The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-12-27

Auoio was ou expression OF slight
disappointment on the tall mans face
I For few moments the crowd lin.
sered, and then with a concerted
movement began siding towards the
saloon door.
But the rider now apoke. Arrested
In the movement towards the saloon.
the crowd gave him its attention,
II reckon you-all think you've seen
some shootin'," he said in steady,
even voice, singularly free from boast
But reckon you amt seen any real
shootin'." He turned TO the tall man.
Il amt got no hundred he said, but
Pm goin' to show YOU
The crowd was now facing the new
conner. He still sat in his saddle But
now with an easy motion he swung
down and hitched his pony to the rail-
Then he drew out his huge weapons
and rolled the cylinders, inspecting
them infinitely.
Apparently resenting the action OF
the stranger in interfering with his
! triumph, the first man now spoke, his
| voice filed with sneering insolence.
You runnin' sheep. Stranger"
The strangers face grew suddenly
grim. Smiles appeared on the faces
OF several of the onlookers The tall
man with the grave face watched with
critical eye. But the stranger
seemed not disturbed.
you load your gun he said
,coldly, speaking to the shooter. IAN
| so down the street ten steps, leavin'
your gun In Its holster. FL go ten
steps the other way. Then turn an
begin shootin' That'll settle some
things"
The shooter sneered experimentally
Grins appeared on the faces of the on
lockers
But the tall man stepped forward
You've made your play, stranger"
he said quietly. Il reckon it's up to
you to make good"
Correct" said the stranger I'm
goin' to show you some real shootin
You got another CAM
Some one dived into the saloon and
returned in flash with another to-
mato can. This the stranger took, re-
moving the label as the other had
done Then, smiling, he took po-
sition in the center of the street, the
can in his right hand.
He did not draw his weapons as tine
shooter had done, but stood loosely in
his place. his right hand still grasp
ing the can, the left swinging idly by
his side His weapons were still in
their holsters.
Apparently he did not mean tc
shoot Sneers reached the faces oil
several men; the shooter growled
"Fourflush."
And then there was a flash as the
can rose twenty feet in the air. pro
; PEELED by the right hand OF the
. stranger. And as the can reached TIT
apex of it's climb the right hand de
scended and grasped the stock of tn,
weapon at the right hip. There wa
fash as the gun came out; gas]
of establishment from the watchers
The can was arrested in the first foo
of its descent by the shock of the frs
, bullet striking it. 1t jumped up ant
4 out and again began its interrupte,
/ fall, only to stop dead still in the al
Y as another bullet struck it. Their
= was an infnitesimal pause, and thel
9 twice more the strangers weapon
. roared, and twice more the can shiy
: cred and jumped. No man in TIL
z crowd but could tell that the bullet
were striking true.
The can was still ten feet in the al
and well out from the stranger. TIL
!, latter poised his weapon and whippe
its muzzle to level. the bullet striR
ing the can and driving it twenty fee
from him Then it dropped But whel
1t was within five feet of the cart
!. the strangers gun spoke again TIL
! can leaped careened sideways and fel
) shattered to the street, thirty feet dis
tant.
Several men sprang forward TO e,
anime 1t.
. "Six times," breathed the tai
Y grave-faced man in an awed tone
i An he didn't pull till he'd throwe
e the cant
J, He approached the stranger. draw
ing him confidentially aside. TIL
{ crowd slowly dispersed, loudly de
( claiming the strangers ability. TIL
a latter took his honors lightly, thong
! his clear, cold eyes were alight wit
l. a slight mockery
4 I'm lookin' for a man who c.
d shoot" now said the tall man, viii!
8 pering hoarsely.
i Il was expectin' that" returned tn
stranger.
The grave-faced man smiled mirtl
, lessiy. You particular what 20
: shoot att" he inquired.
= The strangers lips Strengthened
: used to have that habit" he returne
: in a hard tone: but amt any NOR
!, l reckon I'd shoot most anything
y for money"
= Hard luck?" queried the grav
:, rt.sed man.
Some" answered the other. az,
been three months out of job. Col,
Q to sell my cayuse an ge. -rork in tt
9 mines"
5 The eyes of the grave-faced ma
u glittered That cert'nly is hard luck.
$ I. said Where you from?'
"You en- have three guesses," r
turned the stranger. his lips sneerin
o The graye-faced man adopted pl
Q cative tone Il amt wantin' to bu
: into your business" he said Il W;
:. wantin' to find out Il any one arour
!. here knowed you
This town didn't send any rece
ton committee to meet me-" sneere
. the stranger.
= Correct" returned the grave-fact
II man He leaned closer You will
5 to work your guns for me for hu
q bred month";"