. There We're some letters
which seemed to be Of a purely busi-
ness character. There were few da-
guerreotypes OF pretty faces, one of
which was singularly fascinating to
him. But there was another, Of a
young man, which startled him with
it's marvellous resemblance to himself!
In fash of intelligence he understood
it all now. It was the likeness of the
former owner Of the trunk, for whom
the assistant had actually mistaken
him! He glanced hurriedly at the en-
velopes Of the letters. They were ad-
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. 1t was yet too early
to find the dry goods trader olsen
gagged; perhaps the consciousness Of a
more decent, civilized garb emboldened
him to mingle more freely with stran-
gers and he entered the saloon. He
was scarcely abreast Of one Of the
faro tables when man leaped up with
an oath and discharged revolver full
4 tn 1,{e 20 11,o& De
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 look of astonish-
ment came into. the furious eyes of his
adversary, and the mans grasp me-
chanically relaxed. The half-freed pis-
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 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" He
lifted Flint's limp and empty hands,
and then pointed to the dead man, who
still grasped the weapon. Gomez! He
caught the arm of Flint and dragged
him into the street.
But" stammered the Mortified Flint,
| as he was borne along, what does it
| all mean? What made that man at
tack me?"
II reckon it was q case Of shooting
| on sight, Mr.. Fowler; but he missed it
by not waiting to see if you were
armed. 1t wasn't the square thing,
! and you're all right with the crowd
now, whatever he may have had agin
| you.''
But" protested the unhappy Flint,
II never laid eyes on the man before,
and my name isn't Fowler"
Flynn halted, and dragged him in a
doorway.
"Who the devil are you?' he asked
roughly.
Briefly, passionately, almost hyster-
| ically, Flint told him his scant story.
An odd expression came over the
! gamblers face.
| 'Look here" he said abruptly, Il
have passed the word to the crowd
| yonder that you are dead broke miner
called Fowler. I allowed that you
| might have had some row with that
| Sydney duck, Australian Pete, in the
mines That satisfied them. If GO
back now and say it's lie, that your
name amt Fowler, and you never knew
| who Pete was, they'll jest pass you
over to the police to deal with you, and
wash their hands of it altogether. You
may prove to the police who you are
and how that id clerk mistook you
but it will give you trouble. And who
is there here who knows who you really
are?''
"NO one."
tThen take my advice and be Fowler
and stick to it! Be Fowler until Fowler
turns up and thanks you for it; fol
you've saved Fowler's life, as Pete
would never have funked and lost his
grit over Fowler as he did with you
and you've right to his name"
He stopped and the same odd super
stitious look came into his dark eyes.
Don't you see what that all means
Well, I'll tell you. You're in the big
gest streak of luck a man ever had
You've got the cards in your OWL
hands! They. spell Fowler Play
4 Fowler first, last and all the time
i Goodnight and good luck, Mr.. Fowler
+ The next morning journal contained
| an account Of the justifable killing Of
the notorious desperate and ex-convict
, Australian Pete, by a courageous
young miner named Fowler.
"An act of firmness and daring" sait
|, fthe Pioneer, "whichwill go far to coun
/ teract the terrorism produced by thos'
: Iawless ruffianS."
In his new suit Of clothes and will
J this paper in his hand, Flint sought tn.
dry goods proprietor-the latter Wa'
Vavaev