Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-09-27
CHAPTER KILL
The Rule u tho lavvleoo.

ss9>s CHAPTER KILL
u Tks Rule q ths Lawlsss.
MONG the occasional visitors q
4 ~ camp was a man who called
himself Harry Crawford. BE
4 = was q man Of perhaps TWEEN.
ey-dve years, tall, rather slender. with
q clear face and laughing blue eyes
Nothing in bis appearance indicated
the desperate. and yet we had long
known him a. one Of the Morton gang
This man now took up his residence IN
camp, and we soon discovered that b.
vas evidently the killer. Tho hrst
afternoon be picked some sort Of q
petty quarrel with Thompson over q
purchase, bat cooled down instantly
when Unexpectedly confronted by q
half dozen miners who came In at the
opportune moment A few days after
ward In tho slack time Of the after.
noon Thompson. while drinking at the
haf Of the Empire and converting with
. friend, was approached by well
known sodden hanger-on Of the ~
looms.
''What are you fellows talking
aboutr demanded this man impu-
dently.
.None Of your business" replied
Thompson impatiently, for the man
was q public nuisance and besides
was deep In Thompson's debt
The man broke into foul oathA
~II dare you to Hghtg' be cried In
furious passion.
Facing about, Thompson saw Cxaw-
ford standing attentively among the
listeners and instantly comprehended
the situation.
"You have the odds Of me with q
pistol" said Thompson, who notori-
ously had no skill with that weapon.
''Why should I fight your
"Well then" cried the man, put up
your fists! That'll show who Is the
best manr'
He snatched of his belt and laid It
on the bar Thompson did the same.
"C0me ou!' cried the challenger,
backing away.
Thompson, thoroughly angry, reach
ed over and slapped his antagonist.
The latter promptly drew another re-
voler from beneath his coat, but be-
fore he could aim 1t Thompson jump
ed at his throat and disarmed him. At
this moment Crawford interfered, ap-
parently as peacemaker. Thompson
was later told secretly by the barkeep-
or that the scheme was to lure him
into 8 pistol light IN the street when
Crawford would be ready to shoot him
% soon as the first shot was fired.
On the strength Of this Interference
Crawford next pretended to friendship
and spent much of his time at Thomp-
sons store. Thompson Was in no way
deceived. This state Of affairs contin-
ued for two days It terminated In
the following manner: Crawford. sit
ting half on the counter and talking
with all the great charm of which he
was master, led the subject to weap
Ons,
@This revolver Of mine," said he, at
the same time drawing the weapon
from it's holster, ''is one Of the old
navy model. You don't often see them
nowadays. 1t has q double lock-" He
cooked it as though to illustrate his
point and the muzzle, as though by
accident, swept toward the other man.
He looked up from his affected close
examination to find that Thompson
had also drawn his weapon and that
the barrel was pointing uncompromis-
ingly in his direction
For q moment the two stared each
other in the eye. Then Crawford
sheathed his pistol with an oath.
what do you mean by that?" he
cried.
II mean," said Thompson firmly,
''that l do not intend you shall get
the advantage Of me. You know my
opinion OF you and your gang. l shall
not be shot by any of you If I can
help It."
Crawford withdrew quietly, but lat.
er in the day approached big group
Of US. one Of which was Thompson.
There's matter between you and
me has got to be settled!" he cried.
SWELL l can't imagine what it is,'
replied Thompson I'm not aware
that I've said or done anything to you
that needs settlement"
"You needn't laughr replied Craw.
ford, with string OF insulting oaths.
"You're a coward, and II you're any.
thing Of man you will step out OF
doors and have this out"
II am, as you say, coward" re.
Piled Thompson quietly, "and see NO
reason for going out OF doors to fight
you OF anybody else"
After clustering and swearing tor q
few moments Crawford withdrew. &c
made no attempt to fight, nor do be
lieve his outburst had any other pur'
pose than to establish the purely per
sonal character of the quarrel between
Thompson and himself. At any rate
Thompson was next morning found
murdered in his bunk, while Crawford
had disappeared. do not know
whether Crawford had killed him OF
not. I think not.
About this time formal printed no
tees Of some sort Of election were
posted on the bulletin board at Nor
toms place. At least they were sale
to have been posted and were pointed
out to all Corners the day after cleo
ton. Perhaps they were there all the
time, as claimed, but nobody pai(
much attention to them. At any rate
we one day awoke to the fact that We