The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-16
OLD MAN GREENLAW
FORBIDS SHOOTING
And Effcctually Prevents It,
Too, by Timely Use Of His
Bungstarter.
CASTING OF CHIPS BARRED
~ DAVID A. CURTIS.

Tho dove OF peace was preening herself
m her perch above the har In old mat
Greenlaw's saloon on the levce in Arkan-
sae City. and the old mans bungstarter
might have been supposed to be asleep.
20 quietly did II stand in its accustomed
place in the corner. The old man HIM
self was undoubtedly asleep, AZ was
evidenced by the rhythmical breathing
that was plainly audible on the other
side Of the room from where he sat in
his ~favorite chair with his feet on the
window sill. Z
The other inmates Of the room. three
in number. wero employing their time
in keeping their pipes alight and won
dering where Joe Bassett q he not
having appeared among them since the
previous night.
The profound silence of the room had
boon unbroken for 80 long that these
three seemed likely to succumb to SON.
violence also, when Of "a sudden It. mean
ing the silence or the somnolence as the
reader may choose to take II, vas sud
denly shattered by the noise of an ir-
regular fusillade in the near distance.
I, was outside. IL Is true. but ~ near
that II appeared not TO be improbable
that stray bullets might find their way
into the saloon.
On the instant all was changed. The
old man and his friends arose promptly.
though without haste or excitement, and
moved toward the door. The dove Of
peace poised herself as II preparing to
go away from there. and the bung-
starter stood by ready for immediate
action.
As the four men arose the old man
eaii: -One o. them thar guns In Joe's.
ia know her voice anywheres.' And
when the door was opened II was seen
hat he was right.
One Of those enlivening moments had
arrived in which Arkansas City put on
an appearance of activity, and the
gigantic Sheriff. as was usual at such
times, vas a conspicuous figure in the
agitation. Two gentlemen who had
come to a point at which neither Of them
vas inclined to tolerate tho further
continuance Of the other in the enjoy
ment Of existence. had undertaken each
others removal from earthly pleasures
and we're shooting at each other.
SO far the matter might have been &C.
cepted by the public Of Arkansas City as
apurely personal one. properly to be ad-
justed by them without the interference
OF any outsider, more especially without
calling for any protest from any person
who was not a resident citizen of Ar
kansas City. Fol such a to take part
in the proceedings would have peer re-
garded as a serious breach Of propriety
and presumptuous to a degree.
Nevertheless a total stranger to the in
habitants OF the settlement had almost
Immediately added to the zest Of the
proceedings by producing a frearm from
some place on his person and joining one
OF the participants in the argument, in
the energetic attempt to remove the Other
from the cares and temptations OF life
And, under the circumstances. il did no,
appear that his action was wholly un.
justifable. he having had a tiny fragmen,
Of flesh torn from the tip end OF his dexter
ear by a misdirected bullet which, though
it was not intended for his detriment, hao
come altogether too close to his vitalpart,
to be regarded with equanimity.
There were therefore three persons in.
volved in the argument at the moment
when the ever reliable Sheriff had put il
his own appearance. and the familiar
voice Of his gun, so promptly recognized
by old man Greenlaw, had added itself t.
tho chorus of peremptory ejaculation,
which had attracted the attention of thu
party In the old mans saloon.
II is, however. a fact familiar to al
who had the opportunity Of observing
such occurrences frequently that foul
presumably or eve actually goot
marksmen sometimes consume a con
siderable Of ammunition withou
accomplishing great results, and in thi
care. after four guns had been emptiei
only one of the combatants was found /,
have suffered any damage aside from tn
triAing loss Of a portion OF his ear whicl
tho stranger had sustained.
'"Mought IA been wus," he admitted
as the discussion adjourned to ole
man Greenlaw's saloon, but pears
like this yer amt no place TO to b'
into II a man wants to be safe. Here
be walkin' down the street peace,
able, an fust ] knows I'm shot at
faint no decent way to treat I
stranger"
.Th'ain't been no invite sent out 70
no strangers TO come hyar," retorte'
the old man hotly. Them that don
ike Arkansas City en- stay ava an
them that comes amt expected TO T.
butt In when two gents is Eavin' a argy
ment. II yo' all'd a stayed whar yo
b'iong 20 wouldn't a peer hit. Pear
like yo' was doin' tol'able well o f.
have yo' haid bowed on"
"Mebbe | was" replied the strange
defiantly. Il reckon mebbe if a ma
en- hold ont enough 70 his bOat far
thouten losin' his hull wad into n poke
game he's dom tol'ablc well, but
wouldn't call II no greet luck at that"
Now yo' talkin' diN'rent," said tn
old man with new interest in the con
'vrrsation. "If yo' all is lookin' To-
game. how come yo' never said nothir
about it' Th'ain't no disposition TO- I
beet If a man is lookin' To- 'Ncitcmcnt.
swell, | amt 'xactly what yo' mough
call lookin' TO il, but | amt one to d