Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-01-15


such fuss about? Did you never see
revolver before?"
"Oi course I have" answered Mr..
Burritt. somewhat Indignantly. But
there. for goodness sake. put the thing
down. hate to see you triiiing with
IL In that way. II gives me the cold
shivers."'
You alarm yourself unnecessarily. I
assure you have not the slightest In
tention OF blowing my brains out.
Why on earth should I, I was mere
ly examining the thing to see that It
was all right"
"But-but." stammcrcd Mr.. Burritt.
far from rcassurcd. you don't mean
To say that you are In the habit OF
carrying firearms about with you7"
My dear fellow" mimickcd the
other. - don't merely say Il. l do It,"
But whyT" was the question.
Why" he replied. In case of
emergencies. You never know when
you may need Il, and I should never
think OF travelling without something
OF the sort
You mean to say" persisted Mr.,
Burritt. that you carry Il about your
person."
The other nodded. Look hcrc."
he said. I've lived u rough sort Of III"
In a Wild part OF the world. for the last
twenty years. I've seen men shot
down by my side. In a rcfreRhmcnt
saloon. NOR. than once. and NOR.
than once had narrow escape from
n similar fat. myself. In fact''-Sink.
Ing his yolcc-''i don't mind owning
To you that 'on one occasion I have
killed my man-in Hclf.dcfcnsc mind"
h. added. hastily. seeing the look OF
horror which. for n moment. over.
spread his friends face. In self.
defense" h. repeated. with emphasis.
''and with tho odds three To one.
wh.r. should I have been then but
for my revolver As II was. ! cleared
the world of AT least one rufian."
And no onc-t mean"
No on. thought any tn. worse OF
m-. assure you. Indeed. with n
faiat smile. the nrst Mr.. Bnrritt had
seen upon his face. lurking for n mo-
m.nt round the corners Of his mouth
- even had a testimonial presented
to me by some Of the leading citizens
Of the place. thanking mo for Kidding
tntu ut huCu y pV9hl'Ht 'Hafs'A'f ~
Hack Jake which was the name the
villain went by"
Mr.. Burrl,, heard him throughout
with ssionishmcnt. mingled with
faint sensation of horror. II seemed
hard to credit that the calm. middle.
aged. well dressed man before him
his own cnn,cmporary-had passed
through such an experience as this:
and that the hand which he had Shak'
on with ~ much coTdiaii,y had blood
upon It!
THANK God!" he cried. that We
have nothing of this sort in England.
There IL no shooting people down in
Ecfr-shmcnt saloons In this country"
Perhaps not" was the caus,ic re-
ply: but. for all that. II struck me.
on looking at the paper this morning.
that you had got your own share Of
most Of the crimes ruinE-and plenty
Of Hack iakcs.' or their equivalents.
too"
VERY likely said Air. Burrltt.
with eyes still Fixed on tho revolver.
"By.the.way. would you mind telling
mc--is that the same weapon that you
used on that occasion you were speak.
Ing Oft mean when you shot the
othcr-cr-individual7
Meaning Black Jakc'7 Yes. I'm
happy to say II is the very same
Mr.. Burritt felt that he somehow re-.
Eardcd the article in question with
less favor than ever.
Il suppose there isn't the least like.
iihood Of Its going on unexpectedly
he inquired. diGidcntly.
Not unless pull the trigger" was
the careless response. land I'm not
likely to do that. unless you attack
me first"
The joke-if joke Il werc-sirucl;
Mr. Burriit as being in singular bad
taste.
II must say" he repeated. with
little pcrccptiblc irritation In his man.
neT. that. in this instance, don't see
the necessity for
Very likely. you don't" interrupt.
cd the other. rcsuminE his coat: but
II YOU had been in the habit of carry.
ing It about your person for as many
years as have. and always been ac.
customci to sleep with 1, under your
pillow. you would think no more Of
carrying n revolver than you would
an umbrella or watch
This remark served to remind Mr..
Burritt of his original errand. He
therefore explained the reason of his
intrusion. and having been accom-.
modatcd by the loan Of the desired ar.
ticle. turned to leave the room again
He hcsitated for moment on the
threshold and cast another glance
over his shoulder at his friend, who
was doing something to the cherished
weapon with bit of oily rag. The
latter looked up and met It.
You don't really mean. Silas. that
you arc afraid TO trust yourself in my
company now that you know carry
h,, apIoI With