The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-01-09

fafsasjttls revolver Tie nesfed kin.
80 sad t~rsa taxing The wssgca 10
tlccss. alliss earl pan csre'siif and
Thea runnias o grrasy RAG tisrccgh Tie
barrel Bas became Dofs aud more
intcressst In thAs singular and 10 him
unfhnillar preceetlns bot hicbart o.
fsrna 10 explanation 81 his unasnsi GO
eagafsoa After eve minutes u utter
sieaos The vale, could stand the strain
Ia sosgsr
-Ef hss parsion. sir be asked. and
ibe irpmoT In bis voice Indicated bis
uneaa.neta but wos are you sdo;n'
u, esrY'
"Cleanlng my sun" returned Rich.
an9 iaconscaily. what DID you think
was doing sharinrY
~o.ehw tsld Bulls and lapsed info
Nicnco
Richard hegan 10 whistle. II was q
merry. happy little tune. but somehow
Il goi 90 Tie Wallets nerves His mind
commented 10 work and draw infer
encea The gun had a very unsympa-
thciie look. which was lesssn~d Ia no
derree by the sir enormous cartridges
that the worker placed before him on
the table. lie wishei that the Texan
had not placed himself 10 no 20 com.
mand The only erit from the room,
Presently the nervous Bills spoke
again. The effect OF the brandy was
wearluT on rapidly on account u his
growing fear.
you you don't expect 10 ave no
lTnmeji use for that ere thing. do
you. Mr. wllllamsT'
Don't know" said Richard uncon-
evrnedly. u might. and then. again, ]
might not II depends Pretty little
toy. isn't ltY' Bills licked his lips and
said nothing The TeHsn continued:
"You Zee. always try 10 keep II 10
working order. because you can never
tell when you've got 10 whip II out aud
get down 20 real enjoyable work,
Why, you really wouldn't believe II.
Bills, but haven't shot a man since
| left Texas-two whole weeks" be
added despondently. shook his bead
aud then began dripping oil In the pts
tolls lock.
Il suppose" said the valet. by way
Of filling In the gap Of another pause,
II suppose that down were you live
sir. they they don't mind-er-m
dcrin' Of people. Mr.. Williams. sirf'
"Sbucksr' laughed Richard whats
a man or twoi A banga yell-and
it's all over or course they die hard
sometimes. but that's their affair."
The irresponsible person took up his
whistllng once more, while the mux.
Gle OF his careiessly held gun seemed
10 point persistently at the pit OF the
Wallets stomach. Ia which. by the way,
there was growing q queeriy respon-
siye feeling.
beg pardon. sir. but-but II isn't
loaded, Is ltr'
Not yet" smiled Richard. an at
tend to that later. Besides. | wouldn't
hurt you. my boy; no, not for $500
cash down"
The sum was not large one. yet the
particular amount seemed TO crate
upon the servants sensltiyeness. He
cast a longing glance toward the door.
but the Texan was already filling the
chambers OF bis revolver. 80 Bills per
force sat still and watched him. expert
epclng a separate and distinct spasm
as each cartridge nestled into Its crib.
Richard laughed softly. as at some
plcasurable memory.
"By the way. Friend woolsey. !
don't know why think Of II just now,
but mighty funny thing happened
down In Texas couple Of years ago.
/ had a contract with a fellow chap
about your size and age as ! remember
him. with charming disregard for
keeping promises similar TO yours. He
broke his contract"
In the awkward pause which follow
I'd the surviving partner In the deal
drew fine bead on the tassel Of the
window curtain and smiled
Where Is he now. slrf
Richard shrugged his shoulders.
did did you XIII him. sir?" feebly
began the unfortunate Bills again. feel.
Ing sudden and unnccountable
draft blowing on his spine.
well. no." said Richard dresmily.
Il didn't That's the funny part Of II
| tied him 10 tree and shot away
portions OF him that didn't count"
Count. sirf"
Yes. parts that are not vital. you
such as ears and fingers
and kneecaps and things like that
Why. you wouldn't believe II. Bills,
but you can chip AWAY at n man for
balf a Jay II you're only careful You
see. | had plenty OF leisure time on my
hands almost AS much rs ! have now
SO there wasn't any hurry and rush
about IT, That was n ride had q
hatful q cartridges and an extra gun
10 use when the other got too hot for
quick firing double acting revolver
Is better for household use"
Once more Richard paused 10 laugh.
twlrllng his gun around airlly IN his
quick fingers In retrospective JOY.
'oh. say" he cried You just
,ught TO have heard that fellow when
began TO pick on his knuckle bones.
knuckle bones. you know. seem to be
very sensitive TO sudden shock, and In
his particular instance ! had no
Earthly cause TO complain Perhaps |
fou are wondering how could shoot |
% accurately Well. IN tell you"
Richard haned forward and con6ded |
u pleased whisper, Il had just oiled
ny gun"
Bills now began TO sober up with
astonishing rapldlty. His putty like
had grown grayer still. |
While his eyes were watery. wandering |
bout In the frultless hope OF detecting