The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-05-02
Romance Of a
Toy Pistol
B. WILLARD BLAKEMAN

During the NATURALIZATION period,
when western manners were not 20
polished AZ they are now. a man dress
ed In q checkerboard suit. q derby
hat and patent leather shoes entered q
gambling den In Nevada and stood
looking over q small game Of poker.
Not finding 1t especially interesting, he
sauntered up to the bar and called for
q cigar.
Now. the apparel Of the citizens Of
the town consisted of a sombrero. a
flannel shirt, trousers held up by a
cartridge belt, to which were slung usu.
ally two revolvers, and cowhide boots.
No such costume as that worn by the
man In the checkerboard suit had ever
been seen In that region. In the east,
taking together the pattern Of his
clothes and a clean shaver face. he
would have been set down at once as
an actor; In the west, where theatre
calls at that time were unknown. the
gentleman was a puzzle. Two men
who were drinking together at the 9th.
er end Of the bar began to sit up and
take notice of the stranger.
what do you think 1t Is. Jlm?" said
one.
Dunno, Pete. Reckon it's one o
them balloons they hev In dime mu.
seums In st. Louis or Kansas City
dressed up fancy"
"Reckon we'd better f1nd out"
The curiosity at that moment had
lit his cigar and was turning away.
Pete accosted him:
"see here. stranger. what kind Of q
game do they play ON you. anyways"
"Checkers." said the smoker imper-
turbably.
"Reckon y hev to lay down. don't
""
"Oh, yes: I always lie down and let
'em play on my back. It's rather tire
some, though. have to lie quiet or
spill the checkers and knock the game
into pi."
"Jesso. Do you carry a weepon un'
der your coattails"
"Oh. yes. Why do you ask"
."Well l was thinkin' when y hev
nothin' to do y might take OF yer coat.
hang it up and see how many o. them
squares y kin PUNK. Lemme see yer
gun|
The stranger put his hand under his
coat, pulled out a revolver Of dimlnu-
tive size aud handed 1t to the nan
Pete-who was firing the questions ut
him, for examination. Pete took 1t,
laid 1t in, the palm of his hand aud
seemed very much amused.
"Cunnin'. isn't it," he said. whats
it for?"
"Well, in Kansas City, where | come
from, there's several Of us wear this
kind OF suits, ind 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 uncocked the pistol
several times. evidently much pleased
with it, then. raising 1t, pulled the trig'
ger and the cigar few 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 II
and-pufing away like a ferryboat.
..It shoots all right" said Pete. and
in q moment there was another shot
and the second cigar spun around In
the air and fell o the door somewhat
shattered.
"Now that you zee how 1t shoots
wouldn't do that any MORE" said the
checkerboaM man "It isn't worth
WHILE, He called for a third cigar
and while lighting It added: IF you're
bound to try It another time better dc
1t at longer range. AnythingW shoot
straight close up"
At the: fEst remark Pete's brow dark
sned. At the second It cleared again
sAll right; you 90 TO the other end
o,Sthe bar and RI stand at this end"
.Done.s said tie stranger. and b.
walked slowly toward the designated
SplGcs. his back being exposed to the
man with the pistol.
The Inmates Of the saloon watched
for tho result OF THU. singular trial Of
the smcisncy Of Whist they called q
thy gun. The .tafget" walked with
The cigaf In his mouth. whils Pete held
The pistol ready to nrs q soon % ht
should turn. ~ he Wal about to swing
sound the stranger put hiS hand to thu