The evening world., 1912-01-08
The Two-Gun Man
The Best Couboy Story In Ten Years
By Charles Alden Settler

w w ~ tuioE SBuf V hIF IONNs
After that he had realized tina just 80
long a. the stray-man lived and re-
mained at the Two Diamond there
would be no peace or security for him
there.
Yet he had no thought Of settling his
differences with Ferguson q man 10
man. Twice had he been given start.
ling proof Of the stray-man's quickness
with the slx-shooter. and each time his
" slowness had been c~rushingly in,-
pressed IN his mind. lie was not fool
enough TO think that no could beat the
stray-man at that am .
Hut there were other ways. Rope
Jones had discovered ~that-when Il had
been too late TO pront. Rope had ridden
into a carefully laid trap and. In spite
OF his reputation for quickness In draw
ing hls weapon had found that the old
game OF getting n man between two 1res
had proved eficacious.
And now Leviatt and Tucson were 10
attempt tho scheme again. Since his
interview with stafford Leviatt had ~.
come convinced that the time for action
had come.
Ferguson had left word with the man
ager that he was to show the latter thu
%rustler. and by that token LeviAtt knew
that the ~stray-man had gathered evil
dence against him and was prepared TO
show him TO the image In his 2
light. lie. N turn. had lett . message
with the manager for Ferguson.
We'll be ready for him." he had sasd.
lie did not know whether Ferguoon
had received this message. II had been
a subtle thought; the words had been
merely involuntary. by I'VE the man
agcr had thought that he had meant the
entire outfit was to be held ready t.
"a Al 49,.
meant only himself and Tucson.
And they were ready. Down In the
blacksmith shop, while Ferguson hsd
ridden In and stepped Into the MANAGERS
oflce. had I.eviatt and Tucson made
their plan. When they had Joined the
group In front Of the clubhouse and
had placed themselves In positions whore
thirty or forty feet OF space yAwnsd be-
tween them they had been making the
first preparatory movement. The next
would come when Ferguson appeared.
To carry out his intention OF showing
stafford the rustler.
To none OF the men OF tho outfit did
L.eviatt or Tucson reveal anything OF
the nervousness that affected them.
Thev listened to the rough jests, they
laughed when the e,hers laughed, they
dropped an occasional word Of sncour-
agement. They even laughed At Jokes
In which there was no visible point.
Ru, thev did mot r,ova ,rcrr .A.,.
| places. nor ala thew nep,ect "a 800 n
sharp alert eve out for the strav.msr.,
appearance.
And when they saw him come M, NJ
| the door OF the office thew neglected ,c
Joke or laugh. but stood silent win ,hn
thirty or forty feet OF snace betvssp
them. their faces paIlng a little. THAR
hearts iaborlng a little harder.
When Ferguson s,epped on, ~ m.
door of the office stafford foiIo~ssd
The stray-man had said enough 10
arouse the mr. -er's s~vip!cions. ana
there was SOL s:aing about the straw.
mans movements which gave the In.
preston that he contemplate ted souethinr
more than merely pointing out the thisf.
II warning OF impending traRody had
ever shone in a mans eyes, STAFFORD
was certain that II had shoae In tho
stray-man's during the brief time TIA,
he had been In the office and when ne
mad stepped down from the door.
stafford had received no i~nvitaHiop
TO follow the stray-man but tmpsiisd
by tho threat In the Iatter's ewes erd
by the hint OF cold resolution that r.va
promise OF imminent tragedy ha .,.cc.S
down also, trailing the stray.mar =,
a distance OF twenty wards "
| Ferguson ala nor hesitate or.. !, ii.
progress toward the clubhouse, except