The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-07-11
TUE sIERIfF's Peril.
q sssseA From xass saa. rev lGssssss
1roatasx 4oWa,

pressed by the energetic action Of this
dauntless arm Of the law, whose ready
revolver and unerring aim sent more
than one outlaw, unshriven to his last
account, while the messages Of the As
sociated Press, flying over the country
on the wings Of the lightning, scored
one more for brave Tom Hsugh-
ton, the scourge and terror Of New
Mexican outlaws. Genial and warm
hearted, with smile over as ready for
o friend as . frown for foe, Sheriff
Haughton was for the time the most
popular man in the country within
radius Of q hundred miles.
But Tom Houghton's life had another
side. Down to the South Of the town,
little removed from the wagon-rosd.
which Of. that time formed the link Of
communication between Pslmeo and the
neighboring village stood small abode
house, facing the desolate plains. A
rude brush fence formed Its sole envir-
onment, but feeble attempt at adorn-
ment appeared in the shape of two for
bidding specimens of cactus, which
bristled in the depths of five-gallon oil.
cans at either side Of the front door,
pink geranium, blossoming against the
tawdry but scrupulously clean lace cur.
tains at the window. Through the glass
panes of the door, o woman's face,
shrouded in black shawl, was some
times seen by chance passers-by. A
quiet shrinking little creature, the of.
spring Of y -de6ased sud degnrded race,
and motherless from early childhood,
like many of her class she had become
the plaything Of vice before the mean
| ing Of virtue dawned upon her. She
had made her advent in Palmeo along
with the horses and dogs and other
chattels of a saloon keeper, and when
one day, in fit of more than customary
brutal rage, her quondum master had
beaten and kicked and thrust her
into the street, Houghton had chanced
along, and, moved by her helplessness
and her tears, avowed himself her pro-
tector, and established her in the little
abode. It was rumored, however, that
when his first chivalrous heat had died
away, he had been scarcely more kind
to her than her former lord, and Al
| though the tenets of his New England
manhood saved him from the degra-
dation Of striking woman, he had
treated her with cold scorn, only less
blighting in its influence on . woman's
soul. Asserting no claim to respect,
stranger to the awakening and elevating
force of human love, she was like
some faithful animal, passively submit
| ting to blows or caresses in her blind de-
votion.
When Tom Houghton had held the
Office of sheriff in Palmeo eighteen
months, nine graves in the desolute
burying- ground had been filed with
victims of his unfailing aim. This some
what wholesale slaughter of the criminal
class commenced to be a subject of grave
discussion among the sober aud conserv-
alive citizens Of the place, and they
questioned whether it would not be
wise, now that the town was becoming
more allied to the civilized world, to
adopt gentler measures for the sup.
preston Of crime. The knowledge Of
this incipient recoil of public opinion
inspired the roughs of the town to q
bold and daring resolve. Tom Houghton
; should pay with his own blood for the
next of their number who fell by his
hand
Upon Houghton himself, this relent-
less execution of vengeance upon the
perpetrators of crime. after the first
valorous impulse to preserve the peace
and safety Of the community had passed
away, was exerting its inevitable and
baleful influence. Like the hired SOL
der who engages in combat without the
ennobling stimulus of nations need,
; the cruel instincts Of his nature were
developing TO the exclusion Of gentle and
harmonizing traits. H..
An interregnum ofpeace and inactiv-
/. ity seemed to settle down upon Palmeo
, about this time. For several months
Houghton loafed around the streets,
disgusted with life and his calling, or in
hours of confidence with his friends
threatened to throw up altogether po-
sition which had become mere sine
; cure. It was with q sentiment little
short of absolute delight that he started
up one day at the announcement that .
cowboy, fresh from the Rio Grande,
had arrived in Palmeo, and true to the
time-hon0red custom, was proceeding
to take possession of the town. Hough-
ton dashed ont into the street. A fus.
; iIlade of:shots re-echoed from the other
end Of town, and the clatter Of O
horses hOofs, drawing nearer
aad ~ nearer, soon brought
into view q rough looking rider with
!! the inevitable snake around his hat,
loaded to the brim with bad whisky and
evil passions, Aourishingj q revolver in
his hand. Just as he leveled the weap-
on at woman running to her house
with shrieking child in her arms,
single report rang through the summer
air, and the rowdy tumbled from the
saddle and lay motionless in thesdnst.
A coroner's jury was hurriedly impan-
eletl, the customary verdict rendered,
and in less than three hours-they do
such things expeditiously in frontier
towns-the outlaw had added another
, TO the graves in the fast growing popn-
lous cemetery. II
The seeming apathy with which The
dead "rustlers" friends received the
newsn his hurried demise boded III.
TheE1 - none 81 the usual exalama-
tons Of ox asll0N. There 2Assn.
Iheap eoa1 fl r. Altse ~
Issys en- q yoqs q 81 = liit it r. I'm hassi
NJ palsy1I otioliingG. -
l19 1 - 4 Is