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134 Tamale Ridge by: Chuck Cusimano

across the street. The place held a few folks but there were still some tables where I could set

alone to enjoy my meal. I didn’t necessarily feel like talking to a total stranger just at this

moment. I looked around the room and didn’t recognize anyone from any of my previous trips,

and stops. There were two men sitting there with some papers in front of them but they were in

deep conversation and didn’t look up. I had seen some of the faces here before but don’t

remember having any conversation with any of them. I ordered some food and a cup of coffee

and sat back to wait for it. I sat there for a few minutes and the silence was disturbed by the

sound of some men entering the place in loud voices and with much commotion.

The men sat down and knocked the dust off their hats and clothing. They were talking loud and

laughing, pushing at each other and I decided I didn’t like the table where I sat, so I moved to

another small table closer to the back. That move saved my life.

I heard the gunshot and one of the men slammed to the floor. Shot in the forehead, by another

member of his party, he laid dead, a pool of bright red blood gathering around his lifeless body.

The shooter stood across from him stunned, in silence and with his mouth agape. It was

obviously an accidental shooting. The bullet penetrated the dead mans skull and passed through.

It would have gone into the back of my head as well, if I hadn’t moved when I did. By this time,

the brother of the dead man pulled his pistol and shot the shooter square in the middle. I jumped

up, as did everyone else in the place that either ran for the door, or dove to the floor. I chose to

dive behind the meat display near the back of the room. As soon as I realized that no more shots

were being fired, I stood, ran out into the street and went to see if I could find a doctor in case a

life could be saved. That caused me to miss my train.

Sheriff Joe Andry and I sat for a couple of hours, rehashing the scene. I told him that the men

appeared drunk and how I thought the shooting was accidental. He took my statement and went

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