The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-20
l.EIEl::lR|'s REPUTATION
'nded from sixth Page,
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Sf1SfSSeS Ut his oar. suddenly the oHCOin
lkSgs, Wells ceased, the wild gallop OF hoof
estaekened into q, trot and finally halted
IS ana even the responsive shouts of tn
sscamp stopped also. We all looked va
scantly at each other; Mosby leaped owe
a his counter and went to the door
q Briggs followed with the res, of us TIL,
aantght was dark and II was few minute:
y before we could distinguish strug-
p Cling. vague, but silent procession NOV
ling through the moist heavy air on the
y hill. Butte our surprise II was moving
4 away from us--absolutely leaving the
4; camp! We were stu staring in eXpec-
4 fancy, when.out OF the darkness slowly
4 SatWonce as Captain Jim-one OF the
most reckless members OF our camp.
Y emerged n figure which we recognized
\ Pushing us back into the grocery lie en-
stered without Il word. closed the door
s behind him. and threw himself vacant
81 ~ into n chair. We At once pressed
! around him. Re looked UP at us daxed-
By, drew a long breath, and said slowly:
Its no use. gentlemen. suthin's got
4 to be done with that Buger! And
I, mighty quick
af$.{ Whats the matter?" we asked Gag
Aeriy.
Matter" he repeated. passing his
hand across his forehead, matter.
Z Look you! fe all heard them boys from
Z SawyerS Dam coming over the hill? We
X heard their ,lnusic-nebhc w heard us
y foin in the chorus? Well-on they come
valtzing down the hill. like old times.
4 and we waitin' for en-. Thcn-just as
4 they passed the old cabin who do yc
think they ran right into--shooting
I iron. long hair and moustache and All
outstanding thar plump in the end?
fiyThE.. Rulger?
'sssS5.iiEell?"
ID t.,SNefi!-Whatever 1t was-dont ask
I; me -sbGt dun my skin! ef after Il word
: or two from him-them bows just stop
ped yellin'. turned round like lambs and
rode away peaccful-like. along with
him. We ran after them. Il spell yell
z in. when that thar Bulgcr faced
around, said to us that he'd come down
here for quiet. and ef he couldn't hev
II. he'd have to leave with those gentle
men who wanted Il too. And I'm gosh
darned! eff these 'gentlcmen'-you know
/, EN- all-Patsey Carpenter. Snapshot
Harry and the others-never said a
darned word but kinder nodded so
long and went away"
Our establishment and mystitication
was complete: and regret to say. the
indignation OF Captain Jim and NIosby
equally 80. 'If were going to be bossed
by the first newcomer" said Jhe for
mer gloomily, II reckon we might as
well take our chances with the Sawyers
Dam boys, whom we know" tf We
q
Of Rattlesnake interfered with by the
cranks of some hidin' horse-thicf or re-
tired road-a gent," said Mosby 1--WE
might as well invite the hull OF Joaquin
A1urietta'e gang here. at once! But
suppose this is part o. Bulger's partcu-
lar business" he added with wither-
ing glance a Briggs.
II understand IL all" said Briggs
7 quickly. You know told YOU that bull
lies couldn't live in the same time to-
gether. That's human naturc-and that's
how plain men like you and me manage
ito scud along without getting plugged.
You see Bulger wasn't going to have any
of his own kind iumpin' his claim here
:And reckon he was powful enough
TO back down sawyers Dam. Anyhow
the bluff told-and here we are I'm peace
+ and Quietness"
q Until he lets us know what Is his
little game sneered Mosby.
II Nevertheless, such is the force of mys-
5derious power that although it was ex-
crcised against what we firmly believed
Was the independence OF the camp. il
extorted certain respect from us. A
few though 1t wns not a bad thing to
haVe3a professional bully, and even took
care to relate the discontinue OF the
wicked youth OF Sawyers Dam, for the
benefit of certain adjacent and bower
1ul camp who had looked down upon
JUS. He. himself, returning the same
evening from his self-imposed escort,
$Vouchsafed no other reason than the
5ene he had already given. Preposterous
! as 1t seemed we We're obliged TO accept
II, ana the still more preposterouS infer
aence that he had sought Rattlesnake
camp solely for the purpose OF acquiring
ana securing its peace and uuietncss
certainly, he had no other occupation.
,hne little work he did upon the tailings
or the abandoned claim which reach his
little cabin was scarcely a pretense He
went over on certain days to Bigwood
on account of his business. but no one
mad ever seen him there. nor could the
description Of his manner and appear
ance evoke any information from the
Sigweodians. 1t remained a mystery.
IT had also been believed that the ad-
vent OF BulEer would intensity that fear
and dislike of rloutous Rattlesnaks
which the two families had shown. and
which was the origin of Briggs futile
attempt to reformation. But 1t was
discovered that since his arrival the
young girls had showni less timidity in
entering the camp and had even eX-
changed some polite conversation and
sood-humored bandinage with its
younger and more imprcssible members
Ferhaps this tended TO make these
youths more observant. for a few DAYS
iAter, When the veXed question of Bull
SCI business was again under discus
sion, one of them remarked gloomy:
reckon there amt no doubt what
he's here for!"
The youthful prophet was instantly
sat upon after the fashion Of all elderly
critics since Jobs. Nevertheless, after
pause he was permitted to explain:
ri +"Only this morning when Ionnn r.,