Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1911-02-23
A WALKING
BATTERY
By JULIUS y. WALKER
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association

Johnny learned two things. Ba learn.
ed all about electrical contrivauces. aud
he learned what were ana whit 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 a
company interested in laying trolley
line IN the far west The road ran
between two towns either of which
was bad enough, bur 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 80 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 Ire asked to dance with
him was Nora O'Neill. a 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 eddie to furnish music
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 a warning, the
fellow went away. Johnny asked the
girl what be meant
"Oh, he thinks he owns me. but he
don't! wouldn't have nothing to do
with such low down feler"
Johnny danced with Nora several
times after that Jim Turkle. who
claimed her for his own. gared at him,
but committed no overt act Johnny
was unarmed. and those who knew
Jim averred that he would never Kill
a man without giving him chance for
his life Since he had killed half
dozen ana 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 to 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 a fracns IF this kind; but, being
up they didn't mind looking on. John
ny had not yel come out OF his quar-
ters. and some said he had gone away
during the night Others declared that
he was mt 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 Cit
zens. was informed by them that jim
Turke 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 a mark and especially at doing quick
work. with a revolver But Johnny
said he didn't think that he coud equa
his enemy ia that line If he practiced o
year But though be didn't seem 90
relish the position ne was in, he said
he had thought OF method Of pro
cedure that would make the chances
more equal
1t was about half past . that Johnny
left his quarters and with his hands
in his pockets Sauu,ered down the
street tined with people waiting to
see ldbi killed There was no evidence
of weapon anywhere about him. He
wore an ordinary business suit that ne
had brought with him from the east
Ii he had carried weapon under the
short sack coat it would have been
apparent Only one change was 10 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 al
every inch ny hole about a quarter
Of an inch in diameter
Turkle had been all the morning
standing in from Of the AIhambra sa
loon waiting for his victim Seeins
Johnny coming he advanced 10 meet
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 nj .
fair range Jim sent a bullet at his enc
my Since IT failed to hit and Jim
was dead shot, those looking on sup
posed that ii had been fred TO warn
Johnny thar the fight was on.
Then commenced the most remarka
bic firing that crowd had ever seen
From the holes in Johnny's hatband
came n series Of smoke puffs. accom-
panied by sharp reports Iohnny's
head WAS seen 20 bend slightly as
though he were aiming He also turn
ed TO the right or 70 the left that he
might bring other holes IN his hat
band 10 hear on his enemy Jim was
40 astDpiShed that he forgot TO fire I'LL
one Of the bullets sent from his enc
my's hat pierced his side and rar