Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-02

Copyright by Bachelor. johnson & Bacheller)
CHAPTER 1.
1t was Saturday night in Rock River.
Teams covered with the dust of the Au-
gust roads stood in rows along the side
walks Harvesting was in full drive, and
the town was filed with nomaGs from the
south, men who had worked their way
north, following the isthermal line of RI
pening wheat.
Farmers had driven in for provisions,
and their hands had come with them for an
evenings outing. The streets swarmed
with rough, lawless characters. Few wo-
men ventured abroad, but bands of yelling
boys, feeling the unstable equilibrium of
the atmosphere, fought or played up and
down before the saloons, which were crowd
ed to the door.
The better class of farmers hitched up
and drove away before o'clock, gathering
together as many of their hands as posi-
BILE, but others remained to see the fun,
which every one felt to be coming.
1t was reported that the "Wapsey gang
was in town. The SWedeS from Rock Run
were also well represented down at Ole's
Hole in the Wall" The Vesey boys and
Steve Nagle had been seen, and last and
most important, Bill O'Shea. 1.-The Wapsey
Tiger" was down at the red saloon.
Bill was brother to the deputy sheriff,
who had been in his day the most feared
of all the Wapsey gang. He 1t was who
used to terroriZe the constable and make
infrequent sprees, he took offense at the
sound of their voices. He dominated the
gang and ruled as if with naked sword in
hand.
By the advice of DR. Carver lin O'Shea
had been made constable of the town. The
doctor had quoted with great effect the ex-
perience of Boston in making the famous
crook Turkey marshal, in the days when
IL,
being constable, Jim came naturally to be
the deputy sheriff of the county. He had
given up drink entirely.
Bill, also from the Wapsey prairie was
quiet enough ordinarily, but when in liquor
was ferocious as a panther. At such times
no one dared to oppose him nor lay hands
upon him, that is, no one but his brother
the deputy. Every law-abiding citizen re-
GREETED the infrequent visits of the Wapsey
Tiger.
Constable Ranney, tall. mild-mannered
man, grew more and more nervous as the
night drew on and reports came in about
Bill. He kept sedulously out of sight after
o'clock; in fact, he went to the mayors
office for comfort and reinforcement He
made a feeble effort to cover his flight by
saying to several of the uneasy citizens on
the street:
IF I'm wanted, I'll be at the mayors
office. I'm going up to consult him."
This deceived no one. Every man and
boy in Rock River knew Ranney was
afraid or Steve Maggie, to say nothing of
O'Shea. They shouted cat calls at him as
he went along the street, but they could
not blame him very much. There was
sort of horse sense in keeping out of the
Tigers way.
The matter was being discussed in the
mayors office. Rulings was there, and
Judge Brown, and two or three others
Foster Of the Saturday Morning Call took
humorous view of the matter the others
did not. Foster quoted a line or two while
sharpening pencil.
Now, whether Roderigo killed Cassie,
or Cassie Rcderigo, all makes my gain,'
I'm getting news"
I'VE may pull through all right yet"