The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-08
His Little
Boy S Pistol
Bv THOMAS r. DUNN

now than they were tnen. Ahueeu'
tbey are as civilized there as any
where else.
A stagecoach drew up in front OF
tavern in q small town where gun law
was the only law on the statute book
But even that was an unwritfen law.
for there was no statute books to write
1t in. A 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
II there were any letters for him The
landlord handed him one. He read II
and hunted through bis pockets Tor MS
cigar case Not finding it at once. ne
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
a red faced man with stubble beard
and as many scars on his race as
German student member OF due1ng
corps. This man caught sight OF the
new arrivals pistol. and it at once ex-
cited his interest.
"Lemme see that. stranger. ne sald.
The young man handed him the PTS
tol, and he looked it over with evident
pleasure and amusement.
"Purty. isn't it?" he remarked.
He continued to examine it. 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
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 uneasiiy
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.
"Goin' to make a birthday gift Of it
to your little boy?" he asked
Still no reply.
"Will 1t shoot?" persisted Scar Joe.
This third question eliciting no reply.
the westerner took a 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 II could
do 1t again"
He fred q second shot with like re-
suits. The stranger remained a. 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 be were loaded down with
them. Again Scar Joe sent It flying
amid shower Of sparks.
Stranger" said the smoker in q soft
voice, you're one of the best shots I
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 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 il 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 hi
hand to his hip The something II
the strangers fist exploded again. ant
the westerner fell dead
One would naturally suppose tina
those present would be chiefly interest
ed in the fallen man. So they wer
till they were convinced that he ha,
received his last scar. Then all of
sudden their minds concentrated on tn
thing in the stranger hands that ha,
done the work All eyes turned towar,
him curiously. He had returned tn
explosive thing to his pocket
Landlord" he said, I'D like some
thing to eat before ! go. My wifi
writes me that she'll send team 70
me to be here at 2. It's now l. Pv
Just time for dinner"
II say, stranger" said one presen
would You mind lettin' us see wha
that was you shot him withT"
u know what 1t is" said the ma
who had sought safety under the tabl
Its bulldog. seen 'em befor
They're the ugliest weapon at sho1
range they is goin'"
The stranger took out a short. thic
pistol with very stocky barrel and a
) lowed the party to examine it.
WAS t'other one really a gift I,
: TOUR wife?" asked one.
!, Certainly When was called ca
l she asked me to bring her a revolv'
suitable for woman"
While the stranger was dining d
:. body of his victim was being remove
When his team arrived and he ",
: driving away one Of the crowd wi
had gathered to see him OF cried out
Much obleeged for gettin' rid of Sc