The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-11-02
My Clerk
BY JAMES BRAINARD

I sold 'em goods and trusted 'em when :
they hadn't no money. for you kin
trust two kinds O people-them as Is
honest and them as is at open war
with the rest O. the world. It's the mid /,
die classes that beats you. There was
one on 'em- the outlaws, l mean-that
l didn't want around, for he'd CARRIED
things too far and there was q price set
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 young womanscame to my
place and wanted to work in my store.
tole her didn't want a 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 l had allus been pretty fru-
gal, and l calculated in the rough that
had somepin over $4,000. l felt
kinder troubled when she said was
wo'th just leetle 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 l knowed he was a-cOmin' I'd
post some un outside to cover him.
Then If he got the drop on me I'd sig
nal the outsider to shoot him."
what kind of signal would you
give? He'd shoot you before you could
make any signs"
Well he'd likely tell me to throw up
my hands. and that would be as good
a signal as any"
You're purity smart" she said. II
didn't give you credit for SO much
sense
One day the gal tole me that the
stock was a-gittin' low and II she was
me she'd sell the balance and 60 and
lay in complete new outfit. She was
sich good business woman that ]
! did whatever she said. and got up a
| sale" and cleaned out everything. II
fetched just 81 200 In money. and with
this concluded to put in the new out
J flt The day before went away rode
out to collect debt of $50. l had q
safe III which | KEEP the $1,000 or
hand and didn't worry about 1t. fol
none o the outlaws could open it, and II
was too heavy for 'em 20 carry away
The gal to.e me l might as well leave
her the combination in case any one
wanted any bills paid. but was too
sharp for that Not that doubted hel
honesty. but that some O. the outlaws
might come along and force her tt
open 1t.
Well, l got my $50. and when was
a-ridin' up to the store see the ga
a-comin' excited-like to meet me.
whats upY' says I.
"Dandy Jim's there waitin' for you.
"Humph." says I. whats he goin
to do with me? XIII me7''
"Oh, no: he won't kill you. II yo'
was dead who'd open the safer
II see."
"You might do what you said yo'
would II he came"
"What was thatT'
"Have some one cover him when yo'
20 In and when he tells you to throw
up your hands shoot him."
"There isn't man about the place.
, "ReckoD I'll do. I'm as good sho
: as any man."
Well, posted her at winder with
rife right where she could see the man
then l walked into the house and tn
room where Dandy Jim was a-settin
"Howdy, Jim," says. "Howdy." say
= he. "Jim," says /, there's $1,000 OF
: fered for you. Reckon I might as we
: have 1t as any one" How you goir
!, to git it?' he answers, well. there
two ways. One is dead, and the other
alive-whicheve you prefer" II pr
= fer dead" says he, "and, consideriI
!. I've got my hand on my gun. think
it's you that's dead. I'll trouble you
throw up your hands" "If l doe
: that" says, "the drops on you. seeil
= I got pal posted outside the windt
to shoot you as sooD as raise an arm
It is a signal" You're mighty smart
he says. Its only takin' time by II
forelock," says l. "Who have you g
outsider" "One o. the best shots
i Arizona. though nothin' but woman
II 'Yes, and mighty smart IL she is W
e man" "How do you know thatY' "B
r. cause she's my wife. sent her here
r git you to turn your stock into cas-
= then she sent for me to take 1t In" "
e that the gamer ! asked. cold CHI
h runnin. down my spine. "You can FIJI
n out" he says, .'if you'll throw up yo1
.e hands" "Ill do it." says |, "and
r you're lyin' you'll pay for the dece
"A tion with your life."