Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-05-13

Good evening. my American friend.
This meeting Is pleasure we scarce
| ly hoped to have so soon. For the
Arredondo, who happened to look
back as we passed you, and recog-
nized you under the arc light"
Webster halted abruptly; the two
Sobrantean officers stood smiling and
evidently enjoying his discontinue
| Each carried a service revolver in a
| closed holster fastened to his sword
belt. but neither had as yet made a
move to draw-seeing which, Webster
| felt sufficiently treasured to accept the
unwelcome situation with a grace
| equal to that of his enemies.
"What? You two bad little boys
up this late I'm surprised" he replied
in Spanish. He folded his arms,
struck an attitude and surveyed them
as might an indignant father. you
kids have been up to some mischief"
he added, as his right hand closed over
the butt of his automatic, where it lay
snuggled In the open holster under his
left arm between his shirt and coat
4
Can 1t be possible you are going to
and the fact that you are both armed,
to force me into duel on your terms,
my dear Captain Benavidesi"
BY a deferential bow, the unwhole-
some Benavides indicated that such
were his intentions. "Then," said
Webster, "as the challenged party l
have the choice OF weapons. 1 choose
pistols"
AT what ranger the lieutenant
asked with mock interest.
"As we stand at present. I'm armed
Pull your hardware, you pretty pair OF
polecats, and see II you can beat me
to the draw"
Captain Benavides' jaw dropped
slightly; with a quiet, deliberate mo-
ton his hand stole to his holster-fap.
Lieutenant Arredondo wet his lips and
glanced so apprehensively at his com
panion that Webster was aware that
here was a situation not to his liking.
you should use an open holster"
Webster tainted. Come, come-un-
button that holster-fap and get busy"
Benavides' hand came away from
the holster. He was not the least bit
frightened, but his sense of proper
ton in matters of this kind was IN
dergoing a shake-up.
"In disposing of any enemy In a gun
fight, so a professional killer once in
formed me-" Webster continued, at is
a good plan to put your first bullet
anywhere in the abdomen; the shock
of a bullet there paralyzes your oppo-
nent for a few seconds and prevents
him from returning the compliment,
and in the interim you blow his brains
out while he lies looking at you. l
have never had any practical expert
ence In matters of this kind but l
don't mind telling you that If 1 must
practice on somebody, the good Lord
could not have provided two more de-
lightful subjects"
He ceased speaking, and for nearly
half minute the three men appraised
each other. Benavides was smiling
slightly; Arredondo was ddgeting;
Webster's glance never faltered from
the captains nervous hand.
you would be very foolish to
draw" Webster then assured Bena-
vides. "If l am forced to kill you, 1t
will be with profound regret. Sup |
pose you two dear. sweet children run |
along home and think this thing over. |
You may change your mind by tomor- |
row morn"
The captains hand, with the speed |
of a jugglers, had flown to his hol- |
ster; but quick as he was, Webster |
was split second quicker. The sound |
of his shot roared through the silent |
Gale, and Benavides, with his pistol |
half drawn, lifted bloody. shattered |
hand from the butt as Webster's au-
tomato swept In a swift arc and COW
cred Arredondo. whose arms on the In
slant went skyward.
THAT wasn't a half bad duel" Web
ster remarked coldly. Are you not |
obliged to me, Captain, for not blowing
your brains out-for disregarding my
finer instincts and refraining from
shooting you first through the abdo-
menu Bless you, my boy, I've been
stuck for years in places where the
only sport consisted in seeing who
could take a revolver, shoot at tin
can and roll II farthest in three sec
onds. Let me see your hand"
Benavides su1lenly held up that
dripping member, and Webster In
spected 1t at respectful distance.
.Steel Jacket bullet" he informed the
man. "Small hole-didn't do
much damage. You'll be just as well
IS ever in a month"
He helped himself to Arredondo's
run. Tipped out the cylinder. and
slipped all six cartridges into his palm.
Similarly he disarmed Benavides, ex-
pressed his regret that circumstances
lad rendered it imperative to use
orce and strolled blithely down the
allie. In the darkened patio he