The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-31

I "You can't drop them arms" advised
the stranger, lowering the muzzles Of his
weapons. TkeIeader started to say some
thing. sa
.'You shut up!" said Billy. selecting his
own reyoivers from the heap.
The stranger suddenly picked UP ore Of
the Colts single-action revolvers. which
lay on the floor and. holding the trigger
back against the guard. exploded the six
charges by hitting the hammer smartly
with the palm of his hand. In the thrust
ing motion of this discharge he evidently
| had design, for the first six wine glasses
OH Biily'S bar were shivered3 1t was
wonderful work, rafting fire. quicker
than self -cocker even. He selected
another weapon From "a pile of tomato
| cans he took one and tossed it into the
air. Before it had fallen he had per-
forated it twice. and as Ii rolled along tho
| floor he helped its progression by folas
| more bullets which left streams of tomatss
| juice where they had ffit.s The room was
| full of smoke. The group watched. fas-
| cinated.
| Then the men against the wall grew
| rigid. Out of the film of smoke long.
vivid streams flashed toward them, right
| ard left. like the alternating steam of a
| locomotives pistops- Smash smash.
| smash. smash! hit the bullets with a reg
| ular thud With the twelfth discharge
the din ceased. Midway between the
| heads of each pair of men against the
| wall was round hole. No one was
| touched.
A silence fell The smoke Iightened and
| blew slowly through the window and
| open door. The horses. long since desert
| ed by their guardian in favor of the eK-
element within, whinnied. The stranger.
dropped the smoking colts and quietly
| reproduced his own-short- barreled arms
| from his side pockets. Billy broke the
| spell at last.
That's shootin'.' he observed with
! sigh.
1.-THE fifty thousand is outside" said the
| stranger. do you want emf"
| There was no reply
81 aims to pull out on one of these here
| broncs of yours said he. BILLY, he's
| all right He doesn't know nothin' about
me-"
| He collected the six-shooters from the
| floor.
81 just takes these with me for a speH.'
he remarked. ''You finds them, If you
looks hard enough. along on tn trail
| likewise your broncs."
| He backed toward the door.
"Pm layin' for the man that sticks his
| head outen that door," he warned.
| Stranger" called Black Hank, as he
| neaTed the door.
| The little man paused.
might 1 ask your name?"
| My name is Alfred" replied the lat
! ter.
/ Black Hank looked chagrined.
| i've heard tell Of you,'' he remarked.
| The strangers eye ran over the room
I and encountered that of the girl. He
! shrank into himself and biushed.
! Good night" he said hastily. and dis
! appeared. A moment later the beat Of
| hoofs became audible as he led the bunch
| of horses away.
For an instant no one spoke. Then Billy:
4 'By God, Hank, means to stand pat with
| you; but you let that kid alone or L plugs
you." Billy was the only man armed.
kid, HUH" grunted Hank ALFRED a
| kid I've heard tell of him.
what have you heard?" inquired the
] girl
| Hes the plumb best scout on the
/ southern trail and the best pistol shot In
! the West" replied Black Hank. -
| The year following Billy Knapp, Alfred
and another man named Jim Buckley took
across the hills the only wagon train that
/ dared set out that summer -