GUNMAN

BY CARLI V.

(THIS IS A SUMMARY FROM CHAPTER EIGHT, "LITTLE ARKANSAW" From THE BOOK JOHN WESLEY HARDIN- TEXAS GUNMAN BY LEWIS NORDYKE WILLIAM MORROW'S AND CO.

JOHN WAS NOT LIKE ANY OTHER KILLER OF REPUTATION IN THE COUNTRY. HIS FIRST KILLINGS WERE FORCED UPON HIM. HE CONSIDERS IT THAT WAY. ONCE HE HAD THE REPUTATION OF BEING A FAST MAN WITH GUNS, WILLING TO USE THEM. IT WAS A MATTER OF SHOOTING IN ORDER TO STAY ALIVE.

HE IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER BAD MEN IN THE WEST LIKE BILLY THE KID, HE HAD NEVER USED HIS GUN FOR GAIN. (HE NEVER ROBBED) HE HAD NEVER KILLED FOR PAY, EITHER. HE HAD NEVER SHOT AN UNARMED MAN, EXCEPT FOR MAGE, THE MOSCOW AFRICAN AMERICAN. HE HADN'T BEEN ACCUSED OF RUSTLING CATTLE OR STEALING HORSES.

NEARLY ALL OF THE OUTLAWS - JESSE JAMES FOR EXAMPLE HAD GANGS. UNTIL HE'D MET THE CLEMENTS BOYS, HIS COUSINS, WES DIDN'T HAVE A PARTNER. WES AND JESSE JAMES WERE ALIKE IN SOME WAYS. WES AND JESSE WERE BOTH SONS OF MINISTERS. THEY WERE ALSO ABOUT THE SAME SIZE AND BUILD. THEY WERE BORN LEADERS. EACH OF THESE MEN REALIZED THAT THEY WERE BOTH FEARED AND RESPECTED.

THE DIFFERENCES THEY HAVE ARE, JESSE WAS TEN YEARS OLDER THAN WES, JESSE HAD A GANG, AND JESSE ALSO ROBBED BANKS AND TRAINS, OFTEN KILLING MEN WHILE PULLING OFF THE JOB OR MAKING A GET-AWAY. WES NEVER TOOK A DIME OFF ANYONE.

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN WAS BOTH ALIKE AND DIFFERENT FROM OTHER NOTED GUNMAN SUCH AS WYATT EARP, BEN THOMPSON, AND WILD BILL. WES WAS A TRUE TEXAS GUNMAN!

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