Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-01-20
Dbbed him SO openly that even he


him, and bulled his luch without spe-
cial regard to the value OF his hands.
One afternoon it was whispered
about with bated breath that the bad
man of a neighDoring camp was com
ing down to clean up on the death
dealer OF the camp with which Jud :
was identified. The visitor who was .
coming upon his own invitation, had
terrifying record covering most or
the outlines of civilization in this
country. The consequence was that
his proposed victim rode away that
night and the town went into the
depths of humiliation. The situation
commended itself to Jud. He went to
the saloon with the biggest red light
and conferred with the proprietor. 1t
can be epitomized.
Jud asked if the attacking cham
pion knew the local false alarm" who
had disappeared. He did not; never saw
him.
Then I'm he" smiled Jud.
Want to die?"
mot at all particular, thank you. .
happen to belong here at present and !
That blood-letter must not come here /
and go away to tell that he could not /
get a rise out of the whole burg I'm |
Harp wilkins till the things over.
Understand"
The invader came with becoming
clatter and display of his horse, his
horsemanship and armament. The
rough chivalry of the cay and en-
vironment gave him right Of way until
he faced the one he was after. He
rode straight to the man with whom
Jud had conferred. staggered in and
called for drink to all hands. After
an exchange Of like courtesies he
inquired if there was not a coyote
of some fame in those Iarts. known
as Harp Wilkins. i've heard of him.
the bad man went on and lowed
o'rter pay my respect S. Kin it be
I'm loolin' at him. as he IroNned On
the ass mb1od crowd
The proprietor called the guest aside
and was seen to point down The
street There was Jui with his bands
crossed behind his back, "aA .- low
ly as his eyes studied 'le -roudd.
"Wlat.r le- lv. mes' and thu
invader g.arco. "Taal there is Nom-
an in disguise. Blu l reckon she's
good enough fur this outfit. III jes'
step down there ana SPANK her and
III wait round here long noulh fur
to ascertain certain whether you got
anything else stronger or more bitin''
Away went The bulky dosr RADIO and
turned slowly and the alien grabbed
him. 1t was the game just as the
young fellow had planned it, He
kicked a Colts out of the Older mans
hands. knocked him down faster than
he could get up, removed his cart
ridge belt. twisted his ears, tweahed
his nose and ended by kicking him to
the camp limits. 1t was the most dis
graceful thing that ever happened to
gun shark on the frontier and you
may be sure that he never went back
to his own crowd to tell the story.
Jud was now a hero, but the very
fact that opposition had been wiped
out made him tired. He took the back
track as far as Denver and there had
a yearning that induced him to write
to his mother. Then he plunged again,
lost his money, as usual, went clear TO
the lowest stratum. and while trying to
, live on his wits was befogging them with
, dissipation.
AS a financial crisis approached h
, rented rooms over a German saloon
, and was never crowded for payment
, because his singing, storytelling
genial ways and ability to quiet dis
orderly patrons made him worth more
! than he cost One Gay he made the
, discovery that the Western Union tele-
= graph wires crossed the roof over his
head He tapped them. with the as.
, sistance of a practical man whom he ha(
: cultivated in the saloon. Having al
Y vance information on every race h;
, coined money and gained the reputation
: OF man whose judgment it was goot
n to follow.
: One night the tapped wire gave hin
a this: "Drura is dangerously sick an,
- begs that You come at once"
e The telegram was signed by hi
r mother and addressed to him in hi
d own name. which he had not used 70
e months Had it gone to the main ofic
l. he would never have called for it, an,
n could not have been found Drura wa
e the eoverness and the only woman h
/. loved 1t was a call from the past
If call that he must answer. The interim
n OF desperate and riotous living SCENE
,e wiped out. He broke all of the newe
and worser connections, leak" wire in
1t cluded.
ID Jud reached home in the shortes
m time possible His strong presence wa
'e the medicine needed by the loyal GOV
D. srness. and she mended from the me
~ ment Of his coming. The stern fathe
E. could hold out no longer. The youn
E. twain were made one amid gorgeou
4 festivities, and have been deserved