Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-10-11

~ don't hare to-" said Hickory Sam.
ty. and no d--d Greasers from Buller's
can close up this town when I'm in II
You hear me? Salt Lick's wide open,
aud I'm standing in tho street to prove
it,"
II was bad enough to have tho town
declared open when l5 Of them In
body had proclaimed II closed, but In
addition to this to be called Greasers
was an insult not to be borne, a COW.
boy despises Mexican almost as much
"a he does an Indian. With q soul terri.
flying yell the 10 were ont Of the saloon
and on their horses like cyclone. They
went down the street like tornado.
wheeling about some distance below
the temporarily closed bank and charg.
ing up again at full gallop, firing in the
direction of Hickory Sam, who was
crouching behind an empty whisky bar.
rel In front Of the saloon with gun"
In either hand.
Sam made good his contention by
nipping the heart Of the champion when
opposite the bank, who plunged for
ward on his face and throw the caval
cade into confusion. Then Sam stood
up and regardless Of the scattering
shots fred with both revolvers. killing
the foremost man Of the troop and
slaughtering three horses, which in.
stantiy changed the charge into rout.
He then retired to Hades and barricad
ed tho door. Mike was nowhere to be
seen
But the boys knew when they had
enough. They made no attack on the
saloon, but picked up their dead. and,
thoroughly sobered. made their way
much more slowly than they came
back to Buller's ranch.
When IL was evident that they had
gone. Mike cautiously emerged from
his place of retirement rs Sam was Wig
orously pounding on the bar. threaten.
ing that II drink were not forthcom-
ing he would 60 around behind and
help himself
"I'm law and order man, by -"
be explained to Davlin, "and l won't
have no toughs from Buller's ranch
close up this town and interfere with
commerce. Every man has got 10 re-.
spect the constitution Of the United
States as long as my gun can bark, you
bet your life. "
Mike hurriedly admitted that he was
perfectly right and asked him what he
would have, forgetting in his agitation
that Sam took one thing only and that
one thing straight
Next day old Butler himself came in
from bis ranch to see il anything could
be done about this latest affray. Il was
bad enough to lose two Of his best
herdsmen in q foolish contest Of this
kind. but to have three trained horses
killed as we'll was disgusting Butler
had been ono Of tho boys himself in his
younger days, but now, having grown
wealthy in the cattle business, he was
anxious to see civilization move west
ward with strides little more rapid
than 1t was taking. He made the mis-
take Of appealing to the sheriff, as II
that worthy man could be expected for
the small salary he received to attempt
to arrest SO dead shot as Hickory Sam.
Best ies, as the sheriff quite correctly
pointed out, the boys themselves had
been the aggressors in the first place,
and il 10 of them could not take care Of
one man behind an empty whisky bar
rel they had better remain peaceably
at home In the future and do their pis.
tol practice in the quiet innocuous re-
tirement Of o shooting gallery. They
surely could not expect the strong man
Of the law in the person Of peaceably
minded sheriff to reach out and pull
their chestnuts from the fire when sew
eral of them had already burned their
fingers, and when the chestnuts shot
and drank as straight az Hickory Sam.
Butler, finding the executive portion
of the law slow and reluctant to move
sought advice from his own lawyer, the
one disciple Of Coke-upon-Littleton In
the place Tho lawyer doubted IL there
was any legal remedy In the then con-
dition Of society around Salt Lick. The
safest plan perhaps would behind, he
did not advise, but merely suggested
to surround Hickory Sam and wipe him
of the face Of the earth. This might
not be strictly according to law, but it
would be effective il carried out with.
ont an error.
The particulars Of Buller's interview
with the sheriff spread rapidly in Salt
Lick and caused great indignation
among the residents thereof, especially
those who frequented Hades. 1t was q
reproach to the place that the law
should be invoked all on account Of .
trivial incident like that Of the day be-
fore. Sam, who had been celebrating
his victory at Mikes, heard the news
with bitter il somewhat silent resent.
ment, for he had advanced 30 far in his
cups that he was all but speechless. Be-
ing q magnanimous man, lie would
have been quite content to let bygones
be bygones, but this unjustifiable action
Of Buffers required prompt and sffeo-
tual chastisement He would send the
wealthy ranchman to keep company
with his slaughtered herdsmen. Thus
| it was that when Butler mounted his
horse after his futile visit to the lawyer
he found Hickory Sam holding the
street with his guns. The fusillade that
followed was without result, which dis
appointing termination 10 accounted
| for by the fact that Sam was exceeding
| " drunk at the time and the ranohman
was out Of practice. Seldom had Salt
| Lick seen 30 much powder burned with
no damage except to the window glass
| in the vicinity. Butler went back 10 the
lawyers Office and afterward had an
interview with the bank manager. Then
be got quietly ont Of town unmolested,
for Sam, weeping over the inacouracy
| Of his aim on Mikes shoulder. grsdu.
ally sank to sleep in corner Of the -
| loon.
Next morning when Sam woke TO
temporary sobriety be sent word to the
ranch that he would shoot old Butler
| on sight and at the same time apologiz.
| ed for the previous ecoentricities Of his
| Ore, promising that such an annoying
| exhibition should not OCCUR again. He
dgued himsslf ''Ths Terror of Salt Lick