The Cairo bulletin., 1910-12-20
"A WALKING
BATTERY
BY JULIUS D. WALKER
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

| When Johnny Barker was eighteen
| years old he enlisted in the United
States navy as electrician. In the navy
| Johnny learned two things. He learn
ed all about electrical contrlvances. and
he learned what were and what were
not his rights. Moreover he assocat-
ed with men who were gained to fight.
| When Johnny's term of enlistment
| expired he entered the service OF d
company interested in laying a trolley
| line in the far west The road ran
between two towns, either Of which
was bad enough, but both together
were frightful They are cities now.
helped to become such by the improve,
ments put in by Johnny Barker, but nj
that time they had not rut away Judge
Revolver, who dispensed all the law
there was in the territory, Every one
told Johnny that he must 20 abort
armed IL he wished TO live, hut IohEat
said he wouldn't be quick enough with
revolver Ii attacked and he might as
well be shot without one rs with enc
Indeed. without one he would bn saved
the labor Of carrying about so heavy
weapon
Johnny went to a dance one night. and
among the girls he asked To dance with
him was Nora O'NeAl, i red beaded
Irish girl who worked in house where
meals were served to workmen on the
trolley line While the couple were
standing on the loor waiting for be
piano and fiddle to furnish music q.
young man indigenous to the country
stepped up to Johnny and said
Il want you to understand yer Jump
in my claim Don't you do II az in"
Having thus put out a warning, the
fellow went away. Johnny asked the
girl what he meant.
'Oh, he thinks he owns me, but be
don't! ! wouldn't have nothing to do
with such low down Teller"
Johnny danced with Nora several
times after that. Jim Tnrkle, who
claimed her for his own. glared at him
but committed no overt act johnny
was unarmed and those who knew
Jim averred that he would never Kill
n man without giving him chance for
his life. Since he had killed baf
dozen and no one had killed him this
didn't seem to be much of an 40
vantage to his enemies.
But before the dance broke rp ~"
served notice on Johnny that he h1i
better be prepared in the morning
either to give or to take dose % 'esd
When 0 O'Clock came ana Iohluy htd
not been killed the people Of the l"vn
lined the main street 10 see the wnya
done. They wouldn't have arisen rarlF
to see a fracas of this kind; but, h.ta-
up, they didn't mind looking on. Join
ny had not yet come oGt Of his Quar-
tiers. and some said he had gone away
during the night Others declared tlla
he was M home and one who hsid
served Uncle sam wouldn't rim una}
from an enemy.
Meanwhile johnny. who bad mada
friends with the better class OF en-
zens. was informed by them that Him
Tufkle meant what he said ana sine
be had given notice of his Intention.
would not spare his enemy becau.p ie
was nuarmed They advised Jphnny
TO sit TIP an night and practice firing
at a mark and especially at doing quirk
work with q revolver But J'lh8uy
said be didn't think that he coHarr'Gt
his enemy in that zine II he prarjir,a g
year Bat. though ne didn't srrtlt &"
relish the position be was IN. lla s'ui
he had thought 81 q method q ~"
cedure that would make the ra4ucc@
more equal
1t was about half past 8 that lotanT
left his quarters and With uis HiHdS
In bis pockets sauutered down ths
street, incd with people whiting 10
see him killed There WIS no rs ideure
of weapon anywhere ahom hun tir
wore an ordinary business suit tltai NV
| had brought with him FROM tap east
If he haa carried a weapon tUdri the
short sack coat it would nave Jpen
apparent. Only one change Wa a. hr
noticed In bis apparel instead ~ the
sombrero Of the country be usually
wore he had on derby Around it
was a very singular band. pierced NJ
every inch by hole about qnarier
! Of an inch IN diameter
Tnrl;le had been all tlie morning
standing in front Of the AIhanibfa sa
loon waiting for his victim S@gns
johnny coming. be advanced ~ Htrpi
him. jim scowled at his eielay
keeping his hands In his pockets since
be should have kept them In readiness
10 defend himself. jim couh not sre
weapon. but supposed Johnny mad
one concealed When they came AT o
fair range jim sent bullet at bis enc
my Since it failed 10 hit and Jim
was a dead shot those lonliing on SUP
posed that 1t had been fred to warn
johnny that the fight WAS on.
Then commenced the most renarka'
Bite firing that crowd had ever seen
From the holes in Juhnnys hat'mnG
came n series Of smoke putYs aecoW
panied by sharp reports iohnnYs
head was seen 10 bend slightly %
though he were aiming He also turn