Evening journal., 1905-05-12
A SIMPLE
CONTINUANCE.
loriglnaLl

Auolih AbbVlA AtdlANtA NAt Alht tAco
when he entered the Clear creek
mining camp in a suit of clothes that
he had contemplated throwing away
before leaving the east but had, on
second thought. considered good
enough for railroad journey. When
he arrived at the camp in them there
was a smile on the faces Of the men
whose costumes consisted Of SOM
0rero, wooden shirt and trousers tuck
ed IN boots. Then for the first time
he realized that his suit was too good
for the country.
Abbott was obliged to remain at the
camp for some time, since it was tho
only inhabited central point on a new
telegraph line he was setting up. he
was a good natured fellow with a
pleasant smile. with which he met the
banter his clothes called forth. He did
not adopt the costume Of the country,
and all efforts to shame him into dis
carding his own were fruitless. Such
being the case, the camp, excepting
one person, accepted the situation and
were disposed to permit the tenderfoot
to wear any clothes he liked. The ex-
ception was James Robinson, common
" called Arizona Jim, who declared
that such a ballroom outfit was an
insult to the rest of the population.
Thereupon he commenced a 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 it was soon evident
to him that trouble was brewing from
Arizona Jim. who was the acknowl-
edged lighting man OF the camp-a self
constituted regulator One thing es-
pecially exasperated MIR 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 a 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. fahl
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 dancln' about in
yer ballroom rig. putin the rest Of us
common folks in shadder long enough.
/ hereby gives notice fer y to take 'em
of. What " GRIMM at, y walkin'
iumpin' jack? Ef l ever ketch y in
them togs ag'in In this town I'll put n
hole in ""
Hostilties that had been looked for
by the miners for some time had now
begun. Abbott's amiabllity had made
him many friends, and they admon-
ished him either to put on a sombrero,
a wooden shirt and tuck his trousers in
his boots or arm himself for a shooting
match with Arizona Jim. He simply
smiled and said nothing Whereupon
his advisers inquired what they should
do with bis 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 un-
armed to be shot down like a dog, and
no one believed that he would turn and
fee 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 revoly-
er strapped to each hip, was waiting
for him and started to meet him. See
/ ing that his enemy carried no weapons
at least in his hands-the bully re,
Trained from drawing AS the tive
men approached each other the audi
ence looked on with expectation min
gled with disappointment They dis
/ liked TO see Abbott shot down un
armed. Nevertheless they were puz
zled that he proceeded on his way
wearing his impertWbable smile
When be came within q dozen yards
OF his opponent Robinson stopped and
said.
Il give v far warnin' yesterday that
/ wouldn't have no more O. them finery
in this yere camp. Take 'em right of.
Abbott, who had also stopped, mad,
no reply except by broadening hi.
smile, showing more plainly his white
teeth. He could have done nothing
better calculated TO throw the bully
into a tit Of anger. Robinson put his
right hand to his belt and drew re
volver, cooking it at the same time.
There was a hush among the specta
tors. such a hush as prevails momen
before some miserable wretch is elm
mated by law.
Suddenly something like volley from
a Gatling gun spat from the waist oi
the tenderfoOt. Arizona Jim threw III
his arms. shrieked. then fell sprawlinl
on the ground. dead Upon examina
ton his body was found to be pune
tured by five bullets.
OF course Abbott explained. ArounC
his waist, under his false stomach, hi
had a belt studded with short pisto
barrels. A wire attached to a batter!
In his pocket connected the barreli
with key in his hand. A pressure oI
the key fred them.
"You see" said Abbott, IT neve
shot a gun In my life. I could neithe
FIRE quick enough TO anticipate an en-
emy nor hit him II were Qulcl