Daily camera., 1897-01-19
CAPTADNC CHARbE@ KING ) ~ ~
tcopyrtsht. ,ss4. by J. B. Lipplncott Company.l

the sergeant, disgustedly. (which
corpse is pullin' the bell rope?" At
this unfeeling remark the populnce
again began to lough.
"Oh, you'll pay for this, you fellows!'
.remblingly shouted Parmelee TO the
grinninr group across the street. eff
there's law in Washington and power
10 back it, you'll lletch he'll"
"Whawt's been the matter, squire?"
asked citizen, soothingiy. "'Ain' t any
body hurt, is there? I amt heard
nothin' CT any row."
Parmeiee pointed to the carcass of the
mule and to some significant shot holes
at the corner. Il s'pose you'll deny
shootin' or hearin' any slIootin'-next."
'.ShoDtin'? SnCotin' round hyuh?
Why, doggons f that amt the queerest
thing. l thought | heard somebody
rullin' off a pistol awhile ago. Don't
you remember, major? | reckon twas
you / was talllin' with at the tinle-1
said there was shot fired. P'r'aps
that's what killed Potts old mule out
yuh7'
For heavens sake, man," muttered
Lambert, -stop that internal bell and
your own jaw. Can'tayou see they're
just laughing at you?'' and Parmelee
evidently did.
"My God, lieutenant! they've mobbed
the Jail, let loose, three of the worst
scoundrels ever went ,unhung, and
killed the officers of the law. They
ought to be arrested right here-every
one of then-'stead of standin' there
'insultin7 the United States government.
IF Capt. Close was here he'd have 'em
in in less than minute"
Hell be here presently, if you want
any arresting done. Meantime, the only
row is that which your people seem to
be making. Can't You stop that?"
Parmelee looked helpless and de-
spondent. "Somethin's got to be done"
he said, '.or these rebels'll ride right
over ynu. Why, every. man you sees
had hand in this Jail delivery. We had
great trouble 'restin' those three
scoundrels: the marshal's been after
Gil d lloh anu llC OuS III W lldNt lHtt
us here, IS l telegraphed him. VIC
fetched 'em here at four o'clock this
mornin', an not soulin Tugaloo knew
anything about it, an the.soldiers ought
to have stood by us until the marshal
came. STEAD of that. they went on to
camp and left us all alone, and Just as
soon as these people found out who
were jailed an saw we had no soldiers
to guard 'em, why, l conldn't do nothin'.
They just took my horse and-theyd
have hung me, s'pose, if I'd been fool
enough to stay. just 'scaped with M
life. You've just got here, lieutenant,
You don't begin to know what hell
hole this is. These people are the worst
kind o rebs. Capt'n Ciose--even he
wouldn't b'lieve it, but I reckon he does
now, after the tongue-lashin' them fel.
lers gave him.
But Mr.. Parmeleess description of the
situation was interrupted by the COM
ing of Capt. Close himself. Dressed
precisely as when Lambert had last
seen him at camp, with no more SEM
'blance of rank or authority than was
to be found in weather beaten pair Of
on hrs cheap flannel
blouse, withoutssash orsword, bat with
a huge army "Colt'' strapped about his
waist, the commander Of the company
came stroiling around the corner of the
Jail, looking curiously about it's door and
windows as though in search of signs
of the recent affray.
Thought you +told me they'd Shot
the door into toothpiclls," said he. ''I
don't see no signs Of bullets-.''
''Come round here an you'll see 'em
wasn't goin' to let1ny men ,De shot like
cattle in pen. got 'em out O. there
soon IS we saw the crowd a-cosnin -
'Then you didn't even show fight
didn't even attempt to hold your prison
ers'" exclaimed Close, in high duGgeo
''Why, great Peter! man, your birds just
walked out without anyone's helpin'
'em. You and your cowardly gang
walked off and let 'em go; an they've
taken our mule. That's the worst of it
taken our mule to replace that dam
there. that b'longed to the
father of one of the boys you brought
in this mornin'. He told the truth bout
it then, when he rode into camp an said
your posse had shot his mule an threat
cned to shoot him. What sort of sand
heap were you raised on, anyhow?
Why, + a baby in the town | como from
had shown as little grit as you and your
folks have, its own mother would have
drowned it in the mill-rare."
The effect of this unexpected tirade
was remarkable. The knot of civilian
listeners, who had come to get such fun
out of the situation as the circum
stances would permit, and who had
been indulging in no little half-stifled
laughter, were evidently amazed at this |
new side to the Yankee officers char
acter, and stdbd silent and decidedly APP
preciative listeners toshis denunciation
of the luckless Palmelee. The soldiers,
who had for some months been tasting !
the comforts of military service under |
civil control, and trudgirg all over
Chitfomipuo county 6av in md day ont |