The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-06-16
His Little
Boy 5 Pistol
BY THOMAS r. DUNN

n
+ was the only law on the statute book
But even that was an unwritten law
] for there was no statute books to writ,
Il In. A young man, dressed In tn,
/ ordinary business costume of New
York or Chicago or Philadelphia o.
any other eastern city, got out o
, the coach with the other passenger
and went into the tavern. He asked
, IL there were any letters for him. The
landlord handed him one. He read II
and hunted through his pockets for his
cigar case. Not finding it at once, ht
took out seven articles while making
the search, among them a small pistol
Several men, denizens of the coun
try, were lounging about. among them
red faced man with a stubble beard
and as many scars on his ce as
German student member of dueling
corps. This man caught sight of the
new arrivals pistol. and 1t at once ex-
cited his interest,
"Lemme see that, stranger" he said.
The young man handed him the pis-
toll, and he looked ii over with evident
| pleasure anu amusement.
Purity, isn't it?' he remarked.
He continued TO examine 1t, cooking
and unlocking 1t. Meanwhile the
stranger found his cigar case and, lean
| ing a chair up on its hind legs against
| the wall, sat down on 1t, resting his
heels on the front round and. lighting
cigar, smoked.
what do you do with it?" inquired
the red faced man.
The stranger smoked on without
making any reply His sang froid ex-
cited the attention of the bystanders.
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 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.
"Will It shootg" persisted Scar Joe
This third question eliciting no reply.
the westerner took a quick aim at the
strangers cigar and fired. and cigar
and sparks left the smokers lips.
He didn't turn pale. He didn't look
at Scar Joe responsibility or fearfully
or any other way. He didn't look at
him at ALL He simply. took out anoth-
err cigar, lighted 1t and went on smok-
ing.
Does shoot, don't it? Shoots purity
straight, don't IL? l wonder IL could
do it again"
He fired a second shot with like re-
suits. The stranger remained as i'm |
perturbable as before, taking out an
other cigar and lighting 1t with as lit !
tie apparent objection to this waste OF /
cigars as II he were loaded down with |
them. Again Scar Joe sent ii flying
amid shower OF sparks
stranger" said the smoker In soft
voice, you're one of the best shots
ever saw. That pistol I've brought
from the east as present for my wife.
I've got another for my little girl that
I'll bet you can't hit a silver dollar
with at ten yards"
"Lemme see it."
The stranger thrust his right hand
into his trousers pocket and grasped
that he drew out so clutched
IN his fist that II was not easy to dis
,ern what ii was. One of the lockers
IN, with better or quicker sight than
he others, seemed TO get on to some
hing about to happen, for he ducked
Inder a table The stranger reached
he thing out to his tormentor. 1t ex-
)loded, and Scar Joe staggered back
ward. at the same time putting his
land to his hip. The something In
he strangers fist exploded again, and
he westerner fell dead.
One would naturally suppose that
hose present would be chiefly interest
d in the fallen man. So they were
iii they were convinced that he had
eceived his last scar Then all of
udden their minds concentrated on the
hing in the stranger hands that had
one the work. All eyes turned toward
i'm curiously. He had returned the
xplosive thing to his pocket.
Landlord" he said, I'D like some
hing to eat before l go. My wife
rites me that she'll send a team for
he to be here at 2. It's now /. I've "
lst time for dinner" y
II say. stranger" said ole present, d
would you mind lettin' us see what
net was you shot him WITH
II know what 1t is" said the man
tho had sought safety under the table.
It's a bulldog. l seen 'em before. d,
hey're the ugliest weapon at short in
inge they is goin'."
The stranger took out a short, thick r
stol with a very stocky barrel and al /
wed the party to examine IL. "a
"Was t'other one really a gift for
)ur wifeY' asked one.
Certainly. When / was called east
lie asked me to bring her a revolver =
litable for a woman"
While the stranger was dining the
,dy of his victim was being removed.
hen his team arrived and he was
living away one OF the crowd who
ID gathered TO see him of cried out.
''Much obleeged for gettin' rid OF Scar
O 1