The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-11-29
Romance Of a
Toy Pistol
BY WILLARD BLAKEMAN

4OOhiuk ONcl u 0iuAlA SohiS VI PN'ANA'
Not finding 1t especially interesting, he
sauntered up to the bar and called for
a cigar.
Now. the apparel OF the citizens OF
the town consisted Of sOmbrero, a
flannel shirt, trousers held up by a
cartridge belt, to which were slung usu-
ally two revolVers, and cOwhide boots
No such costume as that worn by the
man III the checkerbOard suit had ever
been seen in that region, In the east,
taking together the pattern OF his
clothes and clean shaver face, he
would have been set down at once as
an actor; In the west, where theatri-
Gals at that time were unknown, the
gentleman was puzzle. Two men
who were drinking together at the 9TH
or end Of the bar began to sit up and
take notice Of the stranger.
What do you think 1t is, JimT said
one.
Dunno. Pete. Reckon it's one o
them balloons they hev In dime mu'
seums in st. Louis or Kansas City
dressed up fancy"
"Reck0n we'd better find out"
The curiosity at that moment had
lit his cigar and was turning away.
Pete accosted him:
See here, stranger, what kind OF
game do they play on you, anyway
Checkers" said the smoker lmper-
turbably
Reckon y hev to lay down, don't
w
"Oh, yes; I always lie down and let
'em 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 weepon I'M
der your coattalls?"
"Oh, yes. Why do you ask"
"Well, | was thinkin' when y hey
nothln' to do y might take of yer coat,
hang 1t up and see how many o them
squares y kin PUNK. Lemme see yer
gum
The stranger put his hand under his
coat. pulled out a revolver OF dlmlnu-
tive size and handed 1t to the man
Pete-whO was firing the questions at
him, for examination. Pete took It,,
laid il In the palm Of his hand and
seemed very much amused.
"Cunnln', isn't it?' he said. whats
it for?"
"Nyell, i'm Kansas City, where ! come
from, there's several of Is 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 warllke than the stranger
calling for another cigar, lighting 1t
and putting away like a ferrybOat.
1T shoots all right" said Pete, and
IN a 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 1t shoots !
wouldn't do that any more" said the
checkerbOard man. ut isn't worth
while He called for third cigar
and while lighting 1t added: IF you're
bound to try IL another time better do
1t at longer range. Anything'll shoot
straight close up"
At the first remark Pete's brow dark
ened. At the second 1t cleared again.
"All right you go to the other end
O. the bar and I'll 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 a
toy gun. The "target" walked with
the cigar In his mouth while Pete held
the pistol ready to fire as soon ms 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 few
out from the back of his neck, some
thing gllttered along 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
ly walked out OF the saloon. p
"By gum" exclaimed one, that was
the sllckest thing ever saw done"
"Who is he?''
Dunno"
The same afternoon several wagons
containing the performers and para
phernalia Of show came into town.
and at the first performance the man
Of the checkerboard suit in spangled
tights inclosed one Of the troupe with
q line OF knives stuck In a board. The
former was a knife thrower
Had he been a shooter instead some
ma n,ioht hava rosantad his taachiro