The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-10
His Little
Boy S Pistol
Bv THOMAS R. DUNN


where else.
stagecoach drew up in front OF
tavern in a small town where gun law
was the only law on the statute Dooh
But even that was an unwritten 'a"'
for there was no statute books to write
1t in. A young man. dressed 10 Tue
ordinary business costume OF Ne"
York or Chicago or Philadelphia or
any other eastern city. got out Oh
the coach with the other passengers
and went into the tavern. he askeu
II there were any letters for him. Inc
landlord handed him one. He read II
and hunted through his pockets for MS
cigar case. Not finding 1t at once. ne
took out seven articles while making
the search among them small plsto'
Several men. deniZens OF the coun-
try. were lounging about among theln
a red faced man with a stubble beard
and as many scars on his race as
German student member of a 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 it over with evident
pleasure and amusement.
Purity. isn't it," he remarked.
He continued to examine 1t, cooking
and unlocking it. 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
a cigar. smoked
what do you do with itr' 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.
Il
to your little boy?" he asked.
Still no reply.
evil it shoot?" persisted Scar Joe
This third question elicting 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 1t and went on smok.
ing
Does shoot. don't It? Shoots purity
straight. don't II? wonder II I could
do It again."
He fred 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 1t flying
amid Il shower Of sparks
stranger" said the smoker in soft
voice, you're one Of the best shots l
ever saw That pistol I've brought
from the east as a 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
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 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 In 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 | Co. My wife
writes me that she'll send a team for
me to be here at 2. It's now 1. I've
just time for dinner"
Il say. stranger" said one present.
would you mind lettin' US see what
that was you shot him within
Il know what 1t is" said the man
who had sought safety under the table
ITS bulldog. seen 'em before.
They're the ugliest weapon at short
range they is goin'"
The stranger took out q short. thick
pistol with very stocky barrel and al.
lowed the party to examine It.
WAS t'other one really a gift for
Your wife," asked one
certainly When I was called cas-,
she asked me to bring her a revolver
suitable for woman"
While the stranger was dining the
body OF his victim was being removed
When his team arrived and he was
driving away one Of the crowd who
had gathered To see him Off cried out.
Much ohleeged for gettin' rid Of Sea,
Joe He was cittin' to be nuisance
| TN the Identical spot where this
episode happened there is now a hand
some hotel. lighted by electricity and
laHllSt all thu