Show HE WAITED A KNIFE HOW BLACK HARRY TESTED THE DRUMMERS SAMPLE ho displayed marvelous in throw ins tho knife and his ability in that direction did nim a good turn as the sair ono day in Lo adville I 1 had just finished dinner when a stranger tho hotel wo chatted for a or two and then tho stranger choso whoso name I 1 afterward learned was harry connor or black harry for chort asked me if I 1 was not selling hardware I 1 told him I 1 was and he suid he wanted to buy a knife I 1 said I 1 had some knives with me but only as samples and that of course I 1 never sold samples well he ead ea d tho reason I 1 camo to yon I 1 hunted tho town I 1 over this morning to find a knife and I 1 find one that was worth carrying I 1 thought probably you might have one or two good ones and that you would sell one I 1 dont care what the price is so it suits me I 1 finally consented to show him what I 1 had I 1 never saw a man examine a knafo as ho did one that ho selected I 1 had perhaps 40 different ones but he gave only a glanco at the lot and picked out tho best one there in an instant picking it up he weighed it in his hand turned it over and over ran the edge of it across the back of his thumb nail as a barber tries a razor flicked the point with his nail scrutinized every fractional part of the blado and hilt and then grasping it firmly swung his arm in tho prettiest sort of knife play as if testing its weight and balance still moro carefully then stepping over to a wooden bottomed chair ho drove tho blade squarely through the 1 inch wood with a powerful blow then he threw it at a knot in the wooden partition that separated my room from the aest and left tho knife sticking squarely in the knot a pretty good throw I 1 said do you think so ho answered indifferently and he stepped over to the partition and drew out the knife still smiling and stepping back 12 feet threw it again this time he struck the enact spot he had hit at first I 1 could but ono mark after he had drawn the knife out tho second time oh nothing he said and with tho point of tho knafo he scratched a rough circle on the wood about the aizo sizo of a mans hand stepping back to where he stood before ha turned bis back to the target and then looking at it over his right he threw the knafo over his left sti clang it fairly in the target then be reversed tho trick throwing ever his right shoulder and finally planting himself carefully in the samo place he looked quickly over his shoulder and then turning his faco directly away ho threw the knafo over his head striking the same target and leaving the knafo an inch deep in tho wood 1 I want that knife ho said rather peremptorily and I 1 want it just 50 worth and he pulled a 50 greenback cut of his pocket and laid it on tho table I 1 took tho money I 1 thought a man who could uso a knafo liko that ought to havo a good one I 1 had started out in the evening to see what was going on and had looked in at tareo or four gambling hells before I 1 camo to ono where black harry sat play ing faro he safa with his left hand toward tho door and as I 1 sauntered up to the table ho smiled a little and nodded but did not speak I 1 noticed that he was watching the door he did not turn his head but his eyes seemed to bo everywhere at once and though he was playing steadily and with fairly good luck too I 1 was certain that he saw every motion that anybody mado anywhere in the room excepting of courso right behind him presently I 1 noticed that ho was watching a man who was just coming in the newcomer was a stout built ugly looking fellow who looked carefully around as ho entered and who almost immediately saw black harry he started a little and then evidently thinking that connor did not see him stepped carefully to his right till he was almost behind where connor sat still connor did not turn his head but I 1 could see him watching the other as ho stepped eflowly around until he was fairly out of the range even of connors remarkable eyes then I 1 saw connor suddenly look full at the dealer with a question as plainly expressed as it could have been in words so I 1 naturally looked at the dealer he gave no sign at first that I 1 could see of even knowing that connor was in front of him but went on dealing as if there was nothing else in the world to do then in an instant his eyes seemed to blaze when I 1 saw the dealers signal I 1 looked back at connor and in an instant saw a tragedy tho newcomer was drawing a revolver and at the same time connor was turning his head and throwing the knafo I 1 had sold him he rose from his chair as ho throw it and the strangers revolver exploded but the bullet went wild for he sank to the floor as he fired with the point of the knafo in his brain gentlemen said the dealer before any one else could speak 1 I say black harry daae just right that white liv ered cur bad dworn to kill him on sight and was from behind and gentlemen its nono of our business what tho quarrel was about a succinct verdict in which those present unanimously concurred new sun |