Evening journal., 1905-06-10


O. holdups rounds here lately. l don't
like goin alone very much"
"Why don't the committee stop itf'
asked the passenger.
"Stop it, The committee can't do
nothin'."
The passenger chuckled. "why notT
he asked.
"Cause the works all done by Tom
Flint, I reckon, and it would take a
dozen committees to do anything with
him. They say he's mighty slippery" f"
TON 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 to hurt him"
How do you know thatT
"Know it, I'll prove it. I'm Tom
Flint myself"
The farmer quickly moved to the
far end Of the seat, looked sidewise at
his passenger and exclaimed:
Great Scottw
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 he began his shooting career
and how easy 1t seemed after he had
killed the first man.
How did it seem when you killed
the last One?" asked the farmer.
Flint WINGED. "Tuckerf" he said.
"Well, I didn't want to kill Tucker, but
he took my gal away from me-"
"Did she prefer you to TuckerT
well, no. I can't say she did. but
s. long as I 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 soonf"
asked the farmer.
Married. They was married"
The words were spoken with a good
deal of feeling, and the countrymar
pressed the subject no further. Some
thing was wrong with the names OF
the near horse. They were slipping
back off the collar The farmer drew
rein
Reckon I'll git down and tighter
them hames." he said. "Will you hold
the lines, Mr.. FlintT
Instead Of holding the lines Film
| jumped down off the seat and wen
forward to fix the names. He tight
ened the strap. the horses neck mean
while being between him and the coun
/ tryman. When he had finished ant
looked mp at the farmer great change
had come. The "hayseed" held a re
volver in each hand. and each revolve
was pointed directly at Flints head.
Hands upm
The astonished Flint did not comply
with alacrity. whereupon the farme
repeated the order with a finger press
ed close on each trigger. Flint raise,
1 his hands. He looked puzzled. A mum
Der Of persons were interested in hi
capture. but lie couldn't make on
which one Of them the farmer was
Flint was perfectly cool Indeed h
counted on an opportunity for one o.
the quick moves for which he was IA
nous. They were alone. far from an,
habitation, and there would be plent
of time.
"who are your he asked the farm
er, "a sheriff.
mo"
zone of the committeeT
mo"
'Then who are your"
tom Tucker Bill fuckers broth
er."
A tinge Of white spread itself owe
Flint's face.
Il was there when Bill was brough
in" continued Tucker. ''and saw m.
own brother. who I'd gone around wit
when we were little shavers with on
arms around each others necks, lail
low by the man who wanted his wife
and l saw the little girl crazed by il
If 1 could "a found you then. Ton
Flint. you'd "a got the better Of me, 70
l was reckless. Lucky / didn't Whe
cooled of some went to work o.
the sly. You'd never seen me, and tina
gave me an advantage. l tracked yo
to the tavern and knew you were &c
In to Centerville. | borrowed this ri
and these clothes. The guns l had a
ready. You remember, in the fraca
with Bill you dropped one OF yours
Wen, this right one is the one 70
dropped. Now turn about while dis
arm you"
Flint hesitated. He was desperat
and meditated some desperate NOV
but he looked into his adversary's ey
and concluded to comply with the o
der
'Now walk on" said Tucker, aft'
disarming him.
Flint marched on. covered every M
ment by one OF the other Of Tucker
revolvers. The doomed man knew tn,
It was death by the committee or deaf
by Tucker. With the committee the
would be no chance, while Tuck'
. might miss. Flint waited till the ros
. ran through a wood, then darted asid
Tucker fred with the revolver in h
right hand.
1t did not miss.
F.A Mitchell.