The evening world., 1912-01-02
The Two-G:un Man
The Best Coubov Story h Ten Yean
BY Charles Alden Settler

dead a. a man that's shot In the bask.
wouldn't he?"
He isnshed again. his eyes cleaning
In the dim light.
That's the reason I ain't SCORED .
heap" he said. From what I know
about you you Amt the man TO shoo
another without givin' him . chance.
An you're givin' mo . chance to taM
] amt goln' to do n prayin'. I reekon
that's riRht7"
Rsdford shifted his feet uneasiiy. He
could not have toid at hat moment
whether or not he had intended to
murder Ferguson. He had wAylaid him
with that Intention, utterly forgstfui
that by shooting the stray-man he would
b. committing he very crime which he
had accused Ferguson Of contemplating.
The ruxxle OF his weapon dSooped ~.
certainly.
'-raik quick" ne said shortly.
Ferguson grinned. I'm takin' ny
time" he returned. There amt any
use Of bein' In such an awful hurvy-
tiine don't amount to much whom .
mans talkin' for his life. 4 amt askin'
who told YOU WHIST you've said about me
1--we got a pretty clear idea VINO II
was. rye had to tell a man pretty pain
that my age has Eot It's Erowth en- Z
don't think Q man Ii admin me
murh for bcin' told. But II he's wAntin'
10 have me put out II business he's S0ln'
10 do the job himsslf-bsa RsAfovA sa.'s
dom H."
While he had been talking he had con-,
trived 20 throw the left side Of his vest
open, and his right hard was exposed
In. the dim iir,t-a heavy slx-shooter
cleaning foretodIngly In n. His arms
were stlil crossed, but as he talked he
had turned n very little and nov the
muzzle Of the weapon WAS at a Lowell
trained fairly upon Radford's breast.
And then came Ferguson's voice again.
quiet. cold. inclslve.
"If there's goin' to he any ehoot'n'.
Ben. there'Il he two Of Ms dom II. Dent
he afraid that your beat me to w." And
he stared grimly over the short space
that separated them.
For a full minute neither man moved
a muscle. Silencc--a premonitory silenes
fell over them as they stood. each
with a steady finger dragging uncert1tn-
~ upon the trigger Of his weapon An
owl hooted In the cottonwood nearby;
] other noises OF the night reached their
ears. Unaware OF this crisis Mustard
erazed unconcernediy at a distance.
Then Radford's Weapon wavered . ht-
tie and dropped to his side.
This games too certain" ne saidt
FeTkuSOH luukNNus wv hhS
disappeared as mysteriously a. It had
appeared.
II thought I'd he able to make YOU see
the point" he said. IL don't always
pay to be In too much Of a hurry ia 20
a thing" ne continued gravely. a
I reckon I've proved that someone's
been lying about me. n I'd wanted to
shoot you I could have done 1t quite .
spell ago-I- had you covered Just ~
soon as I crbssed my arms. You'd
knowed about II. That l didnt shoot
proyes that whoever told you ! was after
YOU has been r%omancin'." He laughed.
AN now I'm tellin' you another
thing hat ] was goin' to tell you about
tomorrow. Mebbe you'll want to shoot
me for that. But " you do l expect
you'll rave q woman to night. Me an
Mary has found that we're or one mind
about a thing. We're goin' to hook up
into a double harness. reckon WHEN
I'm your brother-in-law you won't be
80 worried about shootin' me-"
Radford's establishment showed TOT q
moment In his eyes as his gaze met
the s%trayman's. Then they dropped
guiltily.
well. I'm a fool" he SAID finally.
Il might have knowed that NQry
, wouldn't get afoul Of any man Who
was thinkin' OF doing dirt to me-
lie suddenly extended a hand.
you shakin'" he said.
gus took the hand. gripping n
tightly. Neither man spoke. Then
Radford suddenly unclasped his hand
and turned. stridins rapidly up the
trail toward the cabin.
For n moment Ferguson stood. look
ing after him with narrowed. friendly
z eyes. Then ne walked to Mustard.
threw the Bride rein over the pommei
OF the saddle. mounted, and was on
at a rapid lope toward the Two Dia-
mond.