Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-09-13

days following we spent In putting up
our tent. ditching it, arranging our
cooking affairs, building rough seats
and generally making ourselves COM
Portable. We stretched these things
to cover as long space Of time as
possible, for we secretly dreaded fac
ing the resumption Of the old grind
and postponed 1t as long as we could.
A good deal of the time we spent at
Yank's bedside, generally sitting silent
aud constrained. to the mutual discom-
fort Of all three Of us, am sure. At
odd intervals we practiced conscien-
tiously and solemnly ut the draw"
We would stand facing each other, the
nipples of our revolvers uncapped, an2
would ut 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. am always somewhat
clumsy, but my friend was naturally
quick and keen at all games Of skill or
deXterity. He was the sort of man
who could bowl or play pool or BIZ
lizards or anything else rather better
than the average accustomed player
the first time he tried. He turned card
tricks deity. 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, i
never succeeded in fooling the merest
infant with any Of my attempts at
legerdemain. Johnny could flip that
little derringer ont with twist Of his
supple wrist as neatly as snake darts
its forked tongue. For ten minutes at
time he practiced it, over and over.
as 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 ap-
preached by three men.
"Howdy, boys?' said the first. Eve
hain't seen you around camp lately
and thought mebbe you'd few"
I'VE are still here" replied Johnny.
with smooth politeness. LAS you see,
we have been fixing our quarters to
stay here"
"Scarface Charley is here. too" OBJ
served the spokesman, "and he want
ed me to tell you that he Is going to
be at 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 see the desperate in
question--who, assume, can be in no
way your friend-I hope you will tell
him that l, too will be at the Bella
Union at 8 o'clock, and that will
come heeled."
you'll be comm alone" said the
man. "or p'rhaps yore friend
"My friend, as you call him, Is sim
ply a miner and has nothing to do with
this" interrupted Johnny emphatically.
81 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 I'M
der their noses they could not have
stopped more suddenly. They stared
at each other a moment. -.
SIS he friend Of y6urs?" inquired
the spokesman after an uncertain mo-
ment.
~He likes fair play" said Johnny
enigmatically.
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 tried shot In the
dark"
Nevertheless" told him, I'm 60
ing to be there, and you want to make
up your mind to just that
"You will come. Of course agreed
Johnny. II suppose cannot keep you
from that But JIM" he commanded
earnestly. you must swear to keep
out of the row unless it develops into
q general one and you must swear not
to speak to me or make any sign, no
matter what happens. l must play a
lone hand
He was firm on this point, and In
the end gave my promise. to his evi-
dent relief.
This Is our visitors day evidently,
he observed. Here come two more
men. One of them is the doctor. Ia
know that hat two miles,"
"The other is our friend Danny Ran.
dali" said l.
DR.. Rankin greeted us with a cor
diality l had not suspected In him
Randall nodded in his usual diffident
fashion and slid into the oak shadow
where he squatted on his heels.
about this Scarface Charley" he
said abruptly, Il hear he's issued his
def, and you've taken him up. Dc
you know anything about this sort Of
thing?
mot a bit" admitted Johnny frank
~. rs it duel, and are You gentle
men here to act us my seconds"
1T is not" stated the downright doc
tor. Its Il barroOm murder, and 70,
cannot get around it, and l, for one
don't try. But now you're in for II
and you've got to go through with it.
II intend to- said Johnny.
Its not precisely that" objected
Danny Randall. flor. dye see. he:
sent you warming