The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-07-26
BRISBAIN'S LESSON.
BY HARRISON SMITH.


ciation.l
A young gentleman In a neat tray-
cling suit allghted from 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 bis gold watch. be
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 cigar out Of a
case, lighted It. tilted a chair up
against the wall and sat down and
smoked.
On one side OF the bar stood the
landlord. on the other a red faced,
stubble bearded man in a flannel shirt
and revolver slung to his hip. From
back room came the occasional sound
Of "Kenop 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 yereT
At that moment man who may be
similarly described as the one at the
bar, except for two reyolyers instead
Of one. each o foot long. staggered out
OF the gambling room and was about
to walk up to the bar for a 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 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, bis 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 reyolvers. be aimed
deliberately at the strangers cigar
fred and knocked it 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
ont a silver match safe lighted his
cigar and proceeded to smoke as
though nothing worthy OF notice had
happened. The man with two reyolv-
ers stood staring at him with a look
Of blank establishment That a tender
foot from the ef1ete east should disre-
gard his warning not to insult the
place with his effeminate presence.
cigar case and Havana cigars was too
much for bis emotional nature. He
raised his weapon and fred q second
shot, removing the offensive cigar in
the same manner as the first.
The equanlmity Of the stranger re-
NAMED still unrufied He did not
even glance at bis instructor in west
ern manners. For third time he
drew forth bis 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 |
" warning given him as to what the
wild west would accept be would pay |
for his obstinacy with bis 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 bis hand In his trousers
pocket as he had done before for bis
match safe. The landlord and the
stubble faced man changed position 50
as to be farther from the line Of fire I
of the man who was giving instruc-
ton in western manners. The pupil /
drew his hand from bis pocket, In
closing as it was supposed his match /
safe, but no one saw what 1t was. for
there was no time In fraction Of a
second a 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
- L u
Would y mind. Mr. Tenderfoot,
shown me that weeponw
The tenderfoot displayed a short
ugly looking pistol.
.who mought v be, strangerY' ask
ed the landlord. eying the owner Of
the gun curiously.
I'm Brisbain. owner Of Brisbain's
ranch. i've been down east 90 q visit
to my folks. Just got back Expect
to End my man here about now with
q horse. Seen anything Of himf"
AT that moment a mounted man and
4 led horse darkened the door Of the
cabin. Mr. Brlsbain returned the salute
of his man. mounted the led horse, and
both rode away, leaving the instructor 1
in western manners lying on the floor
70 be attended to By tile landlord and
the stubble faced man.
.'Reckon." said the latter, scratching
his head. ~ can't most always tell !
by mans clothes how. safe it is to
fool with him"
specially If y don't know the kint
Df gun he carries. Them bulldogs is
dangerous at short range.
NJ l.r,.,. rehn the TELLER is2n