Ernest Crosby, Garrison the non-resistant

“He's a mean man, though, sometimes,” said the other. “Do you remember how he shot that nigger Simpson? That was six years ago, and the boy can't walk to-day. He done for him, he did. And Simpson hadn't done nothina, either.”

“Did they try him for it?” I asked.

“Naw,” was the reply, and the two men looked at me in wonder.

“I reckon he left his gun in his room last night,” said Smith. “It was pretty lucky. But there hain't been any shootina in town lately. When was the last shootina, Dave?”

“A year ago Christmas,” answered Dave. “That Jake Hart scrimmage. You remember. Jake got angry at Cy Jones and shot him dead. Jake was an awful nice fellow, but I must say he was a mean one. And then Tom Spear-he was sheriff-he said he'd arrest him if it took him ten years, and Jake, he said he shouldn't. I met Jake in the street one day, and he says to me, says he, ‘Just you tell Tom Spear that I like him first rate,’ says he; ‘he's done me a lot of good turns and I'd like to do him a good turn, too; but just you tell him that if he tries to grab me I'll shoot him at sight like a dog, I will,’ says he. ‘Just tell him that.’ ”