Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-26
DAILY SHORT STORY
ON THE ROAD TO cENTERVILLE
$4,000
IOrigfnal.l

on a pair OF horses hitched to Il wagon
standing in the road. Turning TO sew
| eral loungers about the bar. he asked:
ANY gent goin' 10 Centerville:'
I'm a-goin' that way. Reckon I'll
60 with you," said lounger.
A medium sized. compactly built man
with a restless eye and springy step
got up from his chair. counted out
some money TO the landlord, said
MORN, gents" TO those present, Went
out with the farmer and got up along
side of him ON the spring seat.
"Much obleeged 10 you for comm
along" remarked the farmer as lie
drove of. There's been Il turrible lot
O. holdups rounds here lately. l don't
like goin' alone very much.
why don't the committee stop ii:
asked the passenger.
stop it. The committee can't do
nothin'''
The passenger chuckled. why not:"
he asked.
"'Cause the works all done by Tom
Flint. | reckon, and il would take Il
dozen committees TO do anything with
him. They say he's mighty slippery"
Tom Flint hasn't done no holdin'
up. He isn't SO low down as that"
"You don't mean it,
"There's nothin' the matter with
Flint. He won't hurt nobody that
don't want 10 hurt him"
How do you know that
"Know it, I'll prove ii. I'm Tom
Flint myself"
The farmer quickly moved TO the
far end of the seat, looked sidewise at
his passenger and exclaimed:
Great Scott
Flint seemed disposed to make good
his words. riding SO peacefully beside
the farmer that the latter gradually
assumed an appearance of confidence.
and the two fell to chatting. Flint
told how lie began his shooting career
and how easy il seemed after he had
killed the first man.
How did il seem when you killed
the last one:" asked the farmer.
Flint WINGED "Tucker?" he said.
"WelI. didn't want to kill Tucker, but
he took my gal away from me-"
Ibid she prefer you to Tucker!'
We'll. no. / can't say she did. but
g long as l couldn't git her l didn't
intend that Tucker should have her.
They saw she tux on mighty bad
when he died"
Again Flint WINGED, but said nothing.
"Was they goin' to be married soon?"
asked the farmer
Married, They was married.
The words were spoken with Il good
deal of feeling. and the countryman
pressed the subject no further. Some
thing was wrong with the names on
the near horse. They We're slipping
back off the collar. The farmer drew
rein.
Reckon I'll git down and tighten
them hames,' he said. "Will you hold
the lines. Mr.. Flint
Instead of holding the lines Flint
jumped down off the seat and went
forward TO fix the names. He tight
ened the strap. the horses neck mean
while being between him and the coun-
tryman. When lie had finished and
looked up at the farmer great change
had come. The ''hayseed' held Il re
volver i'm each hand. and each revolver
was pointed directly at Fiint's head.
Hands up
The astonished Flint did not comply
repeated the order with finger press
ed close on each trigger. Flint raised
his hands. He looked puzzled. A num-
Der of persons were interested in his
capture. but lie couldn't make out
which one of them the farmer was.
Flint was perfectly cool Indeed he
counted on an opportunity for one of
the quick moves for which he was IA
- g..
habitation, and there would be plenty
of time.
who are you!' he asked the farm
err "a sheriff."
NO"
zone of the committee?"
NO"
Then who are you?"
tom Tucker. Bill fuckers broth
err"
4 tinge Of white spread itself over
Flint's face.
Il was there when Bill was brought
in" continued Tucker, land saw my
own brother. who I'd gone around with
when we We're little shayers with our
arms around each others necks. laid
low by the man who wanted his wife,
and l saw the little girl craZcd by il.
If / could "a found you then. Tom
Flint. you'd "a got the better of me, for
1 was reckless. Lucky 1 didn't. When
I cooled of some / went TO work on
the sly. You'd never seen me. and that |
gave me an advantage. 1 tracked you |
TO the tavern and knew you were go |
in to Centerville. / borrowed this rig |
and these clothes. The guns / had al |
ready. You remember, in the fracas |
with Bill you dropped one of yours. |
Well, this right one is the one you |
dropped. Now turn about while dis |
arm you"
Flint hesitated. He was desperate /
and meditated some desperate move,
but he looked into his adversary's eye
and concluded to comply with the or