Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-08-11
.DR|SBA|N' LESSON,
BY HARRISON SMITH.

A young gentleman In neat trav-
cling suit alighted from a stagecoach
In frontier town. His baggage was
handed down from the boot" and be
entered the Office and bar of the tav-
ern. Taking out his gold watch, he
glanced at the time. then went out
on the porch and looked about as
though expecting some one Not see
ing what he wanted, he returned to
the barroom. took a cigar out Of
case, lighted it. tilted chair up
against the wall and sat down and
smoked.
On one side of the bar stood the
landlord. on the other red faced.
stubble bearded man in a flannel shirt
and revolver slung to his hip From
a back room came the occasional sound
of Keno" indicating that game was
in progress.
"Tenderfootr' remarked the stubble
bearded man.
Reckon" replied the landlord.
Wonder what he's goin' to do in
them fine clothes out yere?'
At that moment a man who may be
similarly described as the one at the
bar. except for two revolvers instead
of one. each foot long. staggered OUT
of the gambling room and was about
to walk up to the bar for drink
when he caught sight of the stranger.
He stopped short and ran his eye from
the golf cap at the top of the picture
down to a pair of ''toothpick" shoes
at the foot. The stranger. apparently
all unconscious Of the attention he ex-
cited. sat in his chair, tilted up against
the wall, his cigar standing straight
out before him. The man from the
gambling room seemed paralyzed with
Indignation that any such specimen
of gentility should desecrate the spot.
Raising one of his revolvers. he aimed
deliberately at the strangers cigar.
fred and knocked 1t into small frag-
ments.
The landlord lodged behind the bar,
and the stubble faced man now ducked.
The stranger took another cigar from
his case, put his hand in his trousers
pocket, fumbled for something. took
out a silver match safe. lighted his
cigar and proceeded to smoke as
though nothing worthy OF notice had
happened. The man with two revolv-
ers stood staring at him with look
Of blank establishment. That tender
foot from the effete east should disre-
gard his warning not to insult the
place with his effeminate presence.
cigar case and Havana cigars was too
much for his emotional nature. He
raised his weapon and fred a second
shot. removing the offensive cigar in
the same manner as the first.
The equanimity Of the stranger re-
NAMED still unruffled. He did not
even glance at his instructor in west
ern manners. For a third time he
drew forth his cigar case. selected an
other cigar. replaced the case and put
the cigar between his lips. The land
lord and the stubble faced man looked
at him with an intensity Of interest
far greater than they had thus far
shown, marked as that interest had
been. They felt sure that if the young
tenderfoot again disregarded the kind
ly warning given him as to what the
wild west would accept he would pay
for his obstinacy with his life. The
man who had done the firing after
each shot replaced his revolver at his
hip, having no idea that this girl man,
as he considered the stranger, was
armed.
The stranger stretched out his legs,
let his chair down square on the floor
and thrust his hand in his trousers
pocket as he had done before for his
match safe. The landlord and the
atubble faced man changed position so
as to be farther from the line Of fire
Of the man who was giving instruc-
ton in western manners. The pupil
drew his hand from his pocket, in
closing as 1t was supposed his match
safe, but no one saw what it was, for
there was no time. In fraction of
second bulldog" As caliber revolver
barked, and the professor of western
manners fell dead.
The surprise of the lookers-on was
not that somebody had got killed. but
that it had been the wrong man. They
looked at the victim, then at the
stranger. then at each other. Then
the stubble faced man said:
would y mind. Mr. Tenderfoot,
shown me that weepon"
The tenderfoot displayed a short,
ugly looking pistol.
who mought y be, strangerT ask
ed the landlord, eying the owner OF
the gun curiously.
I'm Brisbain. owner of Brisbain's
ranch. I've been down east on Il visit
to my folks. Just got back. Expect
to find my man here about now with
a horse. Seen anything of him?"
At that moment a mounted man and
led horse darkened the door of the
cabin. Mr.. Brisbain returned the salute
of his man, mounted the led horse. and
both rode away. leaving the instructor
in western manners lying on the floor
u. -. y -, Il