The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-01-26
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 contrivances, and
he learned what were and what were
not his rights. Moreover, he associat-
ed with men who were trained to fight.
When Johnny's term of enlistment
expired he entered the service of
company interested In laying 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 at
that time they had not put away Judge
Revolver. who dispensed all the law
there was in the territory. Every one
told Johnny that he must go about
armed If he wished to live, but Johnny
said he wouldn't be quick enough with
a revolver if attacked and he might as
well be shot without one as with one.
Indeed, without one he would be saved
the labor Of carrying about so heavy
a weapon.
Johnny went to dance one night and
among the girls he asked to dance with
him was Nora O'Neill, red headed
Irish girl who worked in house where
meals were served to workmen on the
trolley line While the couple were
standing on the floor waiting for the
piano and fiddle to furnish music a
young man Indigenous to the country
stepped up to Johnny and said:
81 want you to understand yer jump
in my claim. Don't you do it ag'in."
Having thus put out warning, the
fellow went away. Johnny asked the
girl what he meant.
ooh, he thinks he owns me, but he
don't! l wouldn't have nothing to do
with such low down feller."
Johnny danced with Nora several
times after that. Jim Turkle, 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
man without giving him chance for
his life Since he had killed half a
dozen and no one had killed him this
didn't seem to be much of an ad-
vantage to his enemies.
But before the dance broke up Jim
served notice On Johnny that he had
better be prepared in the morning
either tn give or to take dose of lead.
When o'clock came and Johnny had
not been killed the people of the town
lined the main street to see the work
done. They wouldn't have arisen early
to see fracas Of this kind: but. being
up, they didn't mind looking on. John
ny had not yet come out of his quar-
tiers, and some said he had gone away
during the night. Others declared that
he was at home and one who had
served Uncle Sam wouldn't run away
from an enemy.
Meanwhile Johnny, who had made
| friends with the better class Of citi
zens, was Informed by them that Jim
Turkle meant what he said and. since
he had given notice of his intention,
would not spare his enemy because he
was unarmed They advised Johnny
to sit up all night and practice firing
at mark and especially at doing quick
work with revolver. But Johnny
said he didn't think that he could equal
his enemy In that line if he practiced
year. But, though he didn't seem to
relish the position he was in, he said
cedure that would make the chances
more equal.
1t was about half past 9 that Johnny
left his quarters and with his hands
in his pockets sauntered down the
street, lined with people waiting to
see him killed. There was no evidence
of a weapon anywhere about him. He
wore an ordinary business suit that he
had brought with him from the east
If he had carried a weapon under the
short sack coat 1t would have been
apparent. Only one change was to be
noticed in his apparel Instead of the
sombrero of the country he usually
wore he had on a derby Around it
was very singular band, pierced at
every inch by hole about quarter
of an inch In diameter
Turkle had been all the morning
standing in front Of the Alhambra sa-
loon waiting for his victim. Seeing
Johnny coming, he advanced to meet
l. him. Jim scOwled at his enemy
keeping his hands in his pockets, since
he should have kept them in readiness
to defend himself Jim could not see
weapon, but supposed Johnny had
one concealed. When they came at
fair range Jim sent bullet at his enc