Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-06-20
A BOYS DEFENSE.

was in her infancy.
Quite a crowd had gathered on the
street, and the center of attraction was
big fellow, who stood with newspaper
in bis hand, raving and cursing.
"What's the matter, Wolfe" asked o
newcomer, who was evidently familiar
with the irate man.
"Matter2" returned Wolf, for that was
his name, "matter enough, an rough
enough it'll be for some folks. Them
young whelps that prints this paper has
gone an published something bout me.
o, I'll fix EN-! They'd better never have
been born! They'd better go an kill
themselves after ten minutes; it'll be an
easier death fur 'em."
Wolf was a noted desperate, who, it
was said, had killed more than twenty
men, and but few knew him who did not
fear him. He was at that time chief of a
gang of loafers and gamblers that were
nearly always to he found lounging around
in the vicinity alluded to, and disturbing
the whole neighborhood daily with riot
ous conduct. If there was any law in
those days it was seldom executed against
such characters, and in the full conscious
ness that they were feared they did pretty
much as they pleased.
yphioh ho1 CriI,a c,,oh
deadly offence to Wolf was a little weekly
journal. and its Office was in the second
story of building on the same street
with the hotel have mentioned, and only
few rods distant. 1t was published by
young men-or, ] might say, boys, for
they were only eighteen and twenty years
old, respectively - named Darrell and
Haynes. The paper and its youthful pro,
pristors were already well known in the
city of San Francisco.
The article which had excited the wrath
of the ruffian Wolf was q bold denuncia-
ton of himself and his crowd for their
lawless conduct and it particularly men
toned him by name, characterzing him
as clustering bully 1t was the work
of young Darrell. a fearless boy hailing
from one of the Western States. Before
leaving his home in the Mississippi Valley,
he had aquired fair education, so that
he could at least edit a newspaper in
those early days; and he possessed, be-
sides, that courage and daring which may
be natural in the first place, and which
are more thoroughly developed by the ex-
posure to dancers and hardships. Young
HAYNES was quite different kind of per-
son in point of courage, being of an unusu-
allv timorous nature.
To return to the scene on Sacramento
street. Working himself up into his worst
mood-and his best was lad enough, heav-
en- knows-WOlf tore the paper to atoms
and started for the publication office. He
was followed by curious rabble, most of
whom were elated with the prospect of
murder, though there were some present
who would have demonstrated with the
hearted man, had they dared.
"Jest you watch" said Wolf as he
reached the door, ''if We want to see Their
bloody carcasSes tumble out O the winder!
1t won't be long. dent spend much
time on sich fellers."
1t was the intention of the cruel heart
ed man actually to cut the throats of the
two boyiSh journalists and throw their
bodies ont of the window, for the gratfi-
cation of the crowd and the further exal-
tation of his already fearful name. So,
the mob on the street awaited the issue
with feverish expectation, as Wolf, flour
ishicg his knife and revolver, entered the
rude frame building and rushed up stairs.
All unconscious of their danger, the
two youpg editors were busily engaged
pursuing their usual work in their primi
tive office. If they had heard the noise
without they had paid no attention to it,
suDpOSing it was merely street row such
as theS were accustomed to hear every
day. Darrell was sitting at a rude table
writing, and Keynes was sitting at the
counter arranging some papers for the
mail.
They heard te clatter of heavy boots
on the stairs, but supposed it was some
rough miner coming up to subscribe for
the paper, or perhaps, to see lawyer
who occupied couple of rooms on the
same floor for the building was only a
two story one, and the second floor was
occupied exclusively by them and an attOr-
ney-their rooms being separated from
his bya narrow hallway that was reached
by the fight of stairs ailud d to.
"Ah-hal I've got We, my Young imps
exclaimed the desperate, bursting in.
Haynes recognized him and turned pale
Being at the counter, whicn faced the
door ard extended across the room, he
was naturally the first mark for Wolf 5
vengeance.
"Ye young Sevils!" he Missed, scowl-
ing like a madman, "Yell never write
nor print nothin' more bout mel" Here
he flOurished his knife and revolver above
his head i've got a sure thing on both
of ye!" Saying this he looked about him,
with q careful scrutiny, to see that there
was no means of escape for the quiet
youth at the table, who, of course, would
not dare to jump over the counter and try
to pass him, but would cover down
with fright in q corner and take his turn
at being killed; then he reached across
the counter an1 siezed Haynes by the
hair, which was, unfortunately very long.
COilng the terrified young mans locks
around the great coarse fingers of the
left hand, Wolf laid his revolver npon the
counter, without the slightest apprehen-
sion that his youthful adverary would
snatch it up and use it on him, as he
might have done had he possessed the
nerve, then fourished his big cleaning
knife deliberately with pure devilishness
prolonging HAYNES terror and pain.