The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-08-01
.BRISBAIN'S LESSON.
BY HARRISON SMITH.
copyright 1909, by American Press ASS
Iain Hon

|
handed down from the boot" and he
entered the Office and bar of the tay
ern. Taking out his gold watch. he
glanced at the time. then went out
or the porch and locked about as
! though expecting some one Not see
ing what he wanted. be 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 a red faced,
stubble bearded man in flannel shirt
and a revolver sluDg to his hip From
a back room came the occasional sound
of Keno indicating that a 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 man who may be
similarly described as the one at the
bar, except for two revolvers instead
of one. each a 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. his cigar standing straight
out before him The man from the
gambling room seemed paralyzed with
indignation that any such specimen
l of gentility should desecrate the spot
Raising one of his revolvers, he aimed
deliberately at the strangers cigar
fired 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 revoIv-
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 second
shot, removing the offensive cigar In
the same manner as the first.
i The eauanimity of the stranger re-
i NAMED still unruffied. He did not
even glance at bis instructor In west
ern manners For a third time be
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 Tar
shown, marked as that interest had
been. They felt sure that IL the young
tenderfoot again disregarded the kind
~ warning given him as to what the
wild west weCld accept he would pay
for his obstinacy with his life. The
man who had done the firing after
each shot replaced bis. 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
stubble faced man changed position Sc
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 it was supposed his matel
safe. buE no one saw what it was, fol
there was NO time. In fraction of 6
second bulldog" As ealiber revolver
barked, and the professor of western
manners fell dead.
The surprise of the lOokers-on was
not that somebody had got killed. bui
that it had been the wrong man. They
looked at the. victim. then at the
stranger. then at each other. TheI
! the stubble faced man said:
Would y mind. Mr. Tenderfoot
shown me that weepon?"
The tenderfoOt displayed short
ugfy looking pistol.
"Who mought y be, strangerg' ask
ed the landlord, eying the owner o
the gun curiousiy.
aI'm Brisbain. owner of Brisbain'
ranch. I've been down east on a visi
+ to my folks. Just got back. Expec
to find my man here about now witt
I horse. Seen anything of him?"
At that moment a mounted man AM
, led horse darkened the door of th
: cabin. Mr.. Brisbain returned the salut
8 of his man, mounted the led horse. an
e both rode away. leaving the instrueto
In western manners lying on the foo
to be attended to by the landlord an
Q the stubhle faced man.
7 Reckon" said the latter, scratchin
s his head, ~ can't most always te
d by mans clothes how safe it is t