Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-12-07
Copyright, 1918, by Doubleday, Page G. Co.

much. If you can shoot at all you can
! shoot straight enough to hit q man ut
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.
l judged you didn't know conditions
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 Il pretty good sort. Just
keep organized; that's all"
Now, l wonder who Danny Randall
is" speculatcd Johnny after our Wis
itor had departed. "He talked as
though we ought to know all about it.
I'm going to find Il from the first fell
low ( get acquainted with"
Next morning we asked the Morcnas
who was Danny Randall.
Eel diabolo," replied Morcna shortly
and trudged o%bstinately away to his
work without vouchsatlng further in
formation.
(Which is interesting, but Indefinite"
said Johnny.
The rest Of the day and Of several
days following we spent i'll putting up
u tent, ditching it. arranging our
cooking affairs, building rough seats
and generally making ourselves com
Portable. We stretched these things
to V n 8 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.
\ 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, I am sure. At
odd intervals we practiced conscien-
tiously and solemnly at the draw"
We would stand fucing each other, the
nipples Of our rcvolvers 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. l am always somewhat
clumsy, but my friend was naturally
quick and keen at all games Of skill or
L was LIZ oOAJ vi hIli
who could bowl or play pool or bill
lizards or anything else rather better
than the average accustomed player
the first time he tried. lie turned card
tricks deftly. At the end OF our three
days loafing he caught me at the end
Of his pistol so regularly that there
ceased to be any contest in it. | never
did get the sleeve trick; but, then, l
never succeeded in fooling the mcreSt
infant with any OF my attempts at
leserdemain. Johnny could flip that
little derrinyer out with a twist Of his
supple wrist as neatly as a snake darts
its forked tongue. For ten minutes at
a time he practiced it, over and over,
US regularly as well oiled machinery.
But that proves nothing as to how
it would work out in real action" said
Johnny thoughtfully.
The afternoon of the third day while
We were resting from the heat beneath
the shade OF our tree we were APP
preached by three men.
"Howdy, boys:" said the first. 1--WE
hain't seen you around camp lately
and thought mebbe you'd flew"
I'VE are still here" replied Johnny,
with smooth politeness. CAS- you sec,
we have been fixing our quarters to
stay here"
"Scarface Charley is here. too,' OBJ
served the spokesman, land he want
ed me to tell you that he is going to
be ut the Bella Union at 8 this %evenin',
and he wants to know will he see you,
and to come heeled."
"Thank you. gentlemen replied
Johnny quietly. IF by accident you
should happen to sec the desperate in
question-Who. assume, can be in no
way your fricnd-I hope you will tell
him that /, too, will be at the Bella
Union at s o'clock. and that l will
come heeled.'
you'll be comm alone said she
a "or p'rhaps yore frlcnd"-
My friend, as you call him, is sim
ply a miner and has nothing to do with
this" interrupted Johnny emphatically.
II thank you. SIR" said the spokes-
man, rising.
The other two, who had throughout
said no word, followed his example.
DO you know Danny Randall|" said
Johnny as they moved off.
If lie had presented his derringer u II
der their noses they could not have
stopped more suddenly. They stared
at each other a moment.
us he a friend of yours?" inquired
the spokesman after an uncertain mo-
ment.
HE likes fair play" said Johnny
automatically.
The trio moved off in the direction of
town.
1--WE don't know any more about
Danny Randall than we did" observed
Johnny. but l tried a shot in the
dark"
Nevertheless" l told him, Pm 60
ing to be there, and you want to make
up your mind to Just that"
"You will come, of course agreed
Tohpnv HI S,DpnSo 7 ,,nnnt Ennr ro,