South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1893-09-28

scRbriquet of SCARED Emma" and
you only had to look at her hands to
know why. -hey had been burned to
the bone, ana a-.hough she wore dia-
mond rings to the first joint of every
finger. they didn't disguise the horrid
scars, scanned and livid, and of these
Emma was prouder than of the rings.
Well she might be. Had she not
saved the lives Of men and women
bearing them in her arms from burn
ing building? And these scars were
her medals of honor for her bravery.
Some of the gang were playing draw
poker, others engaged in a game Of
seven-up. Some drank and loafed,
loafed and drank again, and chaffed
with the landlady, who was about as
amiable as a tiger.
On the night here alluded to,
Scared Emma" was busy handing
out the miners poison in copious
doses, and listening to such cheap
compliments as were not too sugges-
tive Of revolvers and free fights, when
the door opened, and the deputy
sheriff entered the place.
Everybody rose up, and a shout of
welcome greeted the new conner.
"Hallo, Bill, glad to SEQ yer. Brung
in any new uns?"
''Naw! Evenin', En-. About two
fingers straight, SEEM I jest got in.
Been to Omaha for pesky boss thief.
Tried to get away, out here, and we
was agoin' to let him have it, but there
wuZ leetle weakened parson on the
stage an he interfered and prayed off
so fluid like, we weakened, an let the
Teller go with nary bullet in his car
cass. Here's to ye, Em., for the fair
est Of yer sex. Come on, boys, on
fill up at my expense.
He tossed off the dram and set the
tumbler down to be refilled
where's the parson?" asked tho
landlady, smiling on the deputy as she
measured the fiery fluid with liberal
hand.
"He's stopped over to preach at
Hell's Delight, but he'll be ut the
Gulch to-morroy, an dosn yer forget
1T, less he dies afore mornin' kind O.
sudden from a dose of cold lead. An
I'd advise the boys to grease their
boots, and be ready, for he's buster,
the parson IT," 81
"Say, Bill" remarked Emma, stir
ring his whisky by shaking it in the
glass, els he young feller?'
saw, an sickly. Yer can see day
light through him."
''An' takes sugar in his?"
t'You bet~
The crowd rosred at Emma's wit,
and this time she set it up for them
herself.
"Ssy, Bill, is he really comm here
to preach?"
'Look here, En-. You're talkin'
through your bonnit. Como here he
may, but preach--ho! hoi I guess
not"
"Who says MOP" asked the woman,
in her eyes. -
II dove all dor roared the
crowd in rude chorus.
"And say ke shall"
And she folded her Scared hands
across her bosom so that all present
could see them. That one motion had
a strange effect upon those human
coyotes, who would have knitted a
man in the back and made no account
oft. 1t is true that even desperadoes
hsvo their soft moments. This woman
standing before them had one claim
on their respect, and as their eyes fol-
lowed that movement and fell on the
Scared and oicatrized hands, the
dumb appeal moved them as nothing
else would haye done. OF went every
hat, bearded lips tremb]ed, then, as
there was danger of too much senti-
ment, there went up cheer from
twenty hos ,se throsts, and as Emms
turned to set it up again for them, she
dashed something from her eyes that
might have been q tear.
:. So it happened thet whom the Rev.