Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-04-06
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shal resumed his seat at the desk.
'You are the Gov'ment man,
reckon?" said the woman, after
pause, raising a brown and wrinkled
face, half hidden beneath an immense
hood and pair of green spectacles,
toward Nutting.
eyes, madam, replied that worthy.
''For IN old woman, I've come
right smart piece to see ye. I'm true
grit, l am, but getting wore out.
These yer mountains aire a sight
sleeper than they was forty year ago"
and she sighed "But see here, Pm
on business, / am. Iwant to talk to
ye. You don't know me, now, l
reckon?"
81 cannot say that 1 do" saio
Nutting.
II reckon not-as We never see me
before. am Mrs Allen-Bethsheb
Allen-and my boy, he's Ruloff Allen.
Ye hev heard of him, mebbe?" and
she paused and gazed cunningly into
her listeners face.
"Yes, l know him" and the mans
brow darkened.
"Wall, now, l tell We. 1t seems yel
on raid after him to-morrow-ye
see l know a thing or two-an' ye've
got the boy badly cooped up this
time, shore. Not but what he'll
fight, and some on We may ketch
suthin' besides moonshiners. My boy
is smart, he is, tell We, an he'll tote
We round considerable afore ye gather
him in; but he's cooped all the same,
and I'm afeared yen get him. I'm
his nanny, We know"
The old hag paused and wiped heI
eyes. She was woman, even yet,
and Nutting's heart softened toward
her.
What can l do in this matter,
Mrs. Allen?" began the marshal.
'sYour son is a"
"Never mind what he is-you cal
save him. He's trapped. catched,
cooped. But he's my boy an l want
We TO let him 90. Take his stills an
his whisky, take everything-but let
him go an l give my word-it's good
-Bethsheby Allen never broke it yet
that in less than three days we'll
be"
my dear madam, what you ask is
impossible. I'll try not to hurt your
son, but capture him 1 must and
shall"
"But if he should capture you.
what them"
At these words the green glasses
fell. the hood was throw back, the
bent form become straight as lance,
and before the eyes of the dazed Off
Ger Ruloff Allen himself stood, look
of dead 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.
Il came here to give you the last
chance, and me the samew hissed the
moonshiner. The chance is lost to
both OF us. go back to the mountains
and outlawry-you retire from active
service. Can you pray? If so, do it
now. In three minutes l shall kill
you"
Slowly Nutting's eyes ran about
the room. Escape was impossible
help would not come. A single cry
meant instant death-he was lost
His heart sank.
Suddenly the butt of the old duel
ling pistol came within the circle OF
his vision. Cool as his would-be muir
derer, he turned to HIM and said:
"Wie you let me smoke once
more?"
The fellow eyed him sharply.
'SmOke? Yes, one cigar" he said
at length. And lowering The muzzle
of his weapon he thrust it into his
pocket to supply his victims wants.
Il have some here" said Nutting;
and like flash his hand shot up to-
ward the old duelling pistol in the
pigeon hole.
Down with you hand!" cried AL
len.
1t was too late. There came a
sharp and ringing report, single cry,
a sickening thud upon the floor, and
all was over.
And the moon, breaking in between
the rifted clouds without, looked
through the open window at the face
Of the dead, while Nutting, pale and
trembling, held in his nerI eless hand
a smoking pistol.
The silver bullet had found its
mark and returned to its owner. The
United States Marshal was saved.