Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-05-16
THE SILVER BULLET.

States marshal IN the southern district
ssvirpinia. The state was at that time
s.;.ly oyerrun with outlaws of all classes.
pushvhackers, highwayinen, counter
.,;.ors and .moonshiners' nestled in all
.so countryside among the mountains
vi Ear from towns and cities upon lone
,rroads while gamblers and desperadoes
.or,ned in and about the settlements
rr;me was frequent, and the life of a
Tr,;ted States officer was series of STIR
inc adventures involving great danger,
.nd demanding as great tact and per-
sonal bravery :,
6, for the Office. A yelng man Of tenn
nsrate habits, quick wits, splendid phys
;oue and dashing courage, he was never
= 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
officer had led, many his escapes, and
many the prisoners safely captured and
walled by his efforts; but one man
svaded him. The shrewdest and worst
..moonshiner" of all was still at large.
Despite all bis efforts, Nutting has not
vet secured Ruloff Allen.
This man was known throughout the
state His career had been that of a
criminal from his birth. In the fastness
of southwestern Virginia he manufact-
ured whisky on a grand scale, and was
the owner of dozen or more 'queer
stills and snapped his fingers at the
law.
Several times had Nutting sought this
quarry; twice he had actually caught
him, vet twice l. eal 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 light touch on his shoulder.
He started up quickly. A stranger stood
before him.
1.-THE United States marshall said he,
interrogatively.
"Yes, SIR" said Lawrence, rising. "Be
seated. What can do for your"
81 would speak with you alone" he
said, glancing around. ~ have matters
of Importance to communicate"
This Office is out of hearing from the
street" replied Nutting, 'and we are by
ourselves. You can speak freely"
The other drew a 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 SC
that the butts of two heavy revolvers
might be seen, and blowing the smoke
from his cigar said in quiet tone to his
companion:
"You are DESTROYS of arresting a noted
moonshiner, one Ruloff Allen, are yor
mott"
There's no doubt about that" said tn,
marshal, smiling.
81 am the man."
Nuttings cigar never stirred in hi
lips; his hand did not culver nor hi
breath come the quicker A single sigl
showed how deeply he was moved; hi
eyelids dilated, then he laughed, sof
and low.
"You-you Ruloff Allen! My friend,
know Allen. His hair is red; yours i
black. His face bears scar across tn
chm; yours beard. His teeth ar
broken; yours are perfect. The joke i
good, but you are not Allen"
The other hesitated moment, thel
striking wig from his head, bear,
from his chin, and removing a singl
false tooth, he turned again to Nutting
red haired and smiling.
"And now?'
"You are Allen"
Fora full moment neither man moved
IL was as though two large tigers gaze,
al each other. Then the outlaw said
Listen! am armed; you are not.
am luliy as desperate man rs the re
port makes me. am as strong as you
10 not try to arrest me, for shall the
De Obliged to kill you. | came here t
nave private talk, but it was necessar
you should know who am. will nc
modest you il you will do the same b
me- and give me fifteen minutes t
escape when we have finished"
Nuttlng measured his chances. I'm
armed IN the presence of man to whor
murder was not new, he deemed prr
aenee the better part, and replied:
II agree"
'Good, said Allen, removing his ow
pistol belt; your word is equal to mine
we Shall both be unarmed. And now
would tell you story"
linen he drew his chair still nearer TIL
marshal, and rs the twilight fell and 4
the night came down he told of his lii
"a weird, strange history, every line in
tense with the throbbing passion of
iawleSsness which made the man wha
he was,
Inc other listened breathlessly, tn
uarkness shrouded both, and the cigar
We're finished long before the story wa
ended.
Al length, however, the visitor PAUSED
anu then concluded as follows:
80 have | lived-as wild man a
most; and that life has the past five veal
Oeen more mania than ever before, br
win method. l am and have bee
seeking money, and money only. NJ
81 81 widely different, you will say, frol
gu tne world, except that my search ws
m''nout the pale of the law. And no
sne emu has come. | am rich. l hay
enough, and now desire to return
oas''lzat'on. You can permit is--yo
s"n prevent it. am TN outlaw. Yer
wei win cease outlawry, I will tur
o s my stills to the government, wi
swear great oath-and will keen il. TOT