The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-08-03
THE SILVER BULLET.

lBushwhackers. highwaymen.i counter
feiters and 'moonshiners" nestled in all
the countryside among the mountains |
and far from towns and cities upon lone
ly roads, while gamblers and desperadoes
swarmed in and about the settlements
Crime was frequent, and the life of
Dnited States officer Iwas;a series of stir
ring adventures involving great danger
and demantiing as great tact and per-
BonM bravery
But Nutting proved himself worthy and
6t for the Office A yonng man of tenn
perate habits. quick wits, splendid phys
ique and dashiny courage, he was never
at loss how to act: and the vermin that
infested that region soon learned to hate
and to fear him intensely.
Many were the expeditions which the
efficer had led, many his escapes, and
many the prisoners safely captured and
walled by his efforts; but one man
svadeJl him Theshrewdest and worst
'-moonshinerr of all was still at large.
Despite all his efforts. Nutting has not \
Pet secured Rdlof Allen
This man was known throughout the
state, His career had been that of
criminal from his birth. In the fastness
of southwestern Virginia he manufact-
ured whisky on a grand scale. and was
the owner Of a dozen or more queer
stills. and snapped his fingers at the
law qI Sfl
Several times had Nutting sought tins.
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 a light touch on his shoulder.
he started up quickly A stranger stood
before him
The United States marshall said he
tnterrogatively
Yes, sir, said Lawrence. rising. BE
seated What can do for your
Il would speak with you alone, . he
said. glancing around Il have matters
iof importance to communicate
This Office is out of hearing from the
street" replied Nutting. land 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 fol-
lowed his example Then the man drew
his chair nearer. so that he sat between
the officer and the desk whereon lay his
belt and pistols, threw open his coat so
that the butts of two heavy revolvers
might be seen, and blowing the smoke
from his cigar said in a quiet tone to his
companion
"You are desirons of arresting noted
moonshiner one Ruloff Allen. are you
notT
There's no doubt about that" said the
marshal, smiling.
'-l am the man"
Nutting's cigar never stirred in his
hips; his hand did not qaiver nor his
breath come the quicker. A single sign
showed how deeply he was moved; his
eyelids dilated then he laughed. soft
and low
-You-you Ruloff Ailenl Ny friend, |
know Allen. His hair is red: yours is
black. His face bears scar across the
chin; yours a beard His teeth are
broken: yours are perfect The joke is
good, but you are not Allen"
The other hesitated moment. then
striking a wig from his head, beard
from his chin, and removing a single
false tooth, he turned again to Nutting.
red haired and smiling
And now?'
You are Allen"
For a full moment neither man moved:
1t was as though two large tigers gazed
ut each other. Then the outlaw said:
'-Listenl am armed; you are not.
am fully as desperate man as the re-
port makes me | am as strong as you.
Donot try to arrest me. for llshall then
be obliged to kill you came here to
have a private talk. but it was necessary
You should know who am l will not
modest you if you will do the same by
me. and give me fifteen minutes to
escape when we have finished. /"
Nutting measured his chances Un-
armed in the presence of man to whom
murder was not new. he deemed pru-
dence the better part. and replied:
Il agree"
Good, said Allen, removing his owl
pistol belt; your word is equal to mine
We shall both be unar1ned. And now
would tell You story"
Then he drew his chair still nearer the
marshal, and as the twilight fell and al
the night came down heatold of his life
Ia weird, strange history. every line in
tense with the throbbing passion of {
1awlessness which made the man what
he was.
The other listened breathlessly, the
darkness shrouded both, and the cigars
were finished long before the story wa.
ended
At length. however. the visitor paused
and then concluded as follows:
80 have | fived-;ts wild man al
most: and that life has the past five year
been more mania than ever before, bu
with method I am and have beer
seeking money, and money only. No
sowidely different. you will say, from