The National tribune., 1896-08-20
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON c.

on his cracker-box until his arsenal rested
more easily in reach, and then said, in an
even monotone of impressive quietness:
"If yeh had voted yeilah dawgs enough
Mt this election, yeh might have elected one.
An, sub. yeh have come as neah it as the
sca'sity of dawgs 'ud allow. Yef have voted
| a Mexican who is boss thief, an If ye'd
anotlrah hoss thieis yeh, might have elected
one Sheiff." "a
The Colonel wasi looking straight at the
Major now, and neither was pleasant to look
| at.
The angles in the Majors face grew sharper
with each word, and his face grew dark with
deep anger. He glared at the Co o'onel for
moment, and then, in that same deadly tone
of level precision, came his reply:
| "Hya, after when u man comes inter this
camp with his rekkurds burnt benin I'm,
wantin' ter run fer offs. the fust thing to DO
ez to sarch i'm and see if he hez plg-taIl.
| We allus guessed thar wuz only one ChiDy-
man in the Bar until ternight, when the
elekshun unkivvered another. I'd ruther
be yaler dawg N be Chinyman an afeerd
ter say so till elekshun time"
The Colonel's answer seemed to be adj
dressed aimlessly, bnt those who were edging
back saw that his hand rested OF his pistol.
His eyes cleaned, and he swelled with out
ragged wrath. l am, sub, a descendant OF
one of the fnst fam lies of Ame'ica, an If yeh
say I am anything but gentleman, yeh
are n dihty liah and an infehnal scoun-
drel"
The Majors hand moved quickly, but the
COloDeFs was not one whit slower Ihere
were hali-doZen echo-intermiDgiIng re-
ports, and then the boys who had dIsap-
peared under the tables Strengthened them
selves in larger quarters, and those who had
disappeared through the windows came back
through the doors.
The Major still sat upright at the table,
his sarcastic smile wreathed in smoke. The
Colonel leaned with bowed head upon the
table, one arm nervelessly grasping his re-
vOlver. Both were dead.
For minute there was that subdued
silence that is a quality of the toughest hu-
manty in the presence of death, and the
boys slowly and tenderly carried into an adj
joining room the victims of the first election
at Paradise Bar.
They had again assembled in solemn
silence, while Hans, who had hastily re-
turned, was wriuging his hands in silent
despair over the loss of his reputation and
the breaking Of his beloved precedent, when
Emerson arose and, with one foot on chair,
said, awkwardly, but earnestly:
"Bnys, both OF 'em wanted to be Sheriff,
an neither of 'em could give it up. AM so
they died TO squar' things. But wot we
want tew remember is that they left US with
thar faces tor'd trubble; neither of 'em wuz
shot in the back. AM let's plant 'em in
style, for they passed over th' divide with
eyes straight ahead an nary scared look
behin'."
In the murmur Of approval that followed,
the Judge rose judicially to his feet: What
you say is true, and tomorrow we will plant
'em as brave men are hurried by their COM
rades." Here the Judgs paused and raised
his arm impressively. "But in our regard
for the dead, we must not forget our respect
for the majesty of the law. We are here to-
night to discharge a solemn obligation, and
as citizens we must stand by the task until
all the requirements of the law are salts
fed.
"All the offices have been declared filled
except that of Sheriff. Since the Colonel and
the Major, who received the highest votes,
are disqualified, Thereby declare that the
candidate receiving thea ext highest number
of votes-Mr. Joseph Emerson-is elected
Sheriff of Paradise Bar.n
The crowd murmured a unanimous as
seat.
Sing Hi had voted foE Joe Emerson.-Ar-
g0ndat. o1 -