Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-07

| You know me and 1 know you. You
| know that I understand handling a
pistol some, and 1 know that If you
| understand one you probably amt IN
cap; it amt any more than fair to
| eQualize things by giving You one.
Il ought to be three times as fast as
you. reckon should shoot five or six
times while you was shooting twice.
Begin when you get ready. I'm going
to give you four shots before 1 go
after my gun a-talL. But If you
haven't put me out of business with
| those first four shots, don't lose any
time with the last two, because it
might be fatal. Come on, son! Let's
go""
A murmur of CALCULATIONS from the
spectators followed this startling an
nouncement OF terms and subsided in
stantly into silence. HudSton stared in
establishment, almost as if he had not
heard. or. hearing. could not under
stand. Then, slowly, clumsily, he drew
his pistol-and fired four shots into the
air.
The morning train. for once on time,
| came to a stop while Bill was making
his declaration. although nobody in the
| crowd heard it. and around a corner
three blocks behind Hudston five men.
| at the sound of the shots. came run
ming. Bill saw them and recognized
the lean figure of Capt Bob Dalton in
the lead.
With the sound Of the fourth wasted
shot' Bits hand whipped to his pistol.
Hudston tried to aim and fire in Bill's
fired too quickly. The bullet sped
i harmlessly past its mark. two feet
distant.
And then the spectators, gasping
with excitement. saw that Bill was
Juggling at his Colt. and that it had
! h hall 4
come loose. Trav Hudston saw it, too.
Slowly he braced himself and took
carerul aim His hand shook, but the
wobbling muzzle finally settled to
cover the captains body, well down
to take care of the recoil, as his father
had taught him. Bits hand was still
dragging impotently at his gun, but
he was looking straight across into
the youths eyes and smiling. Come
on SON. he shouted. You'll have to
| hurry
One second the boy stared, trying to
press the trigger. Then he dropped
his pistol on the ground with sob.
| You killed the men that killed my
father" he choked, Damn it. I can't"'
Il can. The old interferin' hound"
Come on" And his hand snapped
toward his pocket. Before it got there
Bits first bullet smashed his wrist
and his second bullet his shoulder.
] iou re wrong. RaboWSki," the old
man exulted. MY gun only sticks
when I'm fightin' with my friends"
| 1t was waving now across the face
Of the surging crowd of reds, and out
OF the open doorway Of Burns store
flowed swiftly stream Of grim-face
stern-eyed men. ten of them. all mid
| die-aged. all competent, each carry
ing ready weapon.
| Ranger service." Bill shouted. as
the disciples Of violence, who had
leaned forward snarling. hesitated,
(Don't go after any firearms, hombres,
Put your hands up. and keep 'em up.
In the name of the state of Texas.
| Trav Hudston picked up his fathers
pistol from the dust at his feet and
came running to stand beside Bill.
I'm with you-and for it," he painted
I've got only one cartridge. but /
can't miss the whole crowd The
damn thugs!"
Capt. Bob Dalton and his rangers
were there. taking the bad men from
behind. covering them with heavy six
shooters. disarming them. handcuffine
together those who were found to
have guns or knives-nearly ali of
them. Va
! Bill lowered his pistol and smiled
anecionately on Hudston
| You don't shoot like your daddy.
Irav." he said. But. by goIly, when
1t gets down to cases you think like
him."
| Copyright, 1907