The herald., 1912-11-14
By WILLARD BRAKEMAN

dressed up fancy"
Reckon 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 4
game do they play on you, anyway
Checkers" said the smoker imper-
turbably.
Reckon v hev to lay down. don't
y'T'
ooh, yes: l always lie down and let
'em play on my back. It's rather tire
some, though. l have to lie quiet or
spill the checkers and knock the game
into pr"
Jesse. Do you carry a weepon I'M
der your coattails"
"Oh, yes. Why do you ask"
"Well, l was thinkin' when v hev
nothin' to do y might take off yer coat,
hang it up and see how many O. them
squares Y kin PUNK. Lemme see yer
gum"
The stranger put his hand under his
tive size and handed it to the man
Pete-who was firing the questions at
him, for examination. Pete took it.
laid it in the palm Of his hand and
seemed very much amused.
"Cunnin'. isn't it," he said. whats
it forT'
"Well, in Kansas City, where come
from, there's several OF us 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 knocked the pistol
several times, evidently much pleased
with it, then, raising it, pulled the trig
ger and the cigar flew 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 warlike than the stranger
calling for another cigar. lighting it
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 it shoots
wouldn't do that any MORE" said the
checkerboard man. at isn't worth
while" BE called for a third cigar
and while lighting it added: "If you're
bound to try it another time better do
it at longer range. Anything'll shoot
straight close up"
At the first remark Pete's brow dark
ened. At the second it 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 as 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 flew
M hA
thing glittered along a line parallel with
the bar, and Pete sank on the floor.
Jim bent over him and pulled a 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.
by gum" exclaimed one. that was
the slickest thing ever saw done"
"Who is he?"
Dunno"
The same afternoon several wagons
the performers and para
phernalia of show came into town, |
and at the first performance the man
or the checkerboard suit in spangled |
tights inclosed one Of the troupe with
a line Of knives stuck in a board. The
former was knife thrower.
Had he been q shooter instead some |
,ne might have resented his teaching |
The citizens of the place manners. but
hey were not used to knives operated
1t a distance, so they let him alone.
Utilization of College YeIIs.
Farmer (whose son has been at col
ege'-What was that howlin' you was
ioin' out in tn grove: SOM WAS
merely showing Miss Brigh:eyes what
college yell is like. Farmer Waal.
wan. Colleges is some good after all
M goin' into town to sell some trn.t
omorrow. You kin 20 along an do m
Record Herald