Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-05-20


dozens" said Old Hoss, impressively eve
seen EN- up against j. Matthews by huh
squads and columns. and come back cor
poral's guards. This here J. Matthews
don't have to shoot. faint necessary. Its
just his-its just the look in the eye OF
this here J. Matthews. Which warn you"
went on Old Hoss. (which 1 warn you will
be found when you shoot up the office Of
the Times Dispatch"
"Durn kind Of you" said Johnnie Act
OF an old friend. Fair warning But it's
his funeral or mine"
Tho bartender looked at Old Hoss. and
Old Hoss looked at the bartender. Johnnie.
stll leaning on the bar didn't see that the
former raised his eyebrows in a swift aues-
ton and the latter nodded. Old Hoss
spoke.
You talk like a man. Johnnie Dun.
kind o. like It in you. Tell you what I'll
do. Seems you've come over here all
alone, and orphaned and unprotected, to
shoot the innards out of Gold Plume, I'm
goin' along, and to blazes with everything!
I'm feelin kind O. reckless myself since
that last drink. only shoot him fair Face
him down kind of calm like. and then draw,
deliberate. TIN sound better in the funeral
notice Make your memory durn sight
more popular"
The March.
Fair and square" said Johnnie Duff,
Going to tell him what l think of him.
DO me good to know he heard Just what
he was before he passed in. Say, have an
other You're n good friend o. me or any
other man. Have one on me-"
Old Hoss shook his head at the bartender
Nope. Johnnie. Now or never. My
N-G.. H.
term the landscape of Gold Plume with
this j. Matthews right now. Guns o. k,
is It? All right. Jump along"
The bartender watched them through the
door before he sat down and collapsed.
Old Hoss and the man with murder in
his mind stopped at the door of the Times
Dispatch Office. A job press was blinking
rythmically within. and by the dirty front
window one could see the back of a printer
swaying with the regular motion of his
arm. All was peace.
Now, remember" said Old Hoss, you
don't let that trigger finger O. yours git
nervous, because I'm here to see that you
tote fair Deliver your opinion first, and
then do your shootin' prompt"
Certain. Dead sure thing" Johnnie was
grinding out his words between his teeth
and he looked pretty sober.
Then in you 60" Old Hoss showed John
ME ahead of him through the door. There
that little cage to the left"
On the wooden partition was a sign which
read, Eye Editor"
The maneuvers OF Old Hoss at this point
were peculiar. He followed very close be-
hind Johnnie, with his hands breast high
and in easy reach of the latter's right
elbow. His attitude was all alertness.
A girl in shirtwaist sat within, pound
ing typewriter. She looked up as they
pushed through the door.
Johnnie had not counted on stenographers.
/ He stood abashed for moment.
go on! Git to your KILN" whispered
Old Hoss in the ear Of the avenger.
The Meeting.
Johnnie Duff spoke a bit falteringly.
Would you mind getting out a minute,
Miss and sending in ]. Matthews, the edi-
| tor? Just tell that j. Matthews there's a
| gentleman that has important doings on
with him."
The girl laughed and looked full at
Johnnie. She had clear. blue eye, a
saucy nose and straight carriage. John
ME noted all this even at that solemn and
supreme moment.
II can't send ]. Matthews in" she said,
because, you see-Tm ]. Matthews. I'm
the editor. What can I do for your
Old Hoss observed that Johnnie Duff's
right arm dropped to his side.
And seems 1 wasn't needed, l pulled
my freight and left him to his slaughter"
he said when he told the tale afterward.
He went into the composing room and
spilled over the neck of the foreman and
whispered in his ear. The foreman ex-
ecuted a dance and swelTed up with silent
laughter. Old Hoss seized upon him, bent
|
him in rupture of silent joy.
They Strengthened up as though someone
had shot an electric current through them,
for from behind the partition there sounded
a shot, another shot and still another
Old Hoss turned white and drew his gun.
The foreman, for he was a man of the
| world, ducked under the imposing stone.
MY God, he's done itr' cried Old Hoss.
my Godv'
He broke for the sanctum, tore through
the door.
He saw the girl standing in a corner, a
little pale, but smiling. Johnnie Duff sat
in the editorial chair. with his gun pointed
at the door and the intruder.
Don't draw, Old Hoss." said Johnnie.
/ amt going TO shoot not unless you get
stubborn. These shots were shot by the
permission Of Miss Josephine Matthews.
sort of by way of putting the joke back
and shutting your fool mouth. There's the
holes in the floor. This gun is pointed your
way because l want to be formally intro
duced, I've got just heap of things to
say TO this young woman"
When Old Hoss had introduced them he
was excused.
Settling the differences OF the Orc Mer-
curry and the Gold Plume Times Dispatch
seems TO take long time" he remarked to
the bartender later in the afternoon. y New
York Sun.