A PROOF OF COURAGE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1747, 30 August 1905, Page 8

A PROOF OF COURAGE.

Since the day he was tacitly recognised at the “steady company of pretty Annabel Calder, Jerry Gardner had been regarded inimically by the young male element of Dry Gulch. But when it was alleged that Jerry had a “yellow streak m his personality, he was looked upon with disfavour by the entire community. And this is how it came about. ■ At a rainy day gathering at the postoffice, Jerry had shuddered and turned pale at old Frosty Flint’s vivid recital of the massacres and depredations committed by roving bands of Indians m the earlier history of Dry Gulch. The good people at once animadverted this feeling or horror at wanton bloodshed as indicative of lack of courage. , . When Annabel Calder heard of this her estimation of Jerry dropped several de'grees, and when next he called she took no pains to conceal her change of attitude. This troubled Jerry not a little, and he passed a sleepless night m consequence. But the next day turned out to be all Jerry’s. Wicked Dan Bledsoe, ‘bad man” and general desperado, full of cheap whisky and viciousness, came riding into Dry Gulch looking for trouble. Jerry was in the post-office when he arrived. Hearing the commotion, he emerged to the street just as the last heroic Dry Gulcher had gained the most convenient shelter. Wicked Dan had dismounted in front of “Honest Mike Hogan’s saloon, and, a revolver in each hand, was calling on every man, woman, and child in the two counties that comprised the extent of his knowledge .of geography to come forth and do him battle. When his bloodshot eyes caught sight of Jerry coming toward him, as if in answer to his challenge, he let out a howl of rage, and ordered him, with all the blasphemy he could command, _to get off the street or he’d shoot him “full er holes.” But Jerry paid no heed. Smarting from the stigma hanging over him, he had conceived an idea, that he would call this bully’s bluff—if bluff it proved to be- —and make him take back water. So he kept advancing toward the “bad man.” The rage of that individual was now fearful to behold. He fired a shot at the ground close to Jerry’s feet. “Dance, yer pie-faoed galoot from the effeet east!” he shouted. “Dance, er I’ll shoot yer toes off!” And another bullet spattered the dust uncomfortably near Jerry’s feet. ' So Jerry commenced to dance. But as he danced he advanced nearer and nearer to the ‘"bad man!” the Dry Gulchere, considering themselves immune now from TV ioked Dan’s play-

fulness, came forth from their hiding; places to see the t-nort. The “bad man” by now had emptied one revolver in making Jerry step lively. This he shoved into his holster, and changed the other gun to- his right hand. Jerry took advantage of this manoeuvre and advanced considerably. He was now too close to suit the fancy of the “bad man, ’ who levelled his revolver at Jerry’s head in a business-like way, and shouted: “Back off, l ere, yer measly tenderfoot, er I’ll plug yer!” Then, he fired. It may have been that the whisky had unsettled h’s neivrs. or it may have been that Jerry’s pyrations made him a difficult target. However, it was. the bullet passed harmlessly over Jerry’s head, and before the “bad man” could fire again Jerrv nut up his hands—like lightni/ig, the left to f ho wrist of Wicked Dans pistol arm, forcing it upward; the right, clenched to the point of his jaw, felling him to the dust of the road, his revolver falling from his nerveless fingers. As he attempted to rise, he got the same powerful right on the same spot, and he went ■ and. out. The onlookers • were so taken aback at this that they fared to notice an, approaching horseman until he was well within their midst. It was £he Sheriff of Alfarido County Tie took in the situation at a glance. “Dan,” fie said to the “bad man,” who now sat up, holding ids aching head in his hands, “you’re my meat. I’ve got the warrant here”—tapping his pocket significantly—“and yer’ve got ter the end of yer rope.” Then after confiscating his prisoner’s weapons he tobd * Vie surprised , Dry Gulchers how the night before at Presado Wicked Dan had *-hot in cold blood a man little more than a boy, killing him instantly. The father of the vicFTm, a wealthy ranchman, had offered a reward of 1,000 dollars for the capture of the murderer. , “And,” concluded the Sheriff, turning to Je ry, “I don’t see but what the reward goes ter this here gent, and I’ll ’low that er man uv his grit deserves it. ’ Then the “boys” gathered about Jerry. They raised him to as many shoulders as could be got under him. and bore him in triumph to Eben Caider’s house. Annabel appeared in tile doorway, and Rufe Skinner, with an elaborate flow of oratory, related to her all that had happened. And in Annabel’s radiant face and shining eyes. ' r ron-• pdication.