Show Or A II lK fO Oj ii is J I Matthews atthe Edi Eito or fluid and Man Miln KillerAn Killer A An Episode of Gold Plume th the Greatest Carbonate Camp u J 1 F II I I A I I ilL 11 That summer l a afternoon th tIl Eink Ky E ink Wink aloon saloon contained two tuo citizens citi- citi cit cit- zens sens of ot Gold Plume greatest ra carbonate camp on earth the thc tho bartender r was lol lolling lolling lol- lol ling back with his elbows R among among- the gla glasses ts doing doln his best to look Jook Interested Interest Interest- c ed while 01 Old 1 Ho Hoss Hos s unwrapped curious little gray gra rocks froni fron tissue suc paper pape coverings co and thumped them down 01 un on r r the time bar These Old IIo Ho Hoss explained f h were vero specimens from rom the greatest sliver sll sli- sli vcr ver claim In lii the Outside the snow peaks glittered lIttered ii In II L. L the brief brie summer sunshine of If the DIn DIy DI- DI n y vide yide The bartenders bartender's eye re swept s the la lay lazy la- la zy 73 y street out outside but found foun nothing to tc 1 m charm away his wandering attention L trout from the tale of Old Hoss Hos who rambled ram rain i bled on telling of ot horn silver that yoi rou r fl could pick out of the vein with a knife an and leads that assayed a hundred t to the ton It was as a relief relle then themi when a strau stran- stran 4 or r pushed through the swinging doors Jr The Timo bartender accustomed to estimate t his patrons at the outset with Ith a 1 view to tc toW W possible e future trouble saw tw w he wasn't a mining than man In active c service because o he hc wore vore a white collar ollar am and that he wasn't a 0 tenderfoot IJ because use h he did not l look ok like one ono He lie was pas passing pasIng young youn and seemed to be struggling to tc be calm S. S y When hen the stran stranger I camo caine within range o of his vision Old greeted him hini with a whoop and amid a burst of or awful awful aw aw- ful let words GlorIana Peacock said Old Hoss I dropping his language c about thirty de do- grees Gloriana Peacock If IC it aint Johnnie Duff DolE Has lIas Oro busted or has hns r that last editorial ful a blown you rou out of town An what are nrc you rou drinkin l Rye tye and a cider elder chaser said the I stranger tran er Then he lie loaned leaned on the bar and anti fixed Old Hoss with a gra gray blue eye j. j S Business said rold h he Important and W- W pre pressing business About the most Important Im Ira- business that ever en engaged the i attention of a man it j He unbuttoned his coat Swinging in front of his left hip hll ju Just t within easy I s s1 1 reaching reaching- distance wa was the holster and 1 1 the wicked grip of a Colts Colt's 40 45 Hi See said tid ld Johnnie Duff Duft as he to toyed toy toy- ed cd with hi glass r Old Hoss whistled L Jest goin oln to wa wade e In gore g aint I 1 S you ou said he Coin Goin to leave lea bloody I tracks s all over o th the the- face of or our fair S little city Gain Coin to mark marl your trail I down lown our greatest business s street by hy t. t S widows wi and orphans I hope and trust r that I aint included In the grand municipal municipal municipal mu mu- funeral Youre Your In it said Johnnie DuffIn Duff In an advisory ad capacity Im I'm here hero to W wipe ipe out the Gold Gol Plume Times Times-Dis patch Wipe Wiio it out an and to lie hell with the c consequences And Anti I want out of or you rou routhe Ss the plans an and specifications of the new J r grammar butcher that's editing it That J J. J Matthews s Down your drink man down your our drink said Ol Old Hoss in a voice that S was choked with strong emotion Jonnie puff Juff drank i As he drank he If W raised his eyes eres to the ceiling and as ashe asI I Y he did so h he ho dl did not see a quick luick sIgnalS sIgnal'S signal S 'S which passed pa between Old Boss Hoss and 1 the bartender er When hen he set the glass I 74 down they the wore were both as serious as asS S owls Old Hoss spoke poke S I L. L hats hat's T Tell your Ill I'll 10 you ou good ool to get et It ItS It S f your mind min before you ou go up UI against r Matthews Make ake a a. nice obituary A Item for your old sheet heet down at al Oro Tor Wor or just as a friend Im I'm you you aint the man who got gotis his illis is medicine from J. J Matthews in a aI I short weeks week's in cum of or the Plume Times Dispatch I. I S j jP For the matter of that respondS respond- respond S Oti I Johnny Duff I 1 aint betting whether the funeral will viii be in Gold GUill Plume Plum or Oro Going to be a funeral though Matter of honor Old Hoss honor honor What's hals an editor got but butS buthis buthis I S his honor There was as a a. tear in his hh eye and the ic bartender out of th ss of experience made mallo a note that this I S wasn't his first t l' l rye iye e and anel cider cha chaser el elor S of or tho the day nor yet el the second Therefore There There- j forc fore the bartender shifted his gun un to toa I Ia S a place under un cr the beer cooler so o as to tobe toS S be he on the safe Ml Hide Johnny Johnn Duff DuIT pulled pulle a newspaper I I clipping from his waistcoat pocket nn and andS shoved It along the bar S t Aint there shooting in that 1 he ho 11 5 S asked I r want to know aint there shooting shooting- in that I t slam Gold Plume y regular In the editorial columns column as asIs f Is proper and a part of or the game Old I I Charlie Hart when hes he's here running I J the Di Times Dispatch does the same to Oro and It its it's all right Then Themi Old V. V J A. A Hart goes SOC down to tho the Democratic 2 convention Ju in Denver and says on y the front page pase that he leaves the busS bus busl- S 1 ness e in tho ho han hands bands s of J J. J Matthews I 7 print my regular weekly roast on Gold GoldS S Plume as a. Is right aint It And 55 t heros hero's what hat J. J Matthews Mathews does Read H It Get It Into your our head hend and ask yourself if it they aint shooting In it It IL 5 S. S I Johnnie Duff leaned moodily on n the theS S hal bat and Old Hoss Hos rea read the clipping clippingS S thus The youth Und Inexperience of the tho person who attempts attempts' to edit th thI the I Mercury of Oro should be JO the only excuse for the ridiculous misrepresentation of or plain facts acts which appeared upS ap up- S d in Iii last weeks week's issue o of his semi semi- occasional sheet theet An n excerpt of the article appears below mor more for the tho amu amusement o of our readers than for br forthe forthe the advertisement of a newspaper so plainly lucking lacking in iii the time first qualifications S o of journalistic dignity Great GreatS S newspapers make mak- great communities S How ran cami an Oro OiO expect to attain that S place beside Gold Plume which her citizens cHizen fondly dream of In their mo most l optimistic moments while she Is handiS handicapped handi handi- S capped h by a n. perl person on so plainly amateurish ama ama- S in his hh methods as us the callow editor of time the Mercury S Well said Old Ho Ross HOSTS s. s looking over the clipping cUpping into Johnnies Johnnie's r face ce you ou S aro middling young Johnnie Duff S Young exploded cd Johnnie Duff S Young If It Is any business of that S tenderfoot who broke into tho busl- busl nIs last week wel Is it his funeral If Ie I J get out the Ore Oro Mercury when S where vh where re and anti how r I durn please Semi Semi- occasional You cant can't talk to me Old OldS S Ho s. s Feelings 8 hurt Editorial honor hon hon- or touch touched cd Gone Gono beyond all fair and appointed t limits Bloods Blood's got gal to wipe wipeS it out S S The maudlin streak surged uppermost upper upper- I most t In tho the mind of or Johnnie Duff l I and tho the tear teal glistened again a aln S. S If I you ou are ate desirous of perishing In 5 your I Ignorance norance sam said Old Hoss lemmy lem ulem- S my me tell ten you a fe fe rock ribbed facts This J. J Matthews Is iR a n. man killer lemer Makes l no difference His us blood bloodS or S S r This same sarno J J. J Matthews Is fg tho the offspring off off- 5 spring pf pC old Harts Hart's sister went on S Oid Olti Ross Hos A tenderfoot and und a a. college college college col col- lege graduate A A tenderfoot roared r Johnnie A tenderfoot and a college graduate graduate- and a a. man killer Shucks Shame to puncture him a shame Got Gol Gotto to be done thou though h. h Editorial honor dont don't look i but It surel surely these are Sire facts Since this here camp this J J. J Matthews has haa laid i i t L 55 S II 11 m m I II I em out by dozens said aid a ll Old Ohl Hoss i iI I I impressively IVl I seen Vm iii n ngo go up against J. J Matthews by hull squads I and columns and dill come back corporals corporal's corporals corporal's corpor corpor- als al's guar guards s This hero here J J. J Matthews dont don't have ha hato to shoot Taint necessary Its It's just his Its his Its It's Just the look in tho eye c of o this here J. J J Matthews Which I J warn you went vent on Old Hoss which I warn you will vill IJ be found when you ou shoot up UI the office of the Times rimes Dispatch Durn kind of you said Johnnie Act of or an au old friend Fall Fait warning But Dut Its It's his funeral or mine The bartender looked cd at Old Hoss am anti and Old hess Boss 1001 looked e 1 at nt tho the bartender Johnnie Johnnic still leaning on tho the bar tU nt see ee that the former ral raised ed his his' eyebrows eyebrows eye eye- I brows bloWs In a 11 swift question and anti th the latter laller nodded Old Hoss floss spoke c You talk like a man Johnnie Duff DurcI I kind o in you Tell roil you ou what Ill I'll do tb Seems Seem's youve you've come caine over o hero heto all alone and antI or orphaned hand and atul unprotected ed to shoot the Innards out of or Gol Gold Plume Im I'm Im I'm gala gain along alonS' and to blazes blaze with Im I'm kind o 0 reckless n s myself since that thal last drink ani Only shoot him fIr fair Face him down own kind kinti of clam like and then draw drav de tb- liberate It'll sound better in tho ho fu funeral funeral fu- fu u notice Make your memory a 1 duru durn sight ht more popular Fair Fall and square said Id Johnnie Johmnie Duff Going to tell him what I think of or him Do me good to know he heard just what hat he was before ho passed In Ill Say have ha another Youre You're a good goodfriend goodfriend friend o 0 me or any other man Have HaYo one on me Old floss Boss shook his head at the thc bar bar- arten ar- ar ten tender er NOlO Johnnie now or never My Iy nerves nerve's 1 kind ln of ot like and Im I'm for Cor the landscape of Gold Plume with this J J. J Matthews right now Guns Gun's GunsO 0 O. K is il it All right Jump along them The bartend bartend- i watched through the door dooL before he sat down and collapsed Hoss and the man with murder in his Itis mint mind stopped at the door of or tho the Times Dispatch office A Job press was clinking rhythmically r within and IJ by bythe bythe the dirty front window one could see sec seethe the back of or a printer swaying with the regular motion of at his arm All AlI was vas peace SNow Now ow remember said Old you ou dont don't let that trigger finger Inger o 0 yours git nervous ou because Im I'm here to lo losee see soe that lint you tote toto fair fall Deliver your opinion pinion first and then do o your shoot- shoot In tn prompt Certain Dead sure thing Johnnie Johnnie John John- nb nie was grinding out his words between between between be be- tween his teeth and anti he lie looked looke pretty sober soler Then Ihen in you ou go Ol Old Hoss Ross shoved sho 1 Johnnie ahead of or him hini through the door dOOl There There that that little cage cuge to the left leftOn On the wooden woollen partition was a a. sign which read Yo Editor S The manoeuvres of Old Hoss Ross at this point were peculiar He followed very close behind Johnnie with his han hands s breast high an and in easy reach of the latler's latter's right elbow His attitude Was as all alert alertness s. S A girl irl in a shirtwaist sat t within pounding a typewriter She looked up a as thu they pushed through ush the door Johnnie had not c counted on sten og- og raphers raphel He stood abashed for tor a mom mo mo- m ment en t. t Go on Git GIL to your J killin whispered whispered whis whis- Old Ol Ross Hoss in the ear car of the thea a avenger yener Johnnie Duff Dur spoke a bit falteringly faltering faltering- ly ly- S Would you ou mind getting out a minute Miss l and sending in J. J Matthews the editor editor- Just tell that J. J Matthews 1 theres there's a gentleman that has Important ti d doings ings on with him The girl laughed anti and looked bullat full bull at Johnnie She ha had a a. a clear blue blueeye blueeye lue luel l' l eye e a saucy MUCY nose and a straight car car- e. e Johnnie noted all alt this even en at ut that solemn and supreme moment imminent I 1 cant can't send encl J. J Matthews In In she sheal said al because you see see rm Im I'm J. J Matthews Im I'm tho the editor What hat can canI J I do for you you ou Old IIo llos 1 oh observed el cd that Johnnie Duffs Duff's right arm dropped to his side And Anti seems seem's I 1 wasn't needed I pulled my freight and left him to his slaughter he said when he told the tale talc afterward He went vent Into the composing room and aH spilled over the neck of the foreman foreman foreman fore fore- man and amid whispered In his ear The foreman executed a dance and swelled up UI with silent nent laughter Old Hoss hose seized upon him lent bent him him over an Imposing stone and punched him Ina Ina in ina a rapture of oC silent Joy They straightened up UI as though some one had hul shot an electric current through h them for 01 from behind the partition there sounded a a. shot another another another an an- other shot anti and still another Old lIO hose Hoss 8 turned white while and nd drew his gun The Th foreman for he was a aman aman man of the world ducked under tho the Imposing Imposing- stone My 1 God Goel hes he's done clone It cried Old hoes l I My God He lie broke e for OJ the sanctum tore through the door doom He lie saw sav the girl landing In a corner cor cor- ner ncr a little HUh pale but smiling Johnnie Duff sat in the time editorial chair with his gun un pointed at the door and amid the Intruder Dont Don t draw 01 Old 1 Hoss Ross said John John- nie I r aint gain goin to shoot not Hot uHle unless s you rou get gel stubborn orn Those shots w lre ro shot by the by-the the permission of Miss Josephine Josephine Jo Jo- Matthews sort o of by way of or putting the joke back anti and shutting shutting- your o r fool mouth Theres There's the lie holes hole in iii the floor This gun Is pointed your way because I 1 want to be he formally introduced Ive I've got Jot just a heap of or tImings things s to say ay to lo this young Jad lady When Old Host Hoes had hud Introduced them he lie was excused Settling the differences of the time Oro Mercury and the Gold Plume Times- Times Dispatch seems to take a long time lime he remarked to the bartender later Inter In Inthe Inthe Inthe the a afternoon eW t w York Sun |