Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-07-17
His Little
Boy S Pistol
By THOMAS r. DUNN

oAC Wv AiALSN
where else.
4 Stagecoach drew up in front OF
tavern in a small town where gun law
was the only law on the statute book
But even that was an unwritten law,
for there was no statute books to write
it in. \ young man, dressed in the
ordinary business costume of New
York or Chicago or Philadelphia or
any other eastern city, got out of
the coach with the other passengers
and went into the tavern. He asked
if there We're any letters for him, The
landlord handed him one. He read it
and hunted through his pockets for his
cigar case. Not finding it at once, he
took out seven articles while making
the search, among them small pistol.
Several men. denizenS of the coun-
try, were lounging about. among them
a red faced man with Il Stubblc beard
and as many scars on his face as
German student member of dueling
corps This man caught sight of the
new arrivals pistol. and it ut once ex-
cited his interest
'Lemme see that, stranger" he said.
The young man handed him the PTS
tol. and he looked it over with evident
pleasure and amusement
Purity. isn't it?' he remarked
He continued to examine ii, cooking
and unlocking it. Meanwhile the
stranger found his cigar case and. lean
ing chair up ON its hind legs against
the wall. sat down on it, resting his
heels on the front round and. lighting
cigar. smoked.
What do you do with it," inquired
the red faced man.
The stronger smoked on without
making any reply His sang froid ex
cited the attention of the hystanders
who commenced to move uneasily
away. The man who asked the Ques-
ton was Scar Joe, so called from the
traces of his many fights He was
not used to asking questions and re
ceiving no reply. He cast a single
glance at the stranger and went on
cooking and unlocking the revolver.
Coin to make birthday gift of it
to your little boy?" he asked
Still no reply.
Twill it shoot?" persisted Scar Joe.
This third question eliciting no reply.
the westerner took quick aim at the
strangers cigar and fred. and cigar
and sparks left the smokers lips.
He didn't turn pale He didn't look
at Scar Joe reproachfully or fearfully
or any other way He didn't look at
him at all. He simply took out anoth-
er cigar, lighted it and went on smok-
ing.
docs shoot. don't it? Shoots purity
straight. don't it? wonder if could
do it again.
He fired second shot with like re-
suits The stranger remained as inn
perturbable as before, taking out an
other cigar and lighting ii with as lit
tie apparent objection to this waste of
cigars us if he were loaded down with
them Again Scar Joe sent it flying
amid Il shower of sparks
stranger" said the smoker in Il soft
voice. you're one of the best shots |
ever saw That pistol I've brought
from the east MS Il present for my wife.
I've got another for my little girl that
III bet you can't hit a silver dollar
with at ten yards
"Lemme see ii.
The stranger thrust his right hand
into his trousers pocket and grasped
something that he drew out so clutched
in his fist that it was not easy to dis
Germ what it was. One of the lockers
on. with better or quicker sight than
the others. seemed TO get on to some
thing about to happen. for he ducked
under Il table The stranger reached
the thing out to his tormentor. 1t eX-
ploded. and Scar Joe staggered back
ward. at the same time putting his
hand to his hip The something in
the strangers fist exploded again, and
the westerner fell dead
One would naturally suppose that
those present would be chiefly interest
ed in the fallen man. SO they were
till they were convinced that he had
received his last scar. Then all of a
sudden their minds concentrated on the
thing III the stranger hands that had
done the work. All eyes turned toward
him curiously He had returned the
explosive thing to his pocket
Landlord he said, I'D like some
thing to eat before | go. My wife
writes me that she'll send team for
me to be here at ,. It's now l. I've
just time for dinner"
Il say, stranger" said one present,
would you mind lettin' us see what
that was you shot him with?''
Il know what it is" said the man
who had sought safety under the table.
It's bulldog. | seen 'em before.
They're the ugliest weapon at short
range they is goin'
The stranger took out a short. thick
pistol with a very stocky barrel and al
lowed the party TO examine it.
WAS t'other one really gift for
your wife," asked one.
Certainly. When | was called east
she asked me TO bring her a revolver
suitable for woman