Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-09-12
He Showed Them
a Neat Trick
By F. A. Mitchell

was known as the wild and woolly
west-at a point called Silver City.
He wore an alpine hat, tweed suit.
fashionably cut with flaps on the hip
pockets: tan CATERS and highly polish
ed shoes. Crossing his waistcoat was
gold watch chain. and in one eye he
wore a single glass. The only orna- ,
ment on him was a cross. apparently
made of bronze. which dangled from
the watch chain.
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 so aston
ished at the Questioner's makeup-re
markable for that country at that time
that be forgot to reply, but stood
gaping at the we'll dressed man as If
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 out OFF"
II don't think l quite understand
you"
"One O the wax figgers. surmise."
By this time another man had emerg-
ed from the saloon with long red
mustache. a red face and smelling Of
liquor
He. too. started at beholding the gen.
tleman in the tweed suit
I'm making for Canada" said the
latter. I'm to take the coach here.
Would either of you mind telling me
where the booking Office is?'
THE booking office!" exclaimed the
last conner. Whats a booking Officer"
The stranger dropped his monocle by
winking and regarded the speaker
with surprise.
Don't know what a booking Office
is? Why. it's one of those places
where a fellow takes a seat in q
coach"
You don't mean it! Do You know
how to dance?"
II do
"Well." drawing an enormous revolv-
er from his hip. suppose you show OF
some'
"Oh, let him alone. JIM" said the
man whom the stranger had first ad-
dressed. He's a wax figger of the
Prince o Wales from a museum"
II reckon the prince knows how to
dance" said Jim. and he knocked the
strangers hat off with a bullet
"Oh. l don't mind dauncing bit for
a fine gentleman like you. But how
would you like handful of gold pieces
instead?" ,...
do you take me for a road agentT
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 a man a
chance to show of all there Is In him"
well. I'd much rather satisfy YOU
in some other way,sssFou see. there's
no place here for dauncing. l cawn't
daunce In the road. .you know"
"You caun't, chr"
Jim fred another. shot that whizzed
within an inch Of the Britisher's ear.
Now. 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"
This was something the ronghs could
understand
What do you say. Bill? Shall We
take his game instead of dancer
Reckon" acquiesced Bill.
go In. Mr. Wax Figger. and don't be
too slow about it. It's a hot day. and
you might melt before you show US
your trick"
To
stood with his thumbs in his belt. The
Britisher began his exhibition.
II have half crown in me right hand
pocket and sovereign in ME left
Now. I'll put a hand in each pocket.
this way" He crammed hand down
into each pocket Then III pull EN-
out like this" He drew fist doubled
up from each pocket. The audience
stood looking at him with evident in
terest. Each fist as |. came out of its
pocket was drawn up under large
cuff so as to be partly concealed
Now, 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: puff of smoke ensued from
his right fist. and Jim fell forward
with a bullet in his brain.
Hands up" said the wax 6gger to
Bill
Bill saw the trick In an instant, and.
knowing that before he could get his
hand to his hip and draw his revolver
the stranger would serve him with
the other hand. as he had served Jim,
his hands went up IN a hurry. The
Britisher went to him and detached his
revolver Several persons lettering
near beard the shot and saw Jim fall.
They approached the Britisher and
heard his story. He showed them
short Derringer pistol he held in each
hand. Only one shot without reload
ing could be fred from each, but they