The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-06
His Little
Boy $ Pistol
Bv THOMAS r. DUNN

where else.
A stayecoach drew up In front OF
tavern In a small town where gun ID"
was the only law on the statute BOOK
But even that was an unwritten iaw'
for there was NJ statute books to write
II in A young man. dressed In the
ordinary business costume OF New
York or Chicago or Philadeipnla OF
any other eastern city. got out OF
the coach with the other PASSENGER
and went into the tavern. He asked
II there were any letters for him. the
landlord hi nded him one. He read 1t
and hunted through his pockets Tor nis
cigar case. Not finding 1t at once ne
took out seven articles while making
the search. among them a small pistol.
Several men. denizens OF the c0un-
try, were lounging about. among them
a red faced man with a stubble beard
and as many scars on bis face as q
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 be looked 1t over with evident
pleasure and amusement
"Purty. 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 II. resting his
heels on the front round and, lighting
cigar, smoked.
"What do you do with itT' 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 qpes-
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 Il single
glance at the stranger and went on
cooking and uncocking the revolver.
"Goin to make birthday gift Of II
to your little boy?" he asked
Still no reply
twill It shoOt?" persisted Scar Joe.
This third question elic.Hng no reply,
the westerner took quick aim at the
stra nger's cigar and fired. and cigar
and sparks left the smokers lips.
He didn't turn pale He didn't look
Mt Scar Joe reproachfully or fearfully
or any other way. He didn't look al
him at all He simply took out an0th.
e. cigar. lighted II and went on sm0k.
Ing
Does shoot. don't It? Shoots purity
straight. don't II? ! wonder II could
do Il again!"
He fred . second shot with like re.
suits The stranger remained as i'm.
perturbable ~ before, taking out an.
other cigar and lighting It with as lit.
tie apparent objection to this waste OF
cigars as IL he were loaded down with
them Again Scar Joe sent It flying
amid a shower Of sparks
Stranger" said the smoker in a 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 q silver dollar
with at ten yards"
"Lemme see it"
The stranger thrust his right hanC
into his trousers pocket and graspet
something that he drew out so clutche(
In his fist that II was not easy to dis
Germ what it was. One Of the hooker.
on. with better or quicker sight thar
: the others. seemed to get on to some
thing about to happen. for he ducket
under table. The stranger reached
the thing out to his tormentor. 1t ex
ploded. and Scar Joe staggered hack
ward. at the same time putting hi
hand to his hip. The something II
the strangers 6st exploded again. an
the westerner fell dead.
One would naturally suppose tina
those present would: be chiefly interest
ed In the fallen man. 90 they wer
till they were convinced that - ha,
received bis last scar. Then al ct
sudden their minds. concentrated - tn
thing in the stranger hands that ha,
done the work All eyes turned tewar,
him curiously. He had rsturneA tn
explosive thing to bis pocket
Landlord" he said, I'D liks some
thing to eat before. ! TO- Ny VIII
writes me that she'll, send . team 70
me to be here at 2. it, now l. ~
just time for dinner
II say. stranger" said ons present
would you mind lettin' 10 80 VIVA
that was you shot him within
II know what II H." saia The ma
who had sought safety under the tabl,
IT'S a bulldog. seen 'en befor,
They're the ugliest weapon at shou
range they Is goin':"
The stranger took Qua . short, THO
pistol with a very stocky barrel and q
lowed the party 10. examine It.
WAS tother one really q Gift Il
your wife?" asked. on.
Certainly. When I was called "a,
she asked me to bsiAg her q revolv,
suitable for a woman"
While the stranger was dining Il
body Of his victin was being remove,
When his team arrived and he WI
driving away one Of the crowd WI
had gathered to see him OF cried out
Much obleesed for gettin' rid Of Sc,
Joe. he was gittin' to be a nuisance
On the identical spot where tn
:: episode happened there IL now q han
some hotel. lighted by electricity n
having all The modern improvements.