The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-01-06
ON THE ROAD
TO CENTERVILLE
[Original.]

on pair Oh uOIScS HilSHCu ~ d "oSoAN
standing in the road. Turning to sew
eral Ioungers about the bar, he asked:
ANY gent goin to Centeryille?"
I'm a-goin that way. Reckon I'll
20 with you, said Il 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
NORM, gents" to those present, went
out with the farmer and got up along
side of him on the spring seat.
much obleeged to you for comm
along" remarked the farmer as he
drove off. There's been a turrible lot
O. holdups rounds here lately. | don't
like goin alone very much
"Why don't the committee stop it,"
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 it would take a
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 to hurt him."
"How do you know that?'
"Know it. I'll prove it. Pm 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 he began his shooting career
and how easy it seemed after he had
killed the first man.
Glow did it seem when you killed
the last one?" asked the farmer
| Flint WINGED. ''Tucker?' he said.
"Well l didn't want to kill Tucker, but
he took my gal away from me-"
Ibid she prefer you to Tucker?'
"Well, no, | can't say she did, but
s. long as | couldn't git her | 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 good
deal of feeling, and the countryman
pressed the subject no further. Some
thing was wrong with the names on
the near horse. They were slipping
back off the collar. The farmer drew
rein.
Reckon I'll git down and tighten
them hames," he said. Twill you hold
the lines, Mr.. 1lint?'
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 he had finished and
looked up at the farmer great change
had come. The ''hayseed' held re-
volver in each hand, and each revolver
: was pointed directly at Fint's head.
Hands up"
The astonished Flint did not comply
with alacrity, whereupon the farmer
repeated the order with Il 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 ne 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
4 nous. They were alone. far from any
habitation, and there would be plenty
of time
"Who are your he asked the farm.
er. "a sheriff."
mo"
lone of the committee"
''No."
'"Then who are yOu?"
tom Tucker Bill fuckers broth
err"
A tinge Of white spread itself over
Flint's face
Il was there when Bill was brought
: in" continued Tucker, land saw my
s own brother, who I'd gone around with
l. when we We're little shavers with our
arms around each others necks, laid
low by the man who wanted his wife
and l saw the little girl crazed by it
If | could "a found you then, Tom
Flint, you'd "a got the better of me, fol
I was reckless. Lucky | didn't When
, cooled off some l went to work or
, the sly. You'd never seen me. and tina,
= gave me an advantage. l tracked you
to the tavern and knew you were 60
in to Centerville. l borrowed this rie
and these clothes. The guns l had al
: ready. You remember. in the fracas
: with Bill you dropped one of yours
8 Well, this right one is the one yor
dropped. Now turn about while | dis
}, arm Won "