The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-05-15

number should shoot skinner. the other
two to chip in $500 apiece to pay the
slayer's fine. But Pete was dreadful
ly quick on the trigger and extremely
watchful. He might kill the man to
Would one OF the others take up the
fight? And, II the second fell. would
the other go the same way? This end
ing of the conspiracy would be barren
of results.
1t looked as il the only reliable way
Of getting rid of Skinner was to lay
in wait for him and shoot him I'm the
back. But the parties concerned not
only shrank from an unfair proceed
ing even with an incubus on the town
like Skinner, but knew that to perpe-
trate such scheme would bring upon
them the contempt OF their fellow citi-
zens.
One of the trio. Gus Harbesou, vol
unteered to pit himself against Skin
ner. He was to give Skinner cause to
kill him. This looked very unselfsh.
very noble, on the part Of Harbeson.
but he said that he was intending to
try to get an advantage over his enc
my that would put him under ground
instead Of himself. He didn't say how
he proposed to accomplish this desira-
BILE result, for it was not necessary
that he should do so, and his plans
might leak out.
Harbeson had been considered the
black sheep of his family. He had
run away from home when a boy and
entered the service Of telegraph com
pany. From there he had gone to sea.
After two years before the mast he
drifted west in prairie schooner and
now at twenty-five found himself a
miner. Young and strong, he feared
nothing. Besides, he was In love and
had suddenly become sensible of the
fact that he should do something to
counteract his record, that his sweet
heart might be the more inclined to
listen to his suit
Dave Perkins told the girls that a
movement was on foot to eliminate
Skinner, begging them to wait awhile,
and they consented. A week passed.
and Skinner was still alive. The
young ladies resumed their packing.
The citizens who had hoped for much
when they had adopted the plan for
building the church were discouraged
Skinner seemed to be gathering cour-
age, for he was heard to say that If
he did lay himself liable to the fine he
didn't believe the committee would
IN tn 20
tion. This indicated that he had pre-
pared for a desperate fight and that
some OF the committee must be sacri-
feed in order to get rid Of him.
The dependency was at bottom level
when one morning Skinner emerged
from the Empire saloon and, turning
eastward, sauntered down the street.
He literally bristled with weapons, for
he understood that his fellow towns
men wished to get rid of him, and he
was resolved that If they did some of
them must first bite the dust. There
were q number Of persons out. But
this morning instead of looking at the
walking fortress they were staring in
the opposite direction at Gus Harbe-
ners appearance had emerged from
his own cabin with a very remarkable
hat on his head.
'By gum" exclaimed a citizen, "ef
Harbe hain't got one o. them machines
the hatters In big cities put on a mans
head to take his measurer'
Hrbeson walked down the street,
receiving the jeers of the citizens.
Skinner looked at him with the rest,
and the desperado's face broke into a
grin. AS he and Harbeson drew near
together Skinner called out:
what y maxim guy O. y'self that
away for"
"Who says I'm maxim a guy O. my
selfr' retorted Harbeson.
"Y' know y're doin' it y'self," re-
piled Skinner bristling.
You say that againr cried Harbe-
son augrily.
The bystanders began to get out of
the way. There was not sign of a
weapon about Harbeson, but they
knew that If he kept up that kind Of
talk with Skinner a bullet would go
through him and might hurt some one
| else.
what y mean sassin' me that wayT
snarled Skinner, putting his hand to
his hip.
The band of Harbeson's hat was
pierced with little round holes. From
one Of these holes came a puff Of
smoke, Skinner staggered, put his
hand to his hip and got revolver mid
way between his waist and his chin
when Harbeson inclined his head about
five degrees, several simultaneous puffs
and reports followed, and SINNERS
arm was shattered Harbeson then
turned his head in horizontal circle
There were more explosions through
his miniature portfolios, and Skinner
fell dead.
BY this time every man, woman and
child in Deadshot was out of doors to
learn what was going on. When those
nearest the scene of action saw what
had happened they raised a joyful
shout, which was taken up by those