Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-11-30

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
| could feel that his arm was trem-
bling violently.
Lord, fellows. I'm ashamed he
gasped a little Historically. Il didn't
know I had so little nerver'
"Nerver' suddenly roared Danny
Randall; "confound your COMPOUNDED
impudence. If l ever hear you say an
other word like that I'll put a head on
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
over this contradiction.
did l kill him." 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 as quick as a snake
Il thought you were going to bungle
! it," said Randall. "What was the mat
tcr?'
Front sight caught at the edge of
my sleeve I had to tear it loose by
main strength. I'm going to file it
off. What's the use of front sight at
close range"
| heaved deep sigh.
"Well, l don't want ever to be so
scared again. I confessed. "Will you
tell me, by all that's holy, why you
turned your back on the door?'
"Well," said Johnny seriously, 81
| wanted to get him close to me- If I
! 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 q rotten
shot. But figured that if he thought
didn't see him he'd come across the
| room to me-"
''But he nearly got you by SURPRISE
"Oh, no. said Johnny; Il saw him
all the time l got his reflection from
/ hot MI Of hn
tiful lady sitting on the whisky bar
rel. That's why | picked out that la
ble"
My son." cried Danny Randall de-
! lightedly, "you're true sport. You've
got a head, you have!'
We'll" said Johnny, Il figured I'd
have to do something; Pm such a rot
ten shot"
We slept late the following morning
and awokc tired, as though we had
been On long journey.
"Now," said Johnny when our after
breakfast pipes had been lit, "We've
got to get together. There's one i'm
portant question before the house
who and what is Danny Randall?"
Il agree with you there" said l
heartily.
We separated until noon. Johnny re-
turned promptly at II.
GAS to Danny Randall" he began at
once, "Origin lost in mists of Obscurity.
First known in this country as guide
to party of overland immigrants be-
fore the gold discovery. One Of the
original Bear Flag revolutionists. Mem
Der OF Fremont's raiders in the south
Showed up again at SOnOma and head
ed a dozen forays after the horse
thieying Indians and half breeds in
the San Joaquin. Seems now to fol-
low the mines. Guaranteed the best
shot with rifle Or pistol in the state.
Guaranteed the best courage and the
quietest manners in the state. Very
eminent and square in his profession.
That's his entire history"
"What is his professionY | asked.
He runs the Bella Union
"A gambler" l cried, astonished.
Gust so, a square gambler"
ment.
Did you discover anything for your
self?' l asked at last.
BEST job ever invented" said John
ny triumphantly, Eat three ounces a
day, and | can't beat that at your
beastly diggings.' ..
'Yes?" l urged.
Il invented it myself, too" went on
Johnny proudly. "YOu remember what
Randall Or the doctor said about the
robberies and the bodies of the drown
ed men floating? Well, every man
carries his dust around in a belt be-
cause he dare not do anything else
with it. l do myself, and SO do you,
and you'll agree that it weighs like
the mischief. SO | went to Randall
and | suggested that we start an eX-
press service to get the stuff out to
bank with some good firm in San
Francisco He fell in with the idea in
a minute. My first notion was that
we take it right through to San Fran