The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1905-11-14


was employed.
Good heavens" he exclaimed,
what are you doing with that thing
"My dear fellow" said the other,
regaining his composure instantane
ousIy. what on earth are you making
such a fuss about? Did you never see
a revolver before?"
"Of course | have" answered Mr..
Burritt. somewhat Indignantly. But
there. for goodness sake, put the thing
down. | hate to see you trifing with
if in that way. 1t 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 l? | was mere
" 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 you?"
my dear fellow" mimicked the
other, 81 don't merely say it, l do it,"
But why?" was the question.
"Why?" he replied. In case of
emergencies. You never know when
YOU may need it, and | should never T.
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 here!"
he said, 'Tve 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 more
than once had narrow escape from
a similar fate myself. In fact'-sink-
ing his voice-'I don't mind owning
to you that on one occasion | have
killed my man-in self-defense mind"
he added, hastily, seeing the look of
horror which, for moment, over
spread his friends face. "1n self
defense" he repeated, with emphasis,
"and with the odds three to one.
Where should | have been then but
for my revolver? AS it was, l cleared
the world of at least one ruffian."
And no one-I mean"
mo one thought any the worse of
me, | assure you. Indeed, with a
faint smile, the first Mr. Burritt had
seen upon his face, lurking for a mo-
ment round the corners of his mouth
q even had 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 a
faint sensation of horror. 1t seemed
hard to credit that the calm, middle.
aged. we'll dressed man before him
his own cOntemporary-ha passed
through such an experience as this;
and that the hand which he had shak
en- with so much cordially had blood
upon it!
Thank Cod" he cried, that we
have nothing of this sort in England.
There is no shooting people down in
refreshment saloons in this country!
Perhaps not" was the caustic re-
ply; "but, for all that, it struck me,
on looking at the paper this morning,
that you had got your own share OF
most of the crimes going-and plenty
of Black Jakes,' or their equivalents.
too"
Very likely said Mr.. Burritt,
with eyes still fixed on the revolver
Bytheway, would you mind telling
me-is that the same weapon that you
used on that occasion you were speak
ing of mean when you shot the
other-er-individual?"
Meaning Black Jake? Yes, I'm
happy to say it is the very same"
Mr.. Burritt felt that he somehow re-
garded the article in question with
less favor than ever.
81 suppose there isn't the least like
lihood of it's going off unexpectedly"
he inquired, difidently
Not unless | pull the trigger" was
the careless response, "and I'm not
likely to do that, unless you attack
me first"
The joke--if joke it were-struck
Mr.. Burritt as being in singular bad
taste.
Il must say" he repeated, with
little perceptible irritation in his man.
ner, that, in this instance, | don't SEE. =
the necessity for"
Very likely, you don't" interrupts
ed the other resuming his coat; "butV
if you had been in the habit of carry
ing it about your person for as many