davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-11-23
me? What are you talking about?'

He looked from one to the other of US,
then returned the few steps he had
taken. II believe you don't know NE.
I'm Randall, Danny Randall"
"Yes?" puzzled Johnny.
''Of Sonoma," added Randall.
Il suppose l should know you, but
I'm afraid ! DON'T" confessed Johnny.
Randall turned back to the tree be-
meath which lay our effects.
II believe I'll just have cup Of COT
fee with you boys" said he.
We blew up the fire, secured the fry
ing pan, made ourselves food. Randall
brought a pail Of water. We all ate
together, without much conversation,
then lit orr pipes and piled on dry
wood to make a brighter friendship
fire.
Now, boys" said Randall, I'm go
ing to ask you some questions, and
you can answer me or not, just as you
osity"
Johnny, who was studying him COW
ertly from beneath the shadow of his
hat, nodded briefly, but said nothing.
How long have you been in the
mines?"
"Since March"
'Since March, echoed Randall. as
though a little bewiilered at this re-
ply. "Yet you never heard What
camp?"
Johnny studied awhile.
"Hangman's Gulch for six weeks"
said he, "then just prospecting"
"Where?"
Il don't believe I'll answer that ques
tion,'' replied Johnny slowly.
But somewhere back in the hills? ?"
persisted Randall.
Somewhere back in the hills" agreed
Johnny.
Seems to me- l broke in, but
Johnny silenced me with gesture.
He was watching Randall intently and
thinking hard.
'Then you have been out of it for
three months Or so. That explains it.
Now, | don't mind telling you | came
up here this evening to size you up. l
heard about your TOW with Scarface
Charley, and l wanted to see whether
you were just another fighting desper-
ado or an honest man. Well, Pm sat
isfied. I'm not going to ask you if you
have much gold with you, for you
wouldn't tell me, but if you have keep
it with you. If you don't you'll lose
it. Keep in the middle Of the road
and out of dark places. This is tough
camp, but there are lot of us good
men, too, and my business is to get
us all to know each other. Things are
getting bad, and we've got to get to-
gether. That's why / came up to see
you. Are you handy with a gun?" he
asked abruptly.
Fair" said Johnny.
''You need to be. Let's see if you
are Stand up. Try to get the draw
on me- NOWw
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-11-23

came open Johnny. without waiting for
hostile demonstration. jerked his two
revolvers from their holsters. With
one bound he reac he'd the center of the
room and thrust the muzzles beneath
the bully's nose His black eyes were
swapping.
"Shut up, you Hound he said in a
low, even voice. Il wouldn't condos
ce~d to make money out Of your mis-
cradle carcass, except at a glue fac
tory. And if you or your friends so
much as wink an eyelid I'll put you
In shape for it,
Caught absolutely by surprise, the
Hound stared fascinated into the
pistol barrels. his jaw dropped, his
face redder than ever, his eyes ridicu-
lousy protruding. l had recovered my
wits and had backed against the bull
letin board, revolver i'll either hand.
keeping an eye on the general COM
pany Those who had burst in with
the bully had stopped frozen in their
tracks. The others were interested,
but not particularly excited.
Johnny advised crisply, land I'm not
going to be bothered by big bluffs like
you. l warn you, and all like you. to
let me alone and keep away from me.
You stay in camp. or you can leave
camp, just as you please, but l warn
you that l shoot you next time l lay
eyes on you. Now about face!
March,
Johnny's voice had an edge of steel.
The big man obeyed orders implicitly.
He turned slowly and sneaked out the
door His followers shambled toward
the bar. Johnny passed them rather
contemptuOusly under the review of
his swapping eyes, and they shambled
q trifle faster. Then with elaborate
nonchalance we sauntered out
''My Lord. Johnny" l cried when we
had reached the street, that was fine!
l didn't know you had it in you"'
What stupid, useless ness he
cried. "The minute that fellow came
into the room saw we were let in for
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-11-23

had something definite to antag0niZe.
AS it was. we sat bumped around our
fire until morning.
With daylight we began to get grip
on ourselves Il little. | felt strongly
that | should see to Yank and so an
nOunced. Johnny at once offered to
accompany me. While we were talk
ing over the future prospects McNally
came over to us, saying:
The boys are pretty we'll agreed that
we ought to divide up what gold is left
and let each man take care of his own
share. Are you agreeable"
We instantly asSented. The scales
were brought out, and the division be-
gan. 1t consumed most Of the morn
Ing and was productive of much SQUAD
bling, in which, however. we took no
part Our share, including Yank S,
with which we were intrusted. came to
about thirty-one pounds. a value of
about $1,000.
BY noon we had packed our goods,
and by night we had broken the back
of our return journey.
We found full grown town where
we had left few tents and miners
cabins. Its main street ran either side
the deep dust Of the immigrant trail
and consisted of the usual shanties,
canvas shackS and log structures, with
rather more than the customary al
lowance of tin cans, old clothes, worn
out boots and empty barrels kicking
around The diggings were in the
gulch below the road, but the streets
of the town, and especially the shady
sides of the buildings, were numerous
ly furnished with lounging men.
Don Gaspar led the way for a short
distance along the wagon road. On
the outskirts of the settlement he turn
ed aside to a small log cabin supple
mented by brush lean-to. A long
string of bright red peppers hung down
the face of it. To our knock came a
very fat rather dirty but exceedingly
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-11-23

row; so | went at it quick before he
had got organized. He didn't expect
that He thought he'd have to work
us into it.
ut certainly got him." said |.
But it just starts us all wrong
here" complained Johnny. eve are
marked men,"
We went out to see Yank, with the
full intention Of spending the evening
and cheering him up. He was doing,
restless, waking and sleeping by fits
and starts. We sat around in the awk-
ward fashion peculiar to very young
boys in the sickroom, and then, to our
vast relief, were showed out by Sonora
MOrena. With her we held a whisper
ed conversation outside, and completed
satisfactory arrangements for Yank's
keep. She was a chuckling, easy go
ing, motherly sort of creature, and we
were very lucky to have her. Then
we returned in the gathering dusk to
our camp under the trees across the
way.
A man rose from a seat against a
tree trunk.
Good evenin', stranger" said he
Good evening" responded Johnny
guardedly.
'You are the man who stuck up Scar
face Charley in Morton's place. amt
you?
whats that to your replied John
ny. Are you a friend of his ?"
His habitual air of young careless
ness had fallen from him. His eye
was steady and frosty, his face set in
stern lines. Before my wondering eyes
he had grown ten years older in the
last six hours. The other was lOung-
ing toward us-a short. slight man,
with faXen moustache and eyebrows,
a colorless face, pale blue eyes and a
bald forehead from which the hat had
been pushed back. He was chewing a
straw.
"Well, | was just inquirin' in q
friendly sort of way" replied the new
conner peaceably.
II don't know you," stated Johnny
shortly, nor who you'Se friends to, nor
your camp. l deny your right to ask
questions. Good night"
well good night agreed the other,
still peaceable. Il reckon l gather con-
siderable about you, anyhow" He
turned away. II had a notion from
what | heard that you was sort of
picked on, and l dropped round sort
of friendly like. but Lord love you! l
don't care how many of you despera-
does kill each other. Go to it, and
good riddancew He cast his pale blue
eyes on Johnny's rigid figure. "Also
go to the dickensv he remarked dis
passionately.
Johnny stared at him, puzzled.
Hold on he called after a mo-
ment. Then you're not a friend Of
this Hound?"
The stranger turned in slow surprise.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-11-23

caught the same suspicion, for his fig
ure stiffened. Then Randall dropped
his hand.
every pretty" said Johnny coolly.
"How did you do that? / didn't catch
your motion"
From the sleeve" said Randall.
'It's difficult, but it's pretty, as you
say, and if you learn to draw from the
sleeve I'll guarantee you'll get the
draw on your man every time"
"Show me-" said Johnny simply.
'"That gun of yours is too big. It's
a holster weapon. Here, take this"
He handed Johnny a beautifully bal
anced small revolver, engraved and
silver plated, with polished rosewood
handle. This he showed Johnny how
to stow away in the sleeve, how to
arrange it, how to grasp it and the ex-
act motion in snatching it away.
at takes practice, lots Of it and then
more Of it," said Randall. cts worse
than useless unless you get it just
right. If you made a mistake at the
wrong time the other man would get
you sure.
where can get one of these?" ask
ed Johnny.
"Goodv' Randall approved his deci-
sion. 'You see the necessity. You
can't But a derringer is about as
good, and Jones has them for sale.
Now as for your holster gun. The
whole trick of quick drawing is to
throw your right shoulder forward and
drag the gun from the holster with one
forward sweep. Don't lift it up and
out. This way" He snapped his hand
past his hip and brought it away
armed.
pretty" repeated Johnny.
Don't waste much powder and ball
shooting at a mark" advised Randall.
at looks nice to cut out the ace OF
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-11-23

We saw the futility Of our first i'll
stinctivc flare Of suspicion. 1t was
obvious that il Don Gaspar and Buck
Barry had intended treachery they
would never have returned to us. |
think that, curiously enough, we were
unreasonabiy a little sorry for this 1t
would have been satisfactory to have