Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-05-06

-Tenbi4H-lN SAoNNVb AT iuElcc ~ ttc
grinniu~ group across the street. "If
there's law in Washington and power
tc back = you'll lletch he'll"
"Whawt's been the matter, squirrel"
asked a citizen, soothiugiy. "Ain't any
BODY hurt, is there? amt heard
uothin' CT any row.
Parmeiee pointed to the carcass of the
mule and to some significant shot holes
al the corner. II s'pose you'n deny
shootin' or hearin' any sLootin'--next."
"Shoofin'? Shootin' round hyuh?
Why. doggone f that amt the queerest
thing! | thought 1 heard somebody
pullin' off pistol awhile ago. Don't
you remember, major? 1 reckon twas
YOU 1 wns 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 mobbed
the iail, 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 them-'stead of standin' there
insultin' the United States government.
If Capt. Close was here he'd have 'em
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?'
ParmeIee looked helpless and de,
spondent. "Somethin's got to be DONE
he said, cor these rebels'l 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 month, and he ought to have met
US here, s l 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
to guard 'em, why, 1 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. I just 'scaped with ny
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 Close-evep he
wouldn't b'lieve it. bu I 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 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
shoulder-straps on his cheap flannel
blouse, without sash or sword, but with
huge army Colt" strapped about his
waist, the commander of the company
came strolling around the corner of the
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-plcks, said he. Il
don't see no signs of bullets"
Come round here an you'll see 'em.
1 wasn't goin' to let my men be shot like
cattle in pen. l got 'em 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
Ars?" exclaimed Close. in high duGgeon.
"Why, great Peter! man, your birds just
walked out without anyoEe'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
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