The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-08-12
SOMERSET, PA, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12 1891.

brown and wrinkled face. half hidden
beneath an immense hood and q pair OF
green spectacles, toward Nutting.
"Yes, madam, replied that worthy.
"Pve come a right smart piece to see
ye for an old woman. I'm true grit, 1 am
but getting wore out. Those yer noun
tains are sight sleeper than they was
forty years ago" and she sighed. " But
see here, I'm business, am, want to
talk to ye. You don't know me, reck-
on
"Icannot say that 1 do, " said Nut
ting.
!" ! reckon not, as you ntver see me
afore. / am Mrs. Allen-Bethsheby Al
len-and my boy, he's Rulof Allen. Ye
have heard of him mebbe?" and she
paused and gazed cunningly into her
listeners face.
Yes, know him, and the mans
brow darkened.
" Wall, now I tell you. 1t seems yer
on a raid arter him to-morrer-ye see L
know a thing or two-an' ye've got the
boy badly cooped up this time, shure.
Not but what he'll fight, and some on ye
might still catch suthin besides moon
sinners. My boy is smart, he is, | tell ye
an he'll tste ye round considerable afore
We gather him in but he's cooped all the
same, and I'm feared yen catch him or
kill him. And I'm his nanny, ye
know.
The old hag paused and wiped her
eyes. She was woman even yet, and
Nuttings heart softened toward her.
What can do in this matter, Mrs.
Allen7" began the marshal. Your son
is a.
"Never mind what he is, you can save
him. He's trapped, catched, cooped.
But he's my boy, an l want you to let
him 90. Take his stills and his whisky
take everything but let him go, and
III give ye my word-its good; Beth
shelby Allen never broke it yet-that in
less than three days Wen be -
"Mrs. Allen, that is impossible. III try
not TO hurt your son, but capture him l
must and shall"
"But if he should capture you, what
then ?"
At these words the green glasses fell
the hood was thrown back, the bent form
became straight, and before the eyes oi
the dazed officer Ruloff Allen himself
stood, look of deadly hatred on his face,
heavy revolver in his outstretched
hand.
Silence reigned a moment as the young
man gazed into the deadly tube before
him.
81 came here to give you one last
chance, and myself. the same" half hiss
ed the moonshire. That chance is lost
to both of US. 90 back TO the noun
tains and outlawry-you retire from act
i've service. Can you pray? If 50 do it
now. In three minutes shall kill you. I"
Slowly Nutting's eyes ran about the
room. Escape was impossible-belp
would not come. A single cry meant in
slant death-he was lost. His heart
sank.
Suddenly the butt Of the old dueling
revolver came within the circle of his
vision. Cool as his would be murderer,
he turned to him and said, "Will you let
me smoke once more?'
The fellow eyed him sharply.
Smoke? Yes one cigar" ne said at
length. And lowering the muzzle Of his
revolver, ne thrust it into his pocket to
supply his victims wants.
81 have some here" said Nutting and
like flash his hand shot upward toward
the pigeonhole where lay the old duel
ing pistol.
Down with your hand" cried Allen.
Ii was too late. There came q sharp
and ringing report, a single cry, dull
and sickening thud upon the floor, and
all was over.
And the moon, breaking between the
rifted clouds without, looked through the
open window upon the face of the dead,
while Nutting, white and trembling, held
in his nerveless hand a smoking pistol,
The silver bullet had found its mark
and returned TO its owner. The United
States marshal was saved.