Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-11-23
hearts at ten yards, but it doesn't mean

hearts at ten yards, but IL doesn't mean
much. If you can shoot at all you can
! shoot straight enough to hit man at
close range. Practice the draw" He
turned to me. You'd better practice
too. Every mans got to take care of
himself these days. But you're not
due for trouble same as your friend is"
I'm obliged to. you," said Johnny.
you are not. Now it's up to you.
here, and l thought it only right to
warn you. There's lots of good fell
lows In this camp, and some of the
hard cases are pretty good sort. Just
keep organized; that's ALL
Nov, l wonder who Danny Randall
is?" speculated Johnny after our WIS.,
itor had departed. HE talked as
though we ought to know all about it.
I'm going to find out from the first fell
low l get acquainted WITH
Next morning we asked the Morenas
| who was Danny Randall.
lei diabOlo," replied Morena shortly
and trudged ObStinately away to his
work without vouchsafing further in
formation.
(Which is interesting, but indefinite"
said Johnny.
The rest of the day and of several
days following we spent in putting up
our tent, ditching it, arranging our
cooking affairs, building rough seats
and generally making ourselves ccm-
Portable. We stretched these things
to cover as long a space of time as
possible, for we secretly dreaded fac
ing the resumption of the old grind
and postponed it as long as we could.
A good deal of the time we spent at
Yank's bedside, generally sitting silent
and constrained, to the mutual discom-
| fort of all three of us, | am sure. At
odd intervals we practiced conscien-
| tiously and solemnly at the draw"
We would stand facing each other, the
nipples of our revOlvers uncapped, and
would at the given word see who could
cover the other first. We took turns
at giving the word. At first we were
not far apart, but Johnny quickly pass
ed me In skill. | am always somewhat
quick and keen at all games of skill or
deXterity. He was the sort of man
who could bowl or play pool or bill
lizards or anything else rather better
than the average accustomed player
| the first time he tried. He turned card
tricks deftly. At the end of our three
| days loating he caught me ut the end
Of I, ~ .,,Ix, Tl,,,t
ceased to be any contest in it. | never
did get the sleeve trick; but, then, |
never succeeded in foolng the merest
infant with any of my attempts ut
legerdemain. Johnny could flip that
little derringer out with Il twist of his
/ supple wrist as neatly rs Il snake darts
its fOrked tongue. For ten minutes at
Il time he practiced it, over and over,
as regularly as well oiled machinery.
but that proves nothing as to how
! it wo,lld work out in real action said
Johnny thoughtfully.
The afternoon of the third day while
we were resting from the heat beneath
dhe shade of our tree we were ap-
preached by three men.
"Howdy, bOys?' said the first. eve
! hain't seen you around camp lately
and thought mebbe you'd flew"
I'VE are still here" replied Johnny,
| with smooth pOlitenesS. GAS you see,
we have been fixing our quarters to
stay here"
"Scarface Charley is here, too" OBJ
served the spokesman, "and he want
ed me to tell you that he is going to
be at the Bella Union at s this evenin',
and he wants to know will he see you,
and to come hcCled"
CONTINUED NEXT WEEKD