The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-09-03
Bride was going around hsmmering at

one shutter after another and mutter-
ing about "darned fools inside" A cor
poral with two men had explored the
two rooms of the primitive building
used as Jail, and now came out to say
there was nobody there. which seemed
to tickle the fancy of the rallying pop
ulace. Still the bell kept up its deafen-
ing clanior and Lambert was waxing
both nervous and indignant. The abb
sence OF the civil officers of the law
the deputy marshal or sheriff-ren-
dered him practically powerless to act.
He could not pitch into the people for
standing around with tteir hands in
their pockets and looking amused.
There was nothing hostile or threaten
ing in their manner. They were even
disposed to be friendly-as when they
saw Lambert take a rife with evident
intention of battering in the door. they
shouted TO him in genuine concern:
Don't do that, lieutenant. Those fell
lows will be shootin' up through the
floor neXt. The squire1l be along pres
emily. Let him do it,
Presently the squire did come. still
white about the gills," as a sergeant
nuttered; and him Lam bert angrily &C
costed:
What do you want US to do. Mr..
Parmelee? We've beer here several
minutes with nobody to report to-
Il s'pose my poor fellows are muir
dered to man." cried Pal melee, sliding
off his mule and handing the reins to
soldier, who coolly transferred them
to the nearest post. Cant you make
'em hear. McBride?"
Not if they're all dead" answered
the sergeant, disgustedly. (Which
corpse IS pullin' the bell rope?" At
This unfeeling remark the populace
again began to laugh.
'Oh, you'll pay for this, you felows!"
.remblingly shouted Parmelee to the
grinning group across the street. ''If
there's law in Washington and power
TO back it, you'll ketch he'll"
'Whawt's been the matter, squirrel"
asked a 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 shootin'-neXt."
"Shooiin'? Shootin' round hyuh?
Why, doggone f that amt the queerest
thing! 1 thought 1 heard somebody
pullin' off pistol awhile ago. Don't
you remember, major? 1 reckon twas
you / was talkin' with at the time-I
said there was a shot fired. P'r'aps
that's what killed Potts old mule out
yuh."
For HEAVENS sake, man." muttered
Lambert. stop that Internal bell and
your own jaw. Can't you see they re
just laughing at you?" and Parmelee
evidently did.
My God, lieutenant they've mobbel
the Jail, let loose three of the worst
scoundrel3 ever went unhung. and
killed the officers of the law. They
ought to be arrested right here-every
one of them-'stead of standin' there
insultin' the United States government.
If Capt. Close was here he'd have EN-
in in less than a 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, 1'or these rebels'll ride right
over you. Why, every man you sees
had a hand in this Jail delivery. We had
great trouble 'restin' those three
scoundrels: the marshars been after
'em a month. and he ought to have met
us here, IS I telegraphed him. We
fetched 'em here at four o'clock this
mornin', an not soul in 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 couldn't do nothin'.
They just took my horse and-they'd
have hung me, s'pose. if I'd been fool
enough to stay. just escaped with m;
life. You've just got here, lieut. nant
You don't begin to know what a hell
hole this is. These people are the worst
kind o rebs. Capt'n Close-ever he
wouldn't b'lieve it, but reckon he does
now, after the tongue-lashin' them fel
lers gave him"
But Mr.. Parmelee's description of the
situation was interrupted by the CON-
ing of Capt. Close himself. Dressed
precisely as when Lambert had las.
seen him at camp. with no more SEM
blance of rank or authority than was
to be found in a weather beaten pair Of
shoUlder-straps on his cheap flame!
blouse, without sash or sword, but with
a huge army Colt" strapped about his
waist, the commander of the company
came strolling around the corner of tho
Jail. looking curiously about its door and
windows as though in search of signs
of the recent affray.
Thought you told me they'd shot
the door into tooth-picks," said he. 81
don't see no signs of bullets
Come round here an you'll see 'er.
WASN'T goin' to let my men be sho. like
cattle in pen. I got EN- out O there
soon s we saw the crowd a-comin'''
Then you didn't even show fight
didn't even attempt to hold your prison
-rs?" exclaimed Close, in high duGgeon.
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
carcass there, that b'longed to the