The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-08-14


resignation. "Tn die some time any.
way, either by shootin' er broncho-
Dustin an eff it'll help the gang any
to have it come by red-headed lightnin'
all right"
He's never baked at a proposition
yit firm a bOb-cat up" said Timber
JACK eXultantly; IAN of be causes
Miss Merry to srerjer, he'll be good
to her. We don't want to s'press her
understanding, merely to-er-to miti-
gate her, 50 to speak"
Again the Dostoffice door opened,
and again she of the auburn hair is.
sued an ultimatum.
Such of you as expect any mail may
come In now-single file, remember.
NO, Thomas Ketchum," holding up q
warning hand you amt had even a
circular from a whiskey-house in a
year. You stay out"
But want some terbacker" ex.
postulated the man.
Wait till the nails dfstributedy
she snapped. I'm not a storekeepeF
now; I'm the gov'ment's representa-
tive"
Inc last letter and paper were hand
ed out to the file that came and went
but the crowd loitered outside as a
moral support to Tom, who entered
last and alone. The minutes went by.
but no sound was heard from within.
1 tell We, boys" gloated Jack.
Toms the one fer Miss Merry. He'll
give her jest that mixcher O. firmness
an barney thatll cam even a red
headed woman. Why amt we thought
o this afore? While he's courtin' her,
we boys kin hev some liberties when
we come to town"
The door opened with explosive sud-
denness. Tom, with petrlfed face,
came hastily down the steps, and Miss
Merry appeared so quickly behind him
as to almost tread ON his spurs.
IF any of you men want to buy
goods here, come ont If not, get away
from my premises!" Her square jaws
Fairly snapped shut. "And If your bust
ness is done, get back to work! Towns
no place for you!"
And Toms spirit was broken. He
took his share of the work in dull,
dogged manner that hurt his fellows.
Whatever Miss Merry had said or
done had been as an acid that bites
deeply. A smothered aversion to the
woman came to life, and among those
who frequented Waxhaw,. and Ioitered
to trade with Miss NeTvy and listen to
her vinegary speeches, the Flying
Flag" men were conspicuoUsly absent.
One usually transacted business for
the outfit, and even his visit was brief.
At first, Miss Merry ignored the alb
sence of the Flying Flag" contingent,
but finally curiosity-R failing common
even to goddesses-mastered her. She
was handing a sheaf of mail across the
counter to Timber Jack.
THE Flying Flag seems to be Civ
ing us a needed rest" she, observed,
sarcastically. HAS the foremmp really
got them to work at last?"
They're mostly taliin' turns at nUrs-
in Tom Ketchum in their spare time, ="
answered Jack, nonchaiantly, as he
| slowed away the mail
what ails Ketchumg?' sine qaeriei,
shade of interest crossing her face
Seems to- hev been breakin' down
| fer the las three months" replied
Jack. Acts jest like man I knew
at got clawed up with a Wildcat, an
los his sperrit Sos wheg a cayuse AT
Tom was brealin' fell on MIN two
weeks ago, an smashed some ribs, he
kind o. give up aa' got fever. We
boys don't know much 10 do: but Bot
Vermillion, as been a boss doctor
he fixes up some mashes now an then
We're an sorry
"a horse doctor! What a pack o
fools!" scoldeI Miss Merry. You'll
kill him amongst You.
Jack was at the door, but he turned
and drawled, gently, "Oh, no Mis-
Merry; his death won't be at on
, door. We all knows what's ldlle
Tom. He allays had more backbOn
an life than any man on the range
: and no man er gang O. men could d
him up hathaway"
J.. Who's that?" asked Sam, later !
4 The day, pointing across the prairil
A blackboard drawn by a rangy sorr,
l. vas approaching.
op{g bronga 70 tha aatant hnnen