The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-09-17
My Clerk
BY JAMES BRAlNARp

luot tWo MINIS " pNoPis lhehi 40 u
honest and them as is at open wa
with the rest O. the world. It's the mid
die classes that beats you. There was
one ON 'em-the outlaws, mean-thal
! didn't want around. for he'd carried
things too far and there was price sci
on his head. That was Dandy Jim
Dandy Jim's head was worth $1,000 to
any man that could git the drop on
him.
One day a young woman came to my
place and wanted TO work In my store.
tole her didn't want woman, but
she said she'd work for her board, and
after talkin' to my wife about 1t | en-
gagged her. She could do most any.
thing, but she was handiest about
keepin' my accounts. She must a
been a schoolmarm, for one day she
took account o. stock and figured up
and told me 'xactly what | was wo'th
l never had bothered to take count
o. stock; seemed sort o. useless-like.
Wife and / had allus been pretty fru-
gal, and calculated In the rough that
had somepln over $1,000. felt
kinder troubled when she said | was
wo'th just eetle over $1,000.
IF could git Dandy Jim.' said to
her, land turn him In dead or alive I'd
be wo'th $1,000"
But they say Dandy Jim's a hard
man TO take" she said.
Maybe he'll come around here some
day and I'll try it."
How would you manage it?'
IF | knowed be was a-comin I'd
post some I'm outside to cover him.
Then If he got the drop on me I'd sig
nal the outsider to shoot him.
What kind of a signal would you
give? He'd shoot you before you could
make any signs"
well. he'd likely tell me 10 throw up
my hands, and that would be as good
a signal as any"
you're purity smart" she said. Il
didn't give you credit for so much
sense"
One day the gal tole me that the
stock was a-gittln low and IL she was
me she'd sell the balance and go and
lay ina complete new outfit. She was
SIGH a good business woman that
did whatever she said. and got up a |
sale" and cleaned out everything. 1t I
fetched Just 81 200 in money, and with
At. The d8y before | went away l rode
out TO collect debt of $50 | had a
safe in which | KEEP the $1,000 on
hand and didn't worry about it. for
none o the outlaws could open it, and 1t
was too heavy for EN- to carry away.
The gal tole me might as well leave
her the combination IN case any one
wanted any bills raid, but | was too
sharp for that Not that doubted her
honesty, but that some o the outlaws
might come along and force her to
open it.
Well, got my $50. and when l was
a-ridin' up TO the store see the gal
a-comin' excited-like to meet me.
whats up?' says |.
Dandy Jim's there waitin for you"
"Humph,' says |. What's he goin'
to do with me? Kill me?"
"Oh. no; he won't kill you. If you !
was dead who'd open the safer
81 see.'.
"You might do what you said you
would If he came"
What was that?"
"Have some one cover him when you !
90 In and when he tells you to throw
up your hands shoot him
There isn't man about the place. h
Reckon I'll do Pm as good shot h
ls any man" t
Well. posted her at winder with n
dfie right where she could see the man: t.
hen | walked into the house and the t.
'oom where Dandy Jim was a-settin' p
'Howdy, Jim" says "Howdy." says ?
lie. "Jim." says |, there's $1,000 Of Il
erred for you. Reckon might as we'll
rave 1t as any one" How you goin' e.
o git it?" he answers. well. there's II
wo ways One is dead, and the others =
llive-whicheve you prefer" Il pre-
er dead" says he, land, considerin'
we got my hand on my gun, | thinks
rs you that's dead. I'll trouble you TO
brow up your hands" IF | does
hat" says. 'the drops on you, seem
got a pal posted outside the winder
o shoot you as soon as raise an arm
t is signal" You're mighty smart" =
e says. "It's only takin' time by the r
says l. who have you got =
utside?" zone o. the best shots In
.rizona, though nothin' but a woman"
Yes. and mighty smart II she is q wo-
IAN" "How do you know that?" BE
ause she's my wife. sent her here to
Ii you TO turn your stock into cash;
len she sent for me to take II IN" rs
lat the gamer" asked. cold chill
innin' down my spine "You can find
1T he says. IF you'n throw up your
ands." "II do it," says |. land ~
pure lynn you'll pay for the decep-
on with your life"
With that I throwed up both hands
Id the gal instead o. shootin' comes to
le winder GRIMM and asks me IL that
as the signal and whether we hadn't
,tter wait a spell and II II wouldn't be
uel TO shoot a man in cold blood.
hen / knowed the game was up. so |
le 'em I'D open the safe-for il was
ain ! was dead man II didn't-and
bile the gal KEEP me covered Jim took
e plumber. includln' the $50 I'd just
llected Then the gal TUX my best
rise and my wife's saddle. and as
CT galloDed AWAY she sung ont.