The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-08-01
A BOYS DEFENSE.

| III was twenty-five ycars hpo, hnu
San Francisco was in her infancy.
Quite n crowd had gathered Oh
the street, and the center OF attrac
tion was big lellow,,,who stood with
newspaper in his hand, raving and
cursing.
"What's the matter, Wolff" asked
o new conner, who was evidently ia
milinr with the irate man.
Natter 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 some
thin bout mo o, I'll fix 'em! They'd
better never ha' been born! They'd
better 80 an' kill themselves after
ten minutes; it'll be an easier death
fur 'om."
Wolf was noted desperate, who,
it was said, had killed more than
twenty men, and but few knew who
did not fear him. llo WAS at that
time chief Of gang of loafeIs and
gamblers that were nearly always to
bo found louuging i'll the vicinity al
luded to, and disturbing The peace OF
the whole neighborhood daily with
riotous conduct. 1t thero was any
law in tho"e days it WIS seldom cx
ocutod against such characters, and
IN the full consciousness that they
were feared they did pretty much us
they pleased.
The newspaper which had given
loadly otlonso to Wolf was little
weekly journal, an | ita Office was in
tho second story Of II building on the
same street with tho hotel | have
mentioned, and only u few rods dis
tant. 1t was published by two young
men or, | mi hit say, boys, for they
were only eighteen and twenty years
old, respectively named Darrell
and Haynes. The paper aud it's use
ful proprietorB were already known
in tho city of San FIauciHco.
Tho article which had excited the
wrath Of the ruIIion Wolf was u bold
Ienunication of himself and crowd,
and it particularly mentioned him
by name, charactorjzjng him as
"blustoring bully" 1t waB the work
Of young Darrell, II fearless boy hail
ing from ono Of tho Western States.
Before leaving his homo in the Mis-
Hissippi valley, he had acquired n
fair education, 80 that ho could at
least edit newspaper i'll those carly
days; and he poss. sscd, besides, that
courage and daring which may be
natural i'll tho first pl ,cs. and which
arc more thoroughly developed by
exposure to dangers and hardshipB
Young Kayno was quito u different
kind Of person i'll point OF courage,
being Of unusually timorous nature.
To return to tho sceno on Sacra-
mento street. Working himself up
in his worry worst mood-and bis
best WAS bad enough Wolf tore the
paper to atoms and startod for the
publication Office, IIo was followed
by curious rabblo, most OF them
wero elatod with tho prospect OF n
murder, though there were some
present who would have romonstra-
ted with the cvil-hearted man, had
they dared.
"Jest you watch" said Wolf, as he
roroled the door, "lf YOU want to sec
thor bloody carcasscs tumble out OF
the window. 1t won't be long. |
don't spend much time on sich fsl-
lows"
1t was the intention of tho cruel
hearted man actually to cut the
throats Of the boyjsh journalists and
throw their bodies out ut the win
dow, for the qualification of the
crowd, and the further exallation of
his already fearful namo. SO the
mob on the street awaited tho issuc
with fevcrish expectation, as Wolf,
llourishing bis knife and revolver
entered tho rudo frame building and
rushed up stairs.
All unconscious of their danger,
tho two young editors were bu'ily
pursuing their usual work in their
primitive Office. If tlcy had heard
tho noiso without, they paid no at.
tention to it, supposiug it was mere
ly street row such as they were ac-
customed to hearing every day. Dar-
rell was sitting at Iude table writ.
ing, and Haynes was ut the counter
arranging some paper for the mail.
Thoy heard tho clattcr of heavy
boots on the stairs, but supposed it
was some rough miner coming up
to subscribe for tho papor, or, por-
haps, to see n lawyer who occupied
two or three rooms on tho salno
floor; for the building was only u two
story one, and the second floor WIS
occupied cxclupiv'ly by them and mn
at torDoy theirroOms being soparat-
ed from his by narrow hallway that
was reached by the fight of stairs al-
ludiDg to.
Mh, ha! I've got ye, my young
impsl' exclaimed tho desperate,
bursting in.
Haynes recognized him and turn
ed pale. Being at the counter, which
faced the door and extended across
the room, he was naturally the first
mark for VOLTS vengeance.
aye young rdscals!" he Missed,
scowling like madmnn. "Yell
never write nor print nothin' moro,
bout me-" Here ho ilourished his
knife and revolver above his head.
"I've got sure thing on both of yc!"