The Bottineau courant., 1912-09-13
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a Neat | rick
By +. a. MrTctIEL

& III 25S by 3. ~. MIlNf1csL- III
Is A man alighted from q stagecoach'
this happened when most OF that re-
gion lying beyond the Missouri river
\ was known as the Wild and woolly
west at q point called Silver City &
He wore an alpine hat, q tweed suit.
fashionably cnt, with faps on the hip
pockets; tan CATERS and highly polish
ed shoes. Crossing his waistcoat was
q gold watch chain, and ID one eye he
wore q single glass The only orna-s
ment on him was cross, apparently
made Of bronze. which dangled from
the watch chains u u n
! BEG pa'don." he said to a man who
stepped out Of a saloon, ''could you
tell me what time the stage going
north comes along?''
The questioned man was 50 aston
ished at the quesuoner's makeup re.
markable for that country at that time
that he forgot to reply. hut stood
gaping, at the well dressed man as II
he were an apparition sprung from the
bowels Of the earth.
"And ! beg your parding, stranger
said the man from the saloon. Would
you mind tellin' me where the show is
You come ont Of r. asss
Il don't think I quite understand
you.'
zone q the wax flggers, surmise.'
BY this time another man had emerg-
cd from the saloon with a long red
mustache. red face and smelling Of
liquor.
He. too, started at beholding the gen.
tleman Ii the tweed suit.
'T'm making for Canada" said the
latter 'sI'm to take the coach here.
Would either 3of you mind telling me
where the booking Office is r.
'"The booking officer exclaimed the
last conner. Whats a booking ofiice?r
The stranger dropped his monocle by
winking and regarded the speaker
with surprise.
Don't know what 4 booking ONCE
o.? Why. it's one Of those places
where fellow takes Z seat In 4
coach" gis.
"You don't mean I'll Do you know
how to dancer"
VI do"
"Well." drawing an enormous revolv-
Or from his hip, suppose you show OF
some"
"Oh. let him alone, Jim." said the
man whom the stranger had FIRST ad-
dressed Hes a wax figger Of the
Prince o. Wales from museum"
IT reckon the prince knows how to
dance" said Jim. and he knocked the
strangers hat OF with bullet.
"Oh. don't mind danncing a bit for
q fine gentleman like you. But how
would you like a handful Of gold pieces
instead p :,
"Do you take me for road agentY'
asked Jim.
"You mean highwayman? No. In
deed. But you feel at liberty to ask
me to dance. don't your
Reckon we like to give man a
chance to show off all there is in him."
''Well. I'd much rather satisfy YOU
In some other way. You see, there's
no place here for dauncing. l cawn't
daunce in the road, you know"
"You caun't, eh?"
Jim fred another shot that whizzed
within an inch of the Britisher's ear.
'eNow. suppose | show you a new
trick with coins,'' said the latter. I've
won no end of money at It. took in
f2OO aboard ship coming over"
MIL Sy,rp k1Av "a NIL
understand.
aWhat do you say, Bill? Shall we
take his game instead OF q dance
Reckon" acquiesced Bill.
"Go In. Mr.. Wax Fgger, and don't be
too slow about it. It's hot day, and
you might melt before you show us
your trick"
Jim lowered his revolver, and Bill
stood with his thumbs In his belt. The
Britisher began his exhibition.
81 have half a crown In me right hand
pocket and sovereign in, me left.
Now, I'll put 4 hand In each pocket.
this way" He crammed hand down
into each pocket Then I'll pull 'em
out like this" He drew a flsts doubled
up from each pocket. The audience
stood looking at him with evident In
terest Each fist as it came out Of Its
pocket was drawn up under q large
cuff. 80 as to be partly concealed,
sNow, i want you to tell which hand
holds the half crown and which the
sovereign"
He extended one hand toward Jim
and the other toward Bill. Something
cracked; a pun Of smoke ensued from
his right fist, and Jim fell forward
with q bullet in his brain.
Hands upr' said the wax fgEer to
Bill
Bill saw the trick Ii an instant, and.
knowing that before he could get his