Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-12-14

II think I'll go turn in," said he.
At the door he stopped.
"Good night" he said to Randall and
his friends, who had followed us. "No,
I am obliged to you," he replied to a
suggestion, "but l need no escort" and
he said it so firmly that all but Ran
dali went back.
I'm going to your camp with you,
whether you need an escort or not"
said the latter.
Without a word Johnny walked
away down the street very straight.
We hurried to catch up with him, and
just as we did SO he collapsed to the
ground and was suddenly and violent
ly sick. AS I helped him to his feet
l could feel that his arm was trem-
bling violently.
Lord. fellows! Pm ashamed he
gasped a little Historically. 81 didn't
know l had so little nerve!.
Nerve" suddenly roared Danny
Randall; %"confound your COMPOUNDED
impudence! If I ever hear you say an
OIllcl "Olu linz thlL L IL put IL uctl oll
you, if it's the last act Of my life!
You're the gamest little chicken in this
roost, and I'll make you beg like a
hound if you say you aren't..'
Johnny laughed a little uncertainty
| oycr this contradiction.
''Did | kill HING he asked.
"No, worse luck; just bored him
through the collarbone. That heavy
little derringer ball Knocked him out"
I'm glad Of that" said Johnny.
(Which | am not" stated Danny
Randall With emphasis. You ought
to have killed him"
"Thanks to YOU l wasn't killed my
self. l couldn't have hoped to get the
draw on him with my holster gun.
He is rs quick as a snake"
81 thought YOU were ON to bungle
it," said Randall. What wns the mat
ter?'
Front sight caught at the edge of
my sleeve. | had to tear it loose by
main strength. I'm going to file it
off. What's the use of Il front sight at
close range"
heaved Il deep sigh.
well, ! don't want ever to be so
scared again." l confessed. "Nill YOU
tell me. by all that's holy, why you
turned your back on the door,
WELL" said Johnny seriously, Il
wanted to get him close to me. II l
had shown him that I'd seen him when
he first came In the door he'd have
opened fire at once. And I'm a rotten
shot. But | figured that If he thought
I didn't sec him he'd come across the
room to me-"
But he nearly got you by surprise"
"Oh, no. said Johnny; II saw him
all the time. l got his reflection from
the glass over that picture of the beau.
tiful lady sitting on the whisky bar
rel. That's why | picked out that ia
ble."
MY SON" cried Danny Randall de
lightedly. you're IL true sport. You've
got a head, you havc!!'
Well said Johnny, II figured Ia
have to do something; I'm such a rot
ten shot"
we slept late the following morning
and awoke tired. rs though we ha(
been on a long journey.
Now said Johnny when our after
breakfast pipes had been lit, ''wc've
got to get together. There's n i'm
portant question before the house
who and what is Danny Randall:'
81 agree with you there said
heartily.
We separated until noon. johnny re
turned promptly at II.
"As to Danny Randall" he began Al
once. "origin lost in mists Of obscurity
First known in this country as q guide
to q party Of overland immigrants be
fore the gold discovery. One of tht
original Bear Flag revolutionists. Mem
Der Of Fremont's raiders in the south
Showed up again at sSonoma. and head
ed a dozen forays after the horse
thieving Indians and half breeds il
the San Joaquin. Seems now to fol
low the mines. Guaranteed the bes
shot with rifle or pistol in the state
Guaranteed the best courage and the
quietest in the state. Very
eminent and square in his profession
That's his entire history"
What is his profession?' l asked.
He runs the Bella Union"
"a gambler" l cried, astonished.
Just so, q square gambler"
l digested this in silence for a mo
ment.
Did you discover anything for your
self" | asked at last.
BEST job yer invented" said John
ny triumphantly, "at three ounces {
day, and l can't beat that at you
beastly diggings."
"Yes?" l urged.
II invented it myself, too" went or
Johnny proudly. you remember wha1
Randall or the doctor said about the
robberies and the bodies of the drown
ed men floating? Well, every mar
carries his dust around in a belt be
cause he dare not do anything else
with it. | do myself, and so do you
and you'll agree that it weighs like