South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-08-31

temperance mouse shouted
Walker, and ne vented his astonish.
ment and disgust in burst of oaths &
revilings. mo man shall keep a ho-
tel with nothing to drink i'm it in these
Parts he said. If you don't have
liquor, and good liquor, too, the next
time l cali. / won't leave whole dish
or bone here =
And, as foretaste Of what he
would do next time, he kicked over
the table aud smashed three or four
chairs, by way OF leave taking.
With such customer on their
hands, it is little wonder that our two
young friends felt very i'll at ease
Still, they were bold men, aud were
determinedn not to be bullied iuto keep.
ing rum; so they went about their
business as usual.
Nothing further was seen of Walker
for fortnight, when he again appear
ed early one morning, while Charles
was getting breakfast, Gilbert having
gone out TO look after the cattle
The frs: hunt that Charles heard OF
his visitor WAS another volley of shots
into their sign board.
This time Clate had shot the second
letter to pieces. 1t was apparent ly
his way OF knocking. Immediately
he kicked the door open as before.
Under the circumstances it is no,
very strange that Charles stepped out
of n back door at about this time, and
went behind the corral, from whence
he heard Walker firing repeatedly,
and making great smashing noise.
When at length the desperate had
taken his departure, it was found that
he had made q complete wreck of the
crockery and furniture; and in the
grocery room he helped himself to to.
5acco, and emptied his revolver at the
kerosene barrel, which, tapped in half
u dozen places, was dcluging the
floor.
| shall not undertake to say what
the duty OF my young friends was
whether they should have resisted
outrage and defended their property
at the risk of their lives. or moved u
way from so dangerous q neighbor.
What they did was to get out of sight
whenever they saw Walker coming,
and let him do his worst.
1t CHANGED that after time a sec.
ond-cousln of my young friends came
west to see them. His name was
Forney, and he was then student at
The military academy at west point. |
am not sure, however, but he had Just
graduated, though that does no, mat.
ter.
He dropped i'll upon the Small bro
thors quite Unexpectedly one after.
noon, and i. is needless to Say thew
were glad to see him, and that they
passed very pleasant evening. Moth,
ing was said about Walker, for Gil.
bert and Charles, having al honest
pride IN their ranch, were 10th 10 let
Lieutenant Gerald know how badly
they were Off i'll respect to neighbors.
The desperate happened to come a.
long, however. the very next morning,
Charles and Gerald were sitting in the
dining room, when Gilbert, who had
seen the gambler coming up the road,
suddenly rushed in.
Old CIatc Walkers coming' he
exclaimed. 'Put out at the back
door =
Chas. leaped to his feet, but our young
West Pointer arose more leisurely
who the dickens is odd Clatc Walk.
cr?' he asked.
"a regular border terror A des>
perado a 'killer!' exclaimed Gil.
bert. 1Ie's likely to shoot any of us
at sight Come or after Us =
8" Lat ruiz out o. your own house =
said Forney, surprised. why, what
hold has this fellow on you?'
No hold whatever, but he's dead
shot and double,dyed murderer cri.
ed Charles. You don't know him as
we do. Come along with US and get
out of his wayp
Not | = exclaimed Forney-who
felt that his military reputation was at
stake. Take your two shot guns and
stand ready in the kitchen. I'll stop
hero and see Mr.. Walker = and he
hurriedly took his revolver from his
overcoat pocket, then stepped to the
window behind the desk ON the coun-
ter.
With his customary oath the gam
bier aud dcad.shot kicked open.thc
door and strobe in. The young Lieu
tenant sat "a the high stool behind
the desk, apparently reading a news.
paper. lie did not look up.
Hello, you sneak /! shouted Walk
or. Where are the tender kids that
keep this blasted Temperance hotel?'
i think they've gone out to hide,
SAID Forney, carelessly turning his
paper They said there was q man.
eater, n regular anthrophagus, coming,
and that they were going to hide
Walker stared. We'll, well = he /
ripped out. IL you amt the fre,hest
KID I've struck in ten years Right 4
fresh from tho puat arau'f n ,.<.,,,,o. II