The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-02-02
|AnAtmOspherIcD eIuslon

he iouhu trouble IN the household, Dol,
beare was q consumptive who had
gone from the east with hts wife and
two little children to live IN Colorado
In the hope OF regainlng his health.
The cause Of the trouble was Jim New
ell. That's all any one ever knew about
Il. Why Newell was bent on killing
Dolbeare was a secret that neither
gave out Anyway every one syinpa.
thized with Dolbeare, first, because he
was pleasant, mild hammered man;
second, because he was sick, and, third.
because be had the loveliest wife In
the world and two OF the prettiest chill
dren. Pike, who had been sent for by
Mrs. Dolbeare, found that lady waiting
for him In the living room.
Ned" she said, Newell has written
Frank a letter saying that he will shoot
him on sight unless he consents to
more regular way Of meeting. l got
the letter, opened II and haven't said
anything to Frank about II. For heay-
ems sake try and get rid OF Newell
without letting Frank know. In his
condition he isn't able to think about
1t, much less stand up and fight"
1T wouldn't be fight. 1t would be
murder" said Pike
Cant you do something's
Pike took some tobacco from his
pocket, rolled cigarette, lighted It.
gave few thoughtful puffs and said:
How long has Newell been up here 2"
"He came yesterday"
Ever been in these parts beforeY'
mot that know Of"
A few more deliberate puffs.
"Just you don't worry, Mrs. Dol
beare, and don't say anything to any
body. I'll see what can be done"
With that he went out, mounted his
horse and rode away. Later, after
making inquiries as to where Newell
might be found, he rode up to an adobe
house where he saw his man sitting on
the porch.
''Alr Newell7" he asked.
"Yesw said the other, with a slight
start and placing bis hand where he
could more easily grasp his revolver.
"I've got a message for you from
Franklin Dolbeare. He'll meet you to-
morrow morning just before sunup."
"All right When, WhereY mo-
"You stayin' hereT 8ftitt
eyes"
"Well, you start from here with one |
six shooter at 8 o'clock exactly and
walk up the road. On the way you'll |
meet your man with another six shoot
err You can crack away as soon as
you like. He'll do the same. Is that
satisfactory
Yes; that suits me as well as any
way"
Late that night Pike rode up to the
ranch and asked Mrs. Dolbeare for
suit Of her husbands clothes.
She gave him what he wanted with
anxious inquiry in her face, but asked
no questions. Pike gave her no In
formation. Before daylight the next
morning he had shaved Off his beard
and put on Dolbeares suit. Then he
drew his sombrero over his eyes, look
ed at the clock, examined his revolver
and started at slow pace down the
road.
1t was cioudless, crisp autumn
morning. The altitude was 1000 feet
above sea level, and the neighboring
peaks stood out clear cut against the
slowly lighting sky. Presently the
cowboy squatted behind bush at the
side Of the road waited and Watched,
Ten minutes later Newell turned
bend and appeared plainly In sight.
Pike waited. Newell came on. Sud
denly Pike left the bush and appeared
In the road. The moment Newell saw
him he raised his revolver and fired,
but without effect, Then he fired two /,
more shots, and as he saw his enemy
still advance unframed he appeared to
be astonished. But at that moment
Pike fired shot. This drew another
from Newell, making four. Pike fired
two shots In succession and Newell
fired one.
Pike now had three shots In bis re-
volyer to Newelrs one. Pike stopped
and appeared to be taking q deliberate
aim. His enemy, fearing he would this
time surely be hit, fired bis last shot.
Then Pike, who had been walking
slowly, increased his pace. Newell,
throwing away his empty revolver, put
his hand to his hip, drew another and
began a rapid fusillade.
sThe houndw muttered Pike be-
tween his teeth.
1t was evident that Newell had lost {
his head. 1t was not surprising that he
should. He had fired nearly dozen
shots any one of which he felt sure
when he fired 1t would bring down bis ,
man. Yet that man kept advancing. ]
apparently getting no nearer. But pres ]
entity the shots began to whistle about i
Pixies head, though so great was his
enemy's agitation that none of them
told. Suddenly Pike stood still, took
deliberate aim and shot bis man {
through the forehead.
While Mrs. Dolbeare was dressing
FOR breakfast she was told that Pike
wished to see her. Throwing on a Z
wrapper, she went to meet bin with a
pale face and inquiring eyes.
cts all right, Mrs. Dolbeare,' he 0
said. a
How What is it, q
"0h. It was easy enough. When Y
these chaps come up here they don't :
Know anything about our distances.
they don't calculate on the thinness
If the atmosphere. When they see a I
BARN a mile of they think they're go j