The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-05-22

y
resented it inwardly, he had usually
taken his orders. To Thiel Smith put
many questions, and received short an
swers.
what does that cub mean" he
asked.
Business" replied Thiel.
I'm bigger than him; I'll stop him."
savagely
The old Master made some men big
and some strong" quoted Thiel; The
made some little and some big; but
along came Mr. Colt and Mr. Win
chester, and made them all the same
size"
Smith snorted.
You best look out" Thiel advised
him, That boys seem red"
TN see him first" retorted Smith
coldly.
Take keer he don't see ye first"
warned Thiel. with a CLINT in his eye.
He amt goin' 10 see me first" said
Smith savagely. But I'm going to let
him shoot first"
The other started.
an that's where you come in"
added the gun man.
Coin to let him shoot first? Where
do I come in?" demanded the amazed
Thiel
I'm gon' to explain that, so hush
your fuss while 1 make you savy. I'm
goin' TO town this afternoon. You be
there when l come, an you ride out an
tell the boy I'm there. Then you take
these two Shells" producing them, and
slip them into his gun. They are the
right gauge, an they're marked buck
shot" Then you let him come on to
| town. an I'll look after the rest"
I don't understand YOU" said Thiel
lhesitatingly. You goin' to let him
shoot you with those buck shot?"
Fool: I've done took out the shot
There's nothin' but powder in them
shells. Savoy MOVE"
An what will you do after he
shoots? You amt amin to kill that
boy are you? I'd see you in hell first"
| "Certainly not" was the reply. You
know 1 couldn't afford to do that if l
wanted to. l aim to take his gun away
before he can reload again, and make
him promise not to try it no more.
Then 1 wont have to fool with him no
longer"
| Dune" said Thiel. 4 like that boy.
| an l like his poor ma, an l wouldn't
help hurt a hair of his head. But if
you sure amt goin' to hurt him none.
| I'll fix the gun like you say
| Course l won't hurt him, Jim said
the gun man: but you know l can't
have him runnin round with a shotgun
lookin' for me all the time. Ii don't
look right. and it amt healthy. l want
to teach him a lesson, an stop this
| foolishness."
All right" replied the apparently
satisfied Thiel: I'll be in town about
three o'clock. You come in. an I'll
ride out an set the boy after you, first
fixin' the gun. But don't hurt that
boy"
| Simple jackass," spluttered the gun
man, he oiled and reloaded his six
shooter with fresh shells; Does he
thing I'm goin to have that tiger cub
doggin me always? I knew I'd have
shells. No one else has chance to-
|
THE damned murderer" muttered
| Thiel to himself a he rode off Don't
he think I can see through him? But
And he chuckled: Yes. by Cd. I'll
fix the gun
The gun man chafed somewhat as he
stood in the village street exchanging
sundry remarks with acquaintance,
and waiting for the appearance of the
| boy. He had seen Thiel ride away
| twenty minutes before, and young
| Luke Foster was about due if he rode
in hurriedly he expected. His
plan looked good. The boy would fire
at him, apparently miss; he would an
swer the first of the shotgun with one
carefully placed bullet from his pistol.
and the incident would be closed. He
reckoned on the good effect of letting
the boy getting the first shot to clear
his case, first with the towns people,
and second with the jury. 1t is the
written and unwritten law of the
Southwest that no man need stand I'M
der deadly fire without returning the
compliment, and not even the most ia
matte law and order men (and he ours
ed them Savagely to himself for
bunch of kill-joys) would think of
blaming a man for returning shot
gun attack. While the people would
not like it. they would be forced to
admit it justifiable. The whole thing
would be looked upon as a regrettab1e
but unavoidable tragedy. and would
end there And besides the gun man
before for standing up in the face of
a shotgun fire. SO he hoped to gain
laurels by the killing of the Foster
| boy.
No thought of compunction for the
crime he was about to commit even
| entered the mind of the six-shooter
man The belief of many that in a
mans own conscience he finds his in
divdual He'll stands utterly disproved
with men of this type. Conscience
| knows him not. and he lives his life
and dies his death without a twinge Of
remorse for the murder committed. The
conception of Poe as TO how the muir
derer feels. fails when applied 10 the
gun man.
It was in this deliberate frame of
Luke Foster
Suddenly his sidewise glance saw 4
horse swing round the corner at a gal
| lop. and turn in his direction. This
glance gave details Of neither the horse
nor rider, but the gun man knew Ms
quarry as instinctively as the tiger
knows his prey, and at the very mo-
ment he saw the coming OF the boy.
he started, apparently unconscious Of
! the approa ching rider. toward the other
side Of the street. He had worked out
his plan craftily. There should be full
publicity TO the attack TO be made upon
/ him. He did not even turn his head
until the football of the horse and sew
! eral EXPLANATIONS from Sy-staRderS
caused him 20 wheel toward horse and
: rider