Arizona republican., 1911-07-30
The Rustler
A ROMANCE OF THE OLD TIME
 COW COUNTRY.
BY CHARLES ALDEN sELTZER.
Copyright, 1910, the Pearson Publish
 ing Company.

disappointment on the tall mans face.
 For few moments the crowd lin gered, and then with a concerted movement began sidling towards the saloon door.
 But the rider now spoke. Arrested in the movement towards the saloon, the crowd gave him its attention.
 "I reckon you-all think you've seen some shootin'," he said in a steady, even voice, singularly free from boast. But l reckon you ain't seen any real shootin'." He turned to the tall man. Il aint got no hundred" he said, but I'm 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 10 the rail. Then he drew out his huge weapons and rolled the cylinders, inspecting them minutely.
 Apparently resenting the action of the stranger in interfering with his triumph, the first man now spoke, his voice filled with a sneering lnsolence.
 You runnin' sheep. stranger?"
 The strangers face grew suddenly kEllu. dBBtdlC Oh tiiS ANNN1 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. an go down the street ten steps, leavin' your gun in its holster. I'll go ten steps the other way. Then turn an begin shootin'. Thatll 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 10 you to make good"
 Correct" said the stranger. I'm goin' to show you some real shootin' You got another can?"
 Some one dived into the saloon and returned in a flash with another to mato can. This the stranger took, re moving the label as the other had done Then, smiling. he took DO sitiOn in the center of the street, the can in his right hand.
 He did not draw his weapons as the 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 to shoot. Sneers reached the faces Of | several men; the shooter growled 1 "FourflUsh."
 And then there was a flash as the can rose twenty feet in the air, pro | pelled by the right hand or the | stranger. And as the can reached the | apex of its climb the right hand de ! scended and grasped the stock of the weapon at the right hip. There was | a flash as the gun came out; gasp | of astonishment from the watchers | The can was arrested in the first foot | of it's descent by the shock of the first | bullet striking 1t. It jumped up and out and again began its interrupted fall. only to stop dead still in the alI as another bullet struck 1t. There was an infinitesimal pause. and then twice more the strangers weapon roared, and twice more the can shlV l cred and jumped. No man in the crowd but could tell that the bullets | were striking true.
 | The can was still ten feet in the all and we'll out from the stranger. The latter poised his weapon and whipped | it's muZZle to a level. the bullet strlk l ing the can and driving 1t twenty tee from him. Then it dropped. But whe1 | 1t was within five feet of the eartf the strangers gun spoke again. Tht can leaped, careened sideways and Tel shattered to the street, thirty feet dis | tant.
 Several men sprang forward to ex anime 1t. .,
 "Six times," breathed the tall grave-faced man in an awed tone An he didn't pull till he'd throwet the can!"
 He approached the stranger, draw ing him confidentially aside. Ih' crowd slowly dispersed, loudly de claiming the strangers ability. Ih' latter took his honors lightly, thougi his clear. cold eyes were alight VIII slight mockery. ] I'm lookin' for a man who CT shoot" now said the tall man, whls
 pering hoarsely.
 .T was expectin' that" returned tn stranger
 The grave-faced man smiled mirth
 lessly. You particular what yo'
 shoot att" he inquired.
 The strangers lips strengthened.
 used to have that habit" he returne'
 in a hard tone; but I ain't any more | reckon I'd shoot most anything
 for money"
 Hard luck?" queried the grave
 faced man.
 Some" answered the other. "Pv been three months out of job. Coin to sell my cayuse an get work In tn mines" The eyes of the grave-faced ma glittered. That cert'nly is hard luck! he said. "Where you from?" You c'n have three guesses," Tt turned the stranger, his lips sneerine The grave-faced man adopted pis cative tone. 'I ain't wantin' to but into your business" he said. Il wa wantin' to find out if any one aroun here knowed you"
 "This town didn't send any receI tion committee to meet me" sneere the stranger.
 Correct" returned the grave-face man. He leaned closer. You willir to work your guns for me for a hun
 dred a month";" The stranger looked steadily int
 the eyes of the other. "1 recko
 to