The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-02
to F looked on as successful young

man.
 His success all pointed in one direc- tion-to Mary Rose and he mad deter mined this day to ask her the momen- tous question which was to determine whether his life had been a success or "a failure. With these sweet thoughts In his mind he walked up the street toward the Rose home. In the meantime Scar-face Parsons had been regaling his open -mouthed audience with further tales of glorious deeds and triumphs over the power of men and the affections of women. Suddenly he decided to see the town and started out still followed by his court. As he passed the cozy cottage awaiting her lover a sudden idea seized him and he paused and said: 'sHa, my dear, have you a kiss for Scar-face ParsonsT
 The girl paled and turned to run. but the man caught her by the arm. Come now, sweetness, you wouldn't dodge a kiss from the king of the train-robbers, would yer" he leered. ''Many's the girl who would walk a | days journey to get me-"
 The girl screamed in terror as the | burly rufian drew her tword him. evidently with the Intention of putting his threat into execution. Just then, however, his own arm was seized in vice-like grip and he was seized by the collar of his buck skin jacket and hurled against a tree | with such force as to make his teeth chatter. When he faced about he ob- served medium sized youth with blue eyes flashing fire calmly removing his coat With roar he pulled his ~e- voiver and shouted: l "You tapdarfnot TtII ~baot xn,r b no # out!" This interspersed with a
 choice selection of oaths. "Do you know who I am?"
 l "No, I don't, and don't want to. l know you are a rufian and coward and that you deserve tiirashing." Parsons regarded the youth in amusement. You young fool" said he, I'm Scar-faced Parsons and I eat youngsters like you for breakfast. I'll give you just as long as can count thirty to get around that corner before begin to shoot.'' K
 Wilkins had removed his cuffs with ponderous care and laid them on his coat. Parsons had scarcely concluded his sentence when Wilkins was upon
 his like a panther and had Erasped
 his pistol arm with a grip so strong as to loosen his hold upon the weapon while at the same moment his assail- ant had landed a blow squarely in the face which sent him r6elins against the tree again. When he caught his breath he waved his arm and laughed horase1y, saying: l "oh. it's all a joke. I won't hurt ye." Ae si, ...,.., l.' -
 No, know you won't" replied John calmly. .'But am going to give you the best thrashing you ever got" | With an oath Parsons pulled a long knife from his belt and sprang for ward, but again Wilkins intercepted the arm with that same vice-like grip and bent 1t back until it was a question. of dropping the knife or snapping the arm. The knife dropped and the men clinched. There was a snort and lively tussle, during which the young farmer planted his fist q half dozen times in the others face and finally laid him sprawling on the ground, where he lay making no mo- l tion to arise.
 Come. get up," commanded wilkins Kicking him vigorously. T ain't got good start on you yet"
 1 Well, keep your distance" groaned the man on the ground, and when Wilkins withdrew, leaped to his feet and started down the street at a pace that rivaled that of Marshal Dame the blood streaming from his nose
 Who did he say he wasp asked Wilkins resuming his cuffs and coat | Scar-faced Parsons-the bandit and train robber." answed a dozen voie- es; the bad man with the show, you know"
 "oh, quit your foolins, boys" re- piled Wilkins smiling. q know I'm easy, but I really want to know who that was,
 | When assured beyond doubt of the identity of his opponent, John turned trifle pale.
 Who'd thought It," he remarked What the answer of Mary to Johns question little later was no one can doubt. The episode caused a great disappointment to Flagvillc. however. as the star of the show could not ap- pear that afternoon and give a living representation, of how he fought off a posse of twenty in Arizona single. handed and escaped, leaving five dead and twelve wounded nthe feld-ow- ing to the fact that he was confined to his bed with beefs.eak over each closed eye.