Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-07-11
THE sHERIFP'S PERIL.
"a sketch From Life IN I Vow Mexican
Frontier Town. s Fiji

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y Et IN S 845ftS B
Frontier Town. IN
From San Francisco Argonaut Fl &.
Z The inhabitants Of the growing little
town Of Palneo felt a laudable pride in
their gallant young sheriff. brawny,
blonde bearded hero, with the strength
OF minor Hercules and the face Of an
Apollo Belvedere. As in all new from
tier towns, there had been an early at
tempt on the part OF the rufianly ele-
ment to take possession of the place,
but the effort had been promptly sup
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
ISOLATED Press, flying over the country
on the wings Of the lightning, scored
one more for brave Tom Haugh-
+ ton, the sconrge and terror Of New
Mexican outlaws Genial and warm
hearted, with smile ever as ready for
a friend as q frown for a foe, Sheriff
Haught ton was Tor the time the most
popular man in the country within a
radius Of q hundred miles. J..
But Tom Houghton's life had another
side. Down to the South of the town,
q little removed from the wagon road,
which at that time formed the link Of
communication between Palmeo and the
noighboring village stood small abode
house, facing the desolate plains, A
rude brush fence formed it's sole enyir-
onment, but a 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, q
q pink geranium, blossoming against the
:tawdry but scrupulously clean lace cur.
tains at the window. Through the glass
panes Of the door, a woman's face,
4shrouded in black shawl, was some
times seen by chance passers-by. A
quiet shrinking little creature the off
spring Of debased and degraded 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 q saloon keeper, and when
one day, in q fit Of more than customary
brutal rage, her quondam master had
beaten and kicked and thrust her
into the street, Houghton had CHANGED
along, and, moved by her helplessness
and her tears, ayowed himself her pro
tector, and established her in the little
abode. Il 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-
tdation OF striking a woman, he had
treated her with a cold seorn, only less
1 blighting in its influence on woman 4
soul. Asserting no claim to respect, q
stranger TO the awakening and elevating
force of human love, she was like
some faithful animal, passively submit
I; ting to blows or caresses in her blind de-
votion. sst, II 3. si= s5s
When Tom Houghton had held the
office Of sheriff in Palmeo eighteen
months, nine graves in the desolute
bnryin ground had been filed with
victims Of his rlnfailing aim This some
what wholesale slaughter Of the criminal
class commenced to be q subject OF grave
discussion among the sober and conserv-
!. atiye citizens Of the place, and they
questioned whether it would not be
=. - Ill X,,,, 4
more allied to the civilized world, te
adopt gentler measures for the sup.
( preston Of crime The knowledge Of
II this incipient recol Of public opinion
4 inspired the ronghs Of the town to d
y bold and daring resolve. Tom Houghton
should pay with his own blood for The
next of their number who fell by hi.
hand III 82 n q ii tsts 23s @4
Upon Houghton himself, this relent.
less execution al vengeance pom The
perpetrators Of crime, After The tirst
valorous impulse to preserve the peace
u and safety Of the comm unity had passed
away, was exerting It's evitable AM;
i balefuI influence Like the hired sol
der Who engages in coInb bat without the
emo bling stimuli ms of q /. nations need
y the cruel instincts 81 his nature were
developing to the ex clusion Of gentle and
harmonizing traits. M Il
An interregntm OF peace and inaetiy-
siity Sc enaed tto settle down upon PaImee
about this time. u OF several mon ths
Houghton loafed around the streets,
sdisgusted With life and his calling, OF il
hours 81 conf ence with his friends
y: threatened to throw MP al ttogsth Oh a 20,
ssition which had become q mere SINE.
cure. Iti was with a sentinen Little
81 short of absolute delight that he startes
up one day at the nouncenent that i
cowboy, fresh from the Rio Grande
; had arrived ia PalIneo. and true to TIL
time honoress custom, was proceeding
10 take possession 81 the town. Hough'
ton dashed out into tho street, lAz fs1s.
4 iillade Of shots re- echoed rom the Other
end ef town, and The cIattar of q
horse hoofs wing neare1
and nearer soon brought
into yieV rough loo king rider with
the iner table snake around his Int.
loaded re ths briin It'll had whisk md
& evil passions, 1riislhiine 4 rsyolyer III
& I, his hand Inst ~ 81 leyel IA ~ weep