The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-15
GABRIEL TOLLIVER|
copyright, 1908, by Joel Chandler H.rrIs.
CHAPTER XXI.
Malvern Has a Holiday.


Very early the next morning Malvern
aroused Itself to the fact that the fire.
men and the police and a very large
crowd of the rag, tag and bobtail that
hangs on the edge of all holiday occa-
sions, were out for frolic. A band was
playing, and the old-fashioned apparat-
US was showing the amazed and amused
crowd how to put out an imaginary con-
nagration.
But what did 1t all mean? It was some
kind of a celebration, of course, but why
then did the Malvern Recorder, one OF
the most enterprising newspapers in the
state, why, did the Recorder fail to make
an appropriate announcement of an event
so interesting and important?
After a while there was a lull in the
display. The chief received authoritative
information that the train from Savannah
was approaching. He waved his trumpet
and the f1remen formed themselves into
a procession, and passed twice in review
and then halted with their hose reels,
and their hook and ladder wagons almost
blocking up the entrance to the station.
police managed to keep the street clear
so that vehicles might effect a passage.
1t was well that the officers of the law
had been thus thoughtful, otherwise a
countryman who CHANGED to be coming
along just then would have found 1t dit
| fcult to drive his team even half way
through the jam. He was a typical Geor-
| gia farmer He wore wide straw hat, a
hOmaSnnp rf nd
latter being held in place by dirty pair
| of homemade suspenders. He drove what
| is called a spike team, two oxen at the
| wheels, and mule In the lead. The day
was warm, but he was warmer. The
| crowd had flurried him and he was in
| clined to use heated language. The team
managed to fight It's way to point
opposite where the chief officials of the
police and fire department were standing.
The wagon to which the team was at
tached was a ramshackle affair apparent
ly, but was strong enough nevertheless
to sustain the weight of three bales OF
cotton, one of the bales being somewhat
larger than the others.
My friend" said the chief of police
elevating his voice so that the country
man could hear him distinctly, this is
not warehouse. If you want to sell your
cotton, carry 1t around the corner yon-
of Vardeman s. Stark
IF l want to sell cotton? Well, you
don't reckon I want to drive 1t away, do
you? They told me that the cotton ware
house w6s down here some'rs, an that
1t was made of brick. This shebang is
down yander, an it's made of brick
How fur is tother placer
Right around the corner" said one In
the crowd.
'Humph-yes; that's the way WI ever
thing In this blamed town. it's luther
down yander, or right around the corner.
But eff 1t was right here, how could / git
to 1t? Deliver me from places whar they
celebrate Christmas in the hottest part of
Junel Eff l ever git out'n the town you'll
never ketch me here agin."
Inside the station another scene was in
| the full swing of action. Certain well
| known citizens of Halcyondale had been
pacing up and down the planked floor of
| the station apparently awaiting with
| some Impotence for the moment to come
| when the train for Atlanta would be
ready to leave. But the train itself
| seemed to be in no particular hurry. The
! locomotive stood in its place with the
| blue smoke curling peacefully from its
black chimney Presently an access of
energy among the employees of the sta
tion gave notice that the train from Sa-
vannah was crossing the ~ IL
Mr.. Tidwell of Shady Dale, who was
also among those who were apparently
anxious to take the train for Atlanta
ceased his restless walking, and stood
leaning against one of the brick pillars
supporting the rear end of the structure.
Major Tomin Perdue on the other hand,
leaned confidently on the counter of the
little restaurant The major was ac-
quainted with the man at the counter.
and he informed him conhdentially that
| he was simply waiting a fair opportunity
| to put few lead plugs into the carcass
| of the person at the far end of the sta
ton. who was no other than Mr.. Tidwell
us that SOP asked the clerk breath
essly. We'll, I don't mind telling you
| that he has been having some of the same
kind of talk about you, and you'd better
keep your eye on Hmm"
| Slowly the Savannah train backed In
| and slowly and carelessly Major Perdue
| sauntered along the raised floor They
had decided that the prisoners would
most likely be In the second-class coach
and they purposed to make that coach
| the scene of their sham duel. The two
men were the length of the car apar,
| when the Savannah train came to a
| standstill. "Perduei they tell me that
! you have been hunting for me all over
the CITY," said Mr.. Tidwell. He was a
| trained speaker. and his voice had great
| carrying power. The firemen of both
trains heard 1t distinctly, caught the note
of passion In it and looked curiously out
| of their cabs
| "Yes, I've been hunting you, and now
that I've found you you'll not get away
! until you apologize to me for the Ian
| guage you have used about me-" cried
| Major Perdue. He was not as loud a
| talker as Mr.. Tidwell but his voice pen.
etrated to every part of the building.
| What I've said I'll stand to- declared
| Mr. Tidwell, and If you think l have beer
| trying to keep out OF your way, you will
find out differently, you clustering black
| guard!'
| Are you ready, you cowardly hellian?'
cried the major, apparently In a rage.
| "As ready as you will ever be-" replied
| Tidwell holly. He was the better actor OF
| the two.
| And then, just as the prisoners were
coming out of the coach-as soon as Ga
briel, lean and haggard, had reached the
floor of the station, Major Perdue
whipped out his pistol and shot rang
out, and IT was Immediately reproduced