River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1923-07-05

way lightly through the ring and the
former turned to the man beside
whom he happened to stand
"Wbat's the idea p he asked.
"The young 'un good as told Roarin'
Russell he didn't know what he was
talkin' about. Chap asked the kids
opinion on bit of ore an he give 1t.
1t didn't suit Russell"
at didn't, Ell? Now, that's too bad"
drawled Sandy. The other looked at
him curiously. Sandy's drawl was
often provocative. Russell's gun
barked again.
'sDance, d-n We! An sing at the
same time; blast you for buttin' in
tenderfoot Won't, chr"
The victim, game but despairing.
flung look of appeal about him. To
give in meant to become the laughing
stock of the camp, to have its ribaldry
follow him, to be laughed out of the
camp, branded as a coward. Yet to
resist was a challenge to death. The
bully had been drinking, the CLEAN in
his eyes was that of the killer, man
half insane from alcohol.
"Up with yore hands! Up with 'em,
or I'll shoot the knuckles off of EN-!
I'll make jumpin-jack of you or I'll
shoot yore s.. -
The first syllable of the intended
volley of foulness was barely out
when Sandy, stepping forward,
touched the bully on the shoulder.
Russell whirled as bear whirls, gun
lifting.
Lady back here in the crowd"
said Sandy quietly.
For a second Russell gasped and
stared and, as he stared, the cold hard
look in Sandy's eyes told him the
manner of man who had interrupted
him. But this mans guns were in the
holsters, Russells weapon was in
hand though its muzzle was tilted sky
ward. The crowd, thickening, waited
| his next move. He had been stopped
| in his batting. He saw no woman
| back of the big bulk of Mormon. keep
ing Miranda we'll away, not seeing
what was going forward.
| Russell At his back was only the
unarmed assayer This lean cold-eyed
interferer was hardy fool who need
ed a lesson. He swept down his gun,
thumb to hammer. Two guns grew
like magic in Sandy's hands. Russell
read a message in Sandy's glance, he
heard the gasp of the crowd. With
his own gun first in the open the
stranger had beaten him to the drop
and fire. He felt the fan of the wing
of death ON his brow. His gun flew
out of his fingers, wrenched away by
the force of impact from Sandy's bull
let on its muzzle, low down, near the
cylinder. Dazed, he watched it spin
ming away, his hand numb.
"Back up to that door, you! Back
up" Sandy's voice was almost con-
| versatiOnal but it was profoundly
convincing. The bully obeyed him,
standing at the door in the place of
the assayer, who stepped aside, feel
ing a little sick at the stomach. Sam
bracing him In friendly fashion by
one elbow.
Il won't shoot yore knuckles off,"
said Sandy, 'pervidin' you keep yore
fingers wide apaht an don't wiggle
'em. Spread 'em out against the
wood, bully man.
His face whitening from the ebb of
blood to his cowardly heart, Roarin'
Russell opened his fingers wide, judg-
| mr. is roc
safety. Sandy did not move position,
he hardly seemed to move wrist or
finger as his guns spat fire, left and
right, eight shots blending, eight bull
| lets smashing their way through the
door between the .'V's" Of the bully's
/ fingers while the crowd held their
| breath for the exhibition.
Sandy quickly reloaded, quickly but
without obvious haste He did not
| return the guns to their holsters and
he paid no attention to the adniring
| comments Of the crowd.
"You-all interfered with friend of
mine," said Sandy. ut amt healthy
trick. An you amt apologized to the
lady. I don't know how Westlake
feels about it, but you've sure got to
| apologize to the lady,"
Russell's eyes rolled from side to
| side toward his still elevated hands.
'You can lower 'em If you can't
talk with 'em up," said Sandy. I'm
waitin' fo' that apology, but I'm in a
bit of hurry"
"I-didn't see no woman" mumbled
the bully, crest-fallen.
81 told you there was one," said
Sandy. II don't lie even to strangers.
You're sorry you swore, amt you?"
you're quicker'n / am on the draw
with yore two guns" retorted the
goaded Russell. 81 c'ud lick you one
handed 'thout guns-or any man in
this crowd" he clustered in an at
tempt to halt his departing prestige.
"You-all had a gun in yore hand
when we stahted In" said Sandy
equally. You're sorry you swore-
niYa't Won ~