The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-08-01

4
to descend. 'One-two-'
He stopped and stared. He had
not observed the movements of Oar
rell during the last few seconds, and
just as he was upon the point OF clip
ping off Haynes ear in the polished
manner he had descanted upon, he
found the muzzle of rifle thrust al
most into his face.
1t was loaded rifle which, lucki-
/ ly, friend of Darrell's had left in
his keeping thatvery morning, while
he went out to make some purchases.
| 1t had stood in a corner of the room
near his table, and Darrell had seized
! it, cooked it and leveled it with such
dexterity that he had Wolf covered
before he had observed his move
ments and he stood motionless as a
statue-his cool eye glancing over
the sights, and steady finger on the
trigger.
you great bully he said, drop
that knife instantly. Mind, l come
from country where they shoot
squirrels only through the eye. /
can hit any hair OF your big head that
you will mention at hundred yards.
Drop that knife a
| The rufian was fairly paralyzed.
He released his grip onpoor Haynes,
who sank fainting upon the floor,
and his murderous knife tell on the
counter. So unexpected was this
bold attitude of Darrell that Wolf
was more startled than he, would
have been if dozen of the toughest
men in California had assailed him.
There stood the boyish editor, mo-
tionless as the wall, and the muzzle
ofthe rifle did not move the breadth
of hair. Darrell held the despera-
dos life in his hands. . M
'You cowardly bully = he repeated
eontemptuously. Don't you dare to
move; can send bullet through
your eye-ball without touching the
/ white. Don't move an eighth of an
inch or I'll do it, and throw your
filthy carcass ont of the window
Wolf glanced at his revolver lying
upon the counter within two feet of
his eyes, but he did not venture to
reach for it. 1884,. r4. -...
Dare to touch that revolver, or 80
much as look at it again. said Oar
rell, sand I'll make red picture up
on the wall there behind You. You
clustering, Dragging knave /! you are
a coward at heart-a despicable cur.
You came up here to murder two
BOYS, because you thought it an easy
task, and now you are pale and trem-
bling with fear. | would kill you in
your tracks, but that / don't want
your dirty blood on my hands. Go
now. Turn instantly. Leave your
knife and revolver where they are.
I'll keep them. Go down to your
friends on the street and tell them
that a boy whipped you-disarmed
you, and then kicked you down
stairs. Do as tell you. If you hes
itate you will never see the SET
Wolf, trembling from head TO foot,
glanced once more at his revolver,
but did not dare raise his hand. His
face was pale and his lips were dry.
do you hear me?' demanded Oar
rell, sternly.
yes, yes, don't shoot said Wolf.
turning about as commanded. He
was thoroughly cowed.
DO not turn your ugly face this
way again. said Darrell, COR you will
pay for it with your life. Movep
Tanner than a whipped cur, the
ruffian walked toward the door, and
Darrell, sprlnging over the counter,
was at his heels in an instant.
Don't look back or I will kill
YOU
Meekly obeying the imperative or
ders of the youth, Wolf moved slow
ly out of the room into the CORR.
dor.
BE careful; don't-don't let that
Gun go off, Wolf stammered, as he
reached the head of the stairs. ..a
At this moment the clamors of the
impatient crowd below arose with
terrible distinctness, and one shrill
voice was heard to say
'Hurry up, Wolf, why don't you
throw them tellers out p
Exasperated beyond measure, he
was on the point of turning back, at
the risk of his life for after all his
braggadocio how could ne face those
below, disarmed and chased out of
the building by one Of the puny boys
he had intended so terribly to cbas-
tise !? But Darrell was after him,
and with one vigorous kick sent him
bounding down the wooden stairs,
with a laundering CHATTER, and rolling
over the doorsill, the defeated bully
actually tumbled out upon the street
before he could recover his equilib-
rum.
Hello |! how's this ? What's up p
asked dozen voices at once, as the
dreaded man reappeared in this un-
dignifed shape, without having sent
any corpse down from the window.
why, simply kicked him down
stairs-that's what's the matter re-
sponded the boyish voice of Darrell
at the top 'and if he comes up here
again / won't let him off so easy.
Do not be afraid of him !; l took all
his weapons from him. ..-a.-.
l. Wolf struggled to his feet, rubbing
his head, and presenting such ludi-
crous appearance that he was greet
ed with loud jeers and bursts of
laughter. So completely had he
tumbled from his lofty eminence in
the eyes Of those who either admired
or feared a bold murderer, that they
who an hour ago would have dread
| ed to offend him by word or look,
now regarded him only with con-
tempt-laughed at and derided him.
Never before had the rough crowd
seen a man with an established ,epu-
tation like Mr.. Wolf thus suddenly
fall to such depth of degradation.
All his name, fame, prestige, melted
away like mist, and be was no long
er feared-no longerrespected by the
low thieves and cut-throats around
him-only despised. Yes, despised
by the meanest of creatures, whom
he had often bullicd as though they
had been hounds.
The dread which had surrounded
his name seemed to vanish like a
mist. 80 aHa sri ..t .# -# "." #
8. Licked by a boy = Kicked down
stairs y Got his barkers took from
him !awere the murmurs ofthe crowd
At length a voice boldly tainted him