The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-04-25
LorlglnaLl


We're disposed TO permit the tenderfoot
ception was James Robinson, common
" called Arizona Jim, who declared
that such ballroom OUTFIT was an
insult to the rest of the population.
Thereupon he commenced number
Of petty annoyances with a view to
forcing Abbott to discard the said
ballroom outfit"
Abbott bore these annoyances pa
tiently. meeting them all with his good
natured smile, but 1t was soon evident
to him that trouble was brewing from
Arizona Jim, who was the acknowl-
edged fighting man Of the camp--a self
constituted regulator. One thing es-
pecially exasperated Mr.. Robinson,
and that was that under his persecu-
tions the tenderfoot waxed even more
amiable and was growing fat. His
girth, which was but thirty-four inches
on his arrival, within week had
grown to thirty eight, and In another
week to forty-two inches When his
increasing obesity was remarked upon
he laughed and said that camp life
agreed with him.
One morning Arizona Jim and ABB
bott met in the only street in the town,
and Jim thus addressed the tenderfoot;
Say, you've been dancin' about in
yer ballroom rig, putin the rest Of US
common folks In shadder long enough.
| hereby gives notice fer " to take 'em
OF What y GRIMM at, r walkin'
jumpin' jack? Eff / ever keteh " In
them toys agin in this town I'll put
hole In ""
Hostilities that had been looked for
by the miners for some time had now
begun. Abbott's amiability had made
him many friends. and they admon-
ished him either to put on d sombrero.
q wooden shirt and tuck bis trousers In
his boots or arm himself for a shooting
match with Arizona Jim. He simply
smiled and said nothing WhereupoE
his advisers inquired what they should
do with his body. He told them that,
having gained so much flesh among
them, the freight bill consequent on
sending It home would be very high
and they had better bury him where he
fell.
Early the following morning the
whole camp waited at their cabin
doors to see the fray. No one believed
that Abbott would expose himself UNI
armed to be shot down like dog, and
no one believed that he would turn and
flee at sight of his adversary. All of
this only added to the general curios-
ity.
Abbott emerged from his hut at the
usual hour. dressed In the objection
able suit and without any sign OF a
weapon. His opponent, with a revolv-
er strapped to each hip, was waiting
for him and started to meet him. See
ing that his enemy carried no weapons
lat least in his hands-th bully re-
Trained from drawing AS the two
men approached each other the audi
ence looked on with expectation min
gled with disappointment. They dis
liked to see Abbott shot down I'M
armed. Nevertheless they were puz-
zled that he proceeded on his way
wearing his imperturbable smile.
When he came within dozen yards
of his opponent Robinson stopped and
said:
Il give " far warnin' yesterday that
wouldn't have no more o. them finery
In this we're camp. Take 'em right off. (
Abbott, who had also stopped, made
no reply except by broadening his
smile. showing more plainly his white
teeth. He could have done nothing
better calculated to throw the bully
into q fit of anger. Robinson put his
right hand to his belt and drew a re-
volyer, cooking it at the same time.
There was a hush among the specta-
tors. such hush as prevails moment
before some miserable wretch is elm
mated by law
Suddenly something like a yolley from
a Calling gun spat from the waist of
the tenderfoot. Arizona Jim threw up
his arms, shrieked, then fell sprawling
on the ground, dead. Upon examina-
ton his body was found to be pune
tured by five bullets.
OF course Abbott explained. Around
his waist, under his false stomach, he
had belt studded with short pistol
barrels. A wire attached to a battery
In his pocket connected the barrels
with key In his hand. A pressure on
the key fired them.
You see,' said Abbott. II never
shaf n os11n IN NV Iffa I anfIid neither
fire quick enough to anticipate an en-
envy nor hit him il | were quick
enough. I am a practical electrician,
and when | found that either | would
have TO kill Robinson or he would kill
me / arranged this simple device to do
the work for me-"
.sJessoF' exclaimed his hearers.
JOHN 4. BRODIN.