Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-10-03
Romance of a
Toy Pistol
By WlLLf.RD BRAKEMAN

when western manners were not so
polished as they are now, a man dress
ed in checkerboard suit. a derby
hat and patent leather shoes entered
gambling den in Nevada and stood
looking over small game of poker
Not finding it especially interesting. he
sauntered up to the bar and called for
a cigar.
Now, the apparel Of the citizens of
the town consisted of a sombrero. a
flannel shirt, trousers held up by
cartridge belt, to which were slung usu
ally two revolvers, and cowhide boots
No such cOstIme as that worn by the
man i'll the checkerboard suit had ever
been seen in that region. In the east.
taking together the pattern of his
clothes and clean shaven face. he
would have been set down ut once as
an actor; in the west, where theatri-
calls at that time We're unknown. the
gentleman was a puzzle. Two men
who We're drinking together at the 9th
err end of the bar began to sit up and
take notice of the stranger
What do you think it is, Jim?" said
one
Dunno, Pete Reckon it's one 0
them balloons they hev in dime mu
seums in st Louis or Kansas City
dressed up fancy"
Reckon we'd better find out"
The curiosity at that moment had
nj,
Pete accosted him:
See here. stranger, what kind of
game do they play on you, anyway"
Checkers" said the smoker imper
turbably
Reckon y hev to lay down. don't
W"
"Oh. yes; always lie down and let
EN- play on my back It's rather tire
some though have to lie quiet or
spill the checkers and knock the game
into pi"
Jesse. DO you carry a weepon un
der your "oattails?"
"Oh, yes Why do you ask?"
We'll, was thinkin' when v hev
nothin' to do v might take off yer coat.
hang it up and see how many O. them
squares " kin PUNK Lemme see yer
gum
The stranger put his hand under his
coat, pulled out revolver Of diminu
tive size and handed it to the man
Pete-who was firing the questions at
him, for examination. Pete took it,
laid 1t in the palm of his hand and
seemed very much amused.
"Cunnin', isn't it?" be said. "What's
it for?"
"Well. in Kansas City, where | come
from. there's several of us wear this
kind of suits, and we all carry pistols
like this Whenever we meet on the
street we try to see who can put the
most bullets in the little squares worn
by the other fellow
Pete cooked and unlocked the pistol
several times, evidently much pleased
with it. then. raising it. pulled the trig
ger and the cigar few out of the check
erboard mans mouth The shot at
tracted the attention of almost every
one in the place. who looked up to see
who had been killed They saw moth
ing more warlike than the stranger
calling for another cigar. lighting it
and putting away like a ferryboat,
1T shoots all right" said Pete. and
in moment there was another shot,
and the second cigar spun around in
the air and fell on the floor somewhat
shattered
Now that you see how it shoots
wouldn't do that any more" said the
checkerboard man 1t isn't worth
while" He called for third cigar
and while lighting it added: IF you're
bound to try it another time better do
it at longer range Anything'll shoot
straight close up"
At the first remark pete's brow dark
ened At the second it cleared again
IAN right: YOU go to the other end
O. the bar and III stand at this end"
Done" said the stranger. and he
walked slowly toward the designated
place his back being exposed to the
man with the pistol.
The inmates Of the saloon watched
for the result of this singular trial of
the efficiency of what they called
toy gun. The target" walked with
the cigar in his mouth. while Pete held
the pistol ready to fire rs soon as he
should turn, AS he was about to swing
round the stranger put his hand to the
back of his neck. When he was half
turned there was crack, and the cigar
followed its predecessors But almost
on the same instant, the checkerboard
man having faced Pete, his hand flew
out from the back of his neck. some
thing gittered along a line parallel with
the bar, and Pete sank on the floor
Jim bent over him and pulled ten
inch knife blade out Of his left breast
This was novelty at weapon prac
tice in the place. and no one interfered
with the checkerboard man as he quiet
~ walked out of the saloon.
by gum" exclaimed one. that was
the slickest thing ever saw done"
who is hep