The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-28

Mr.. Boody WIS quick ~ otsssvs II
a. " stunS to sudden acuvty. he
Strengthened himself up TO \ still
Ercater height and spoke again.
II was mcn'ionin' somcpin' about
howlih'. an pears like they In been
u howl gatherin' into my system re-
cent what's liable To- to be mo-
howiin'er n usual. I reckon I better
let II out"
This utterance marked the stage OF
The proceedings Immediately proceed
ing the incident already mentioned
that OF the sudden presentation OF
Mr.. Boody's fircarm and his attempt
10 shoot out the lights in the saloon.
Succeeding incidents ensued rapidly.
Mr.. Bassett had no such prejudice
as the old man had against the use Of
shooting irons, but he Vas afflicted
with an almost Unsuitable thirst for
strife. and he readily perceived the
excellent opening which Mr.. Body
offered. Therefore ne precipitated a
struggle with q whoop OF pure delight
almost as rauoous a. Mr.. Boody's own
yell. which arose again synchronous
with the production OF his weapon.
SASR 80 Nio oiiGIlik Waop HOW.
ever. tho old man was quicker than
he by the infinitesimal fraction OF a
second Three things happened al
most simultaneously, but came
first.
Mr.. Boody contracted his trigger
finger. Had that been the first the
big lamp that hung over old man
Greenlaw's bar would probably have
been badly injured II not destroyed.
MI. Bassett made n grab for Mr..
Boody's neck. Had he succeeded In
fastening his grip upon 1t before any
thing else happened It Is more than
probable that Mr.. Body would have
been seriously injured II not destroyed.
The old man swung his bungstarter.
and this happened, as was said. by the
narrowest OF margins. before either
OF the two other things waS fairly
accomplished. No human being could
draw q gun quite so quickly a he
could lay hold Of tho weapon no always
kept In readiness where he stood. And
no human being other than no had
ever attained to the rapidity and dex-
terity which he possessed In the man
ipulation Of Q bungstarter.
- hc0p OcSt0I II - JUN no wu6
won't to say. "bsin' . It don't have
to BE- loaded frequent, an II don't
miss iare."
When he swung It on this occasion
Il landed on Mr.. Boody's knuckles.
The immediate results were irst that
Mr.. Boody's fexed forehnger relaxed.
80 that tho trigger Of the gun was
not pulled, and secondly that the gun
was knocked out Of his hand and fiew
to Q corner Of the room. Thirdly. It
was discharged then by IA Of the
hammer hitting the floor frst. and
the bullet which sped from It grazed
Mr.. Sam Pearsall's knee. causing him
a twtnss Of pain and . spasm Of
wrath, though It inflicted no lasting
injury. The wrath. however. VA sum-
cient to induce Mr.. Pearsall to mix
In Immediately.
Fourthly. Mr.. Body finched % sud.
denly when he was struck h a he
avoided the impending grasp on his
neck and felt Bassett's hands on his
shoulder instead. After that several
things more happened.
Mr.. Boody and Mr.. Bassett began
a rough and tumble wrestling match
which was probably the most notable
one ever seen in the saioon. Mr..
Pearsall danced around. expressing
himself f%ervently in regrettable terms
and trying in vain for q chance to
swat Mr.. Boody's c~ountenance with
his hst and succeeding only I n get
ting in old man Greenlaw's way. while
that gentleman happened around in
agile fashion. looking for an oppor-
tunity TO hit Body without hitting
Bassett.
As for Jim Blaisdell and Jake Win
terbottom. the remaining two OF the
quartet that had lined up at the bar
in 70 Mr.. Boody's invitation,
they still stood at the bar. hut with
their backs turned TO II. leaning
against 4, with an expression OF the
keenest enjoyment. There seemed 10
be no occasion for them to say any
thing, and they said II. but no detail
of the fracas escaped their notice
After looking on for a time they were
forced to the conclusion that Mr.
Body had not been guilty OF any
great exaxgeratlon when he described
h!msei: as n hell cat. And this height
ened their Joy.
NOtiilNE SHUT VI hAiACPcSScPo >SSAN
reproduce all tho details Of the argu.
ment, For a considerab BILE time the e n
tire room seemed to be filled with
Heterogeneous mass Of p~alpitating hu'
mani.y. Arms and legs flew In ever,
direction, while bodies rose and fel
like tossing waves In n storm, but eve
tho old man lowered around the others
with his bungstarter poised aloft
waiting for the golden opportunity M
so eagerly desired.
Al last hc thought he had Il. ant
more quickly than cvcr tho !lghtnine
flashed he brought his trusty weapon
down on Mr.. Boody's head with 30 ter
rife force that II the blow had no
glanced the story would probably hav,
ended at the moment.
Az II was Mr.. Body was not killed
and was only partly stunned. Hi
potency az n comtatant however
seriously impaired. and though he still
disport-d himself In hell cat fashion
the others succeeded after a time ir
reducing him to a helpless condition.
Even after that tho old man lifted
his bungstarter once more. AZ II
minded 20 finish his work completely
hut even an he lifted Il he paused
"i reckon tn nin't no good KILN or
him outright. Thing 20 do Is to throw
him out. They'd be mo- r les,
Expense 'tached To II II he was to die
.n tho avovpisaap