The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-06-21
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THE SILVER BULLET.

In 1869, Lawrence Nutting was United
States Marshal in the southern district of
Virginia. The state was at that time fair
ly overrun with outlaws of all classes
Bushwhackers, highwaymcn, counterfeit
ers and "moonshiners" nestled in all the
countryside among the mountains, and far
from towns and cities upon lonely roads;
while gamblers and desperadoes swarmed
in and about the settlements. Crime was
frequent, and the life of a United States
officer was series of stirring adventures
involving great danger, and demanding as
great tact and personal bravery.
But Nutting proved himself worthy and
fit for the Office A young man of temper
ate habits, quick wit, splendid physique
and dashing courage, he was never at loss
how to act; and the vermin that infested
that section soon learned to hate and fear
him intensely.
Many were the expeditions which the
officer had led, many his escapes, and many
the prisoners safely captured and walled
by his efforts; but one man evaded him.
The shrewdest and worst ''moonshiner" of
all was still at large; despite all his efforts,
Nutting had not yet secured Ruloff Allen.
This man was known throughout the
State His career had been that of a Grim
inal from his birth. In the Businesses of
southwestern Virginia, he manufactured
whisky upon a grand scale, and was the
owner of dozen or more "queer stills, !"
and snapped his fingers at the law.
Several times had Nutting sought this
quarry; twice he had actually caught him,
yet twice he had escaped, and at the time
of which we speak he was still free.
Nutting sat at his office window one
evening, musing, half-dreaming when there
fell light touch on his shoulder He
started up quickly. A stranger stood be-
fore him.
"The United States Marshal p said he,
interrogatively.
eyes SIR said Lawrence, rising. "Be
seated. What can I do for YOU
II would speak with you alone y he said,
glancing around. II have matters of i'm
portance to communicate
''This Office is out of hearing from the
street, replied Nutting, "and we are by
ourselves. You can speak freely"
The other drew couple of cigars from
his pocket, offered one to the marshal, and
lit the other himself. Nutting followed
his example; then the man drew his chair
nearer, so that he sat between the officer
and the desk whereon lay his belt and pis-
tolls, threw open his coat so that the butts
of two heavy revolvers might be seen, and
blowing the smoke lightly from his cigar,
said in quiet tone to his companion
"You are desirous of arresting noted
moonshiner, one Ruloff Allen, are you
not ?"
"Theres no doubt of that" said the
marshal smiling.
~ am the man"
Nutting's cigar never stirred in his lips
his hand did not quiver, nor his breath
come the quicker. A single sign showed
how deeply he was moved; his eyes dilat-
ed, then he laughed long and low.
"You-you, Ruloff Allen ?" My friend,
l know Allen. His hair is red; yours is
black. His face bears scar across the
chin; yours beard. His teeth are brok-
en-; yours are perfect. The joke is good,
but you are not Allen
The other hesitated moment, then,
striking wig from his head, beard from
his chin, and removing single false-tooth,
he turned again to Nutting, red-haired and
smiling.
"And now ?''
"You are Allen r'
For full moment neither man moved.
1t was as though two large tigers gazed at
each other. Then the outlaw said:
"Listen! am armed you are not. I
am fully as desperate man as report makes
me. am as strong as you. Do not try
to arrest me, for shall then be obliged to
kill you. came here to have a private
talk, but it was necessary that you should
know who am. will not molest you if
you will do the same by me, and give me
fifteen minutes to escape when we have
finished
Nutting measured his chances. I'm.
armed in the presence of man to whom
murder was not new, he deemed prudence
the better part, and replied:
~ agree!'
''Good, said Allen, removing his own
pistol belt, "your word is equal to mine
We shall both be unarmed And now l
would tell you story"
"Then he drew his chair still nearer the
marshal, and as the twilight fell and night
came down, he told of his life-a weird
strange history, every line intense with the
throbbing passion of lawlessness which
made the man what he was.
The other listened breathlessly; the
darkness shrouded both, and the cigars
were finished long before the story was
ended.
At length, however, the visitor paused,
and then concluded as follows:
$50 have I lived As wild man, al
most; and that life has for the past FIVE
years been more mania than ever before,
but with method. 7 am and have been
seeking money and money only. Not so
widely different, you will say, from all the
world, except that my search was without
the pale of the law. And now the end has
come. am rich. I-have enough, and
now | desire to return to civilization. You
can permit it-you can prevent it. | am
an outlaw. Very well 1 will cease out
lawry, will turn over my stills to the gov
ernment, will swear great oath, and keep
it, too-for my own interests demand it
to become a worthy citizen; and if you will
accept the prodigal son, and kill for me the
fatted calf of pardon, all will be well. |
came here to ask you to intercede for me.
Will you do SO 2"
Nutting hesitated moment.
This man was a veritable Robin Hood /,
Could he trust him?
The other smoke apains