Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-06-08

the Argosy were at the rear Of
the building and too far removed
for any cry TO reach thsm- His en-
pIoycr had slipped away and left him
20 face the mob. They were coming
to call the editor 90 account for an {
article that he. George Crasha~, had
written. It was q scathing attack
on the authorities OF the mining town
for the lax manner in which they
administered their duties. 1t WINS q
double-barreled attack, for IL scored
the evti-doers as web as the officials.
The gamblers and the authorities
would make common case against the
Argosy. X was true that Editor
Jim Briggs had inspired the article.
but he, George Crsshaw. would not
deny the authorship no matter what \
might come of IT, Nor did he care /
particularly what might come. He
had listened almost passively when /
jim rushed 80 and suffered that |
Buck Ransom and a half dozen Of his /
cronies were coming up the street
They're bound for this very room, !
tool" cried jim "win yOu cut stick.
OF will you stand pat9" And George
had answered wearily that he'd stay
and see it out. And then jim had
given him q shotgun with . singular
ly short barrel, and told him TO rest
a. on his knees beneath the table
with the muEzle trained on the mob.
IF they maks q move 1T you, MI
their legs full OF shot" said JIM
~Tm OF until the thing blowa over
That was Jim's way-always wait
ing for something 90 blow over.
And all this hustled through George
Crashavx's mind while the noisy foot
steps climbed up the dark stairway.
Did the prospect Of q struggle against
heavy odda worry him7 Not In the
least. He was very tired. His head
throbbed strangely. He had lost all
his energy. OF course he would do
his best against these rufiians. And
vet, after all, what did IL matter ?
Was khers anything In life worth
fehting fort IL there was he hadn't
found e.
The steps were almost at the door.
A red flush warmed his cheeks His
ewes Rlittered. Then ne suddenly
dropped the stock OF the shotgun on
the floor, and. letting the barrel lean
against the wall. rose 90 bis feet and
stsadisd himself with one hand press.
bied. He wondered why. He knew
IL was not from fear.
Then the door was fung open and
the redoubtable Buck Ransom staIket
into tbs room. the doorway behinS
him being INSTANTLY illed with hal
dozen faces and shadOwy forms
The eyes OF the famous leadel
fastened upon the Eaunt young fel
low whose right arm, steadying hin
beside tho rough deal table. wa
growing strangely limp and numb.
-Are you tn party thet came owe
tn mountains las month from Dee
GUlch?" the mighty Ransom asked.
"Yes," replied George CrAsha~.
seemed q simple word, and yet b
found IL dsfReult TO enunciate il.
Game over the mountains a mont
ago from Deep Gulch and hired Ou
with Jim Briggsf"
George nodded. That was easis
than talking.
The eminent leader came Q Mttl
nearer.
"Your name Is Crashaw," he sail
An solemn tones, with his forefngs
advanced and emphasizing his word
"an' you knew lanky Jim rollive
didn't your"
George nodded again. Really
couldn't stand there much longer
be shot at. Why didn't they begin
, 'sYou bet you knew him." cried Il
leader, with an impressive shake
his shaggy head. -Yog stuck by hi
through thick an thin: you brae,
him up an got tn drink out Of hii
and you made q man OF him That
what you done When he got wings
by Filpcny bullet you toted hi
out O tn line O. FIRE, an when
fell sick o. tn swamp fever y.
nursed him on the transport like
mother, an when he died you brnI
his body home an seen ID laid awI
by his mother, an you spent 20
last dollar doin' IL. That's what y
done for Jim Toliiver, an when yog
done ii you broke for parts unkno'
'tbout lettin' tn boys know 4 bless
thing about IL. But we've found 70
euss you. an you can't deny iti"
The men In the doorway crowd
forward IS the eminent boss NJ
radiant face held out his hands to {
totterisg George.
~Ycu can't deny It." Buek chuck
again, and the men behind
pressed stin closer.
George tried 90 steady his gaxs.
I'll deny nothing" he mutters
s3s.-. ~..-~..,<x osf.ls Cor axap~ xxr