The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-02-19

dealers which had Mary been man
would have been unbearable. AS it
was, size was placed in position where
she would have to fight She was
made aware OF this, for her patient en-
durance of Hathaway's insults induced
a coldness on the part Of the other
boys.
At Hathaway's next insult Mary
went to one of the boys, Henderson by
name, whom she admired for certain
GOODNESS and dignity there were about
him, and asked him to bear message
for her.
"Can you shoot, Tommyg' asked
Henderson.
Don't know
"see if you can hit that" He held
his hat at arms length. Mary drew
her revolver from her hip pocket and,
standing a dozen PAGES from the hat,
fired. Hearing howl and seeing Hen
derson's hand covered with blood, she
burst into tears.
"You little fool You cry baby! Why
didn't you hit the hat? How do you
expect to fight a cowboy with such
shooting as that?"
care you kflled?'' cried Mary.
"Killed? No. But I've lost part of
my thumb
A little later Henderson and the ten
derfoot were observed standing very
close together, the latter binding up the
formers thumb with handkerchief
From that day Henderson gave out
that Dorlxins, being in bad health, must
not be interfered with. All save Hath
away were disposed to let the boy
alone, and he seemed averse to inter-
fering further with one whom Hender-
son had taken up as a protege. Mary
grew stronger every day, and when
the bloom came to her cheek one of
the boys remarked that the tenderfOot
, was pretty enough for a girl Then
one day Hathaway recommended his
taunts.
Il thought I told you,'' said Hen
derson, ''that the boy was to be let
alone.'
ssThat was because he was sick. He's
we'll enough now"
81 want you to understand replied
Henderson. s.that | consider Tom Dor
kins a sick man.
..Sick. boshr' cried the crowd. Hes
well enough"
Hathaway, you let him alone. If
you are spelling for fight you can
have it with me-
"All right" said Hathaway. "You
send your baby boy to me with the
message he asked you to bring"
| And so it was arranged that Hender-
j son and Hathaway should fight. But
| this did not serve in the case of Dor
kins, who received the dead cut from
the crowd Mary accepted the position
/ of second when she should have been
| first. and they despised her.
Mary further incurred the contempt
of the crowd by displaying trembling
+! hand when she handed her principal
! his revolver.
whats the matter with you| re
marked the opposing second, you're In
no danger, you Iittle'- He broke OF
! suddenly at a glance from Henderson
Dorkins was to give the first signal
/ by dropping a hat. 1t is questionable
/ if the signal would have been given
had not the seconds hand trembled so
| she couldn't hold it. At the first fire
Hathaway was unhurt; Henderson had
the top of his ear taken off. He con-
trived to keep his second from seeing it
bv turning it from her The two prin-
cipals stood ready for the second signal
| when, suddenly, Mary saw blood on
| Henderson's collar. This was more
| than she could bear. Rushing to him
! she threw herself on his chest, placing
herself between him and his adversary.
Henderson turned red as the comb of
/ a cock.
Its all up, boys" he said. 'Tom-
my's gal"
With a wild hurrah the crowd hus-
| tied the pair on to their horses and did
not stop till they had found parson to
marry them. Mary was married in
sombrero, boots and spurs. Before she
! donned a more appropriate brides at
| tire she had to spend the savings of
| months giving her associates a jOllifi-
cation such as they had never had be
| fore. ANNA EDNA CARROLL.