Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1905-10-13

what are you doing with that thing
my dear fellow" said the other,
regaining his composure instaDtane-
ously, what on earth are you making
such fuss about? Did you never see
revolver before?"
"Of course I have" answered Mr..
Burritt, somewhat Indignantly. But
there. for goodness sake, put the thing
down. | hate to see you trifing with
1t In that way. It gives me the cold
shivers."
You alarm yourself unnecessarily.
assure you have not the slightest in
tention of blowing my brains out
| Why on earth should I? | was mere
ly examining the thing to see that it
was all right"
'But-but," stammered Mr.. Burritt.
| far from treasured, you don't mean
| to say that you are in the habit of
carrying firearms about with you2"
my dear fellow" mimicked the
other, Il don't merely say it, do it"
But why?" was the question.
Why" he replied. '1n case of
emergencies. You never know when
you may need it, and | should never
think of travelling without something
of the sort"
You mean to say" persisted Mr..
Burritt, that you carry it about your
person."
The other nodded Look herei"
he said, I've lived rough sort of life
in wild part Of the world, for the last
twenty years, I've seen men shot
down by my side, in a refreshment
saloon, more than once, and moro
than once had a narrow escape from
a similar fate myself. In fact"-sink-
ing his voice-"1 don't mind owning
to you that on one occasion | have
killed my MANN self-defense mind"
he added, hastily, seeing the look of
horror which, for a moment, over
spread his friends face. "In self
defense" he repeated, with emphasis,
land with the odds three to one.
Where should | have been then but
for my revolver AS it was, cleared
the world of at least one ruffian."
And no one-I mean
mo one thought any the worse Of
me, l assure you. Indeed. with
faint smile, the first Mr. Burritt had
seen upon his face, lurking for a mo-
ment round the corners of his mouth
81 even had a testimonial presented
to me by some of the leading citizens
Of the place, thanking me for Kidding
them of such a pestilent character as
Black Jake which was the name the
villain went by"
Mr. Burritt heard him throughout
with establishment, mingled with
'aint sensation of horror 1t seemed
hard to credit that the calm, middle
aged, well dressed man before him
lis own contemporary-ha passed
through such an experience as this;
md that the hand which he had shak
N with so much cordially had blood
lpon it,
Thank Cod" he cried, that we
AVE nothing of this sort in England.
there is no shooting people down in
saloons in this country
Perhaps not" was the caustic re-
,ly: but. for all that, it struck me,
n looking at the paper this morning,
1ost of the crimes going plenty
f Black Jakes,' or their equivalents,
DO
VERY likely" said Mr.. Burritt,
18th eyes still fixed on the revolver
By-the-way, would you mind telling
le-is that the same weapon that you
sed on that occasion you were speak.
lg of mean when you shot the
her-er-individual
Meaning Black Jake? Yes. I'm
appy to say it is the very same"
Mr.. Burritt felt that he somehow re-
arded the article in question with
SIS favor than ever.
81 suppose there isn't the least like
hood of it's going off Unexpectedly?
: inquired, diffidently.
Not unless l pull the trigger" was
e careless response, land I'm not
kelly to do that, unless you attack
e first"
The joke-if joke it were-struck
r. Burritt as being in singular bad
ste
81 must say he repeated. with
tie perceptible irritation in his man
II. that, in this instance. l don't see
e necessity for"
VERY likely, you don't" interrupt
the other, resuming his coat; but
you had been in the habit of carry
2 it about your person for as many
ars as I have. and always been &C
stoned to sleep with it under your
low. you would think no more of
frying a revolver than you would
umbrella or watch.
This remark served to remind Mr..
rritt of his original errand. He
srefore explained the reason of his