The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-08-26
Crown and Bridge
Work q Sracsaltvf
warehouse.

- sAAy N~esh- w nat - tHIS
Its me-" said Buckley calmly. That
boy has come to me for protection, and
he shall have it if 1 have to shoot sir
of you in your tracksw S
"Oh, thunder! Come OFF, sneered a,I
man in the front "Git out O. the door.
Buckley, or We'll mash you fiatter'n al
filter" go
"The first man that tries to pass this
step dies as sure as Gods in heaveng g
There was a swerving back from the
weapon in Buckley's steady hand. ST.
lence fell-a threatening silence. The
cooking of revolver somewhere in
the crowd sounded clearly.
That's right, shoot at me, you dirty
coward" said Buckley defiantly. Here
stand in the light, and can't pick l
you out In the dark. Shoot, you cow
ardly sneakw ~
Put that gun down." cried deter
mined voice in the throng. "You harm:
George Buckley an I'll put daylight|
through YOU"
There was a sound Of struggie..|
stifed oaths and the clash OF q revolvei&|
as 1t struck the pavement. 1t was fols1
lowed by grumbling words, hot dr.
putting and-silence. 49,
You are a set Of towards, saidE]
Buckley, running like pack of wolyea{
after poor boy for what he said ss
A SIT, when fRes 1ase hs &aa SaS 5yoal You kn6
who am>eand you know If there -
any one of you, or any three, that want
to hold me responsible for this step
I'll be on hand. Has any one here apyi
row to pick with jeff Truitt, them
him speak up. III represent him.
In n fighting mood tonight ands
satisfy just as many as will apply
"An' he'll do it, too, boys" said e
admiring voice. "Buckley's got til
right stuff in i'm! Come on, let's g6l
home. George seems friendly to thea
cuss, an any friend o. his is safe a9q
fur as I'm concerned" stSI
"Same here" Joined in another voice.
Buck, yo're oil right but that's o.
dern slack wad yo're takin' up fer, as |
shore as yore knee high to duck"
"Well, he's my friend, and I'm biad
mothers friend" said Buckley. CT
mob like yours shan't send his CORPSE
home to her if can help it." M
He'd be about as much use to 'e[SI
that away as in his natural condition., !
laughed man near the front "Buk1
eff she bankers after Inn. an, BucklaTl
-1vaft5 Jim to live osl,~I,ll SvitA drew my
claim. This is the sort of rabbit hunt
I don't much like nohow." I
A laugh rose and went round. 1t was
favorable sign. George lowered his
revolver. "Go home, boys" he said
wearlly. "Im sorry I spoke as did |
irct now Won nra oil NV friandS. II
can see that. Good night"
They stood for an. instant as If un-
certain what step to take, but Buckley's
last words had completely disarmed
them. Slowly they disbanded and I
struggled away. When they were all I
lost in the darkness George closed the |
door and locked it. Just then JEFF |
Truitt emerged from the darkness in |
the interior Of the building and, with |
hanging head and downcast eyes, drew I
near.
"Oh, George" he faltered, ~ wish |
they had killed me. I'm coward. I I
was afeard Of 'em-afeard of 'emp' i
"It wasn't that. my bpyS don't you be-
ieve it," said George, consolingly. "You,
were simply stampeded. me best sol
diers are that way when they see.
overwhelming numbers approaching.
You've got grit, but they tell me yonr
have to I'LL up with whiskysto float IT., Z I
"But you wasn't afeard OF 'em," wlftfe
ed the boy.
"Yes, was-at first, said Buckley.
'I shook all over, and then I got drunk
with rage, just like you do on whisky. 4
It's the same thing-just as wide as
it's long. Don't you bother; you'll !,
fight, JEFF. Ii III thought you were a
coward I'd never been the friend to |
. you am. My Lord, don't-1 remember,
away back at the log schoolhouse, how
Press Tiffton bullied you all day, pinch !
ing you, calling you names, an& finally, |
when he began to bump ydr headj
against the wall, you turned In Sndi
gave him the worst licking heE
had? He had black eyes and pun \
jaws for a week. Some men are tile
way-just don't like trouble and stax
away from it till it's showed o. theIn3
How did they happen to come here for I
you?" T
"They went home after mel reckon n
said the boy, "an' when they found Qtt3
I was here they come on Mfet liquorf
an settle with me. Ef ~ was me.3
George, what would yorl 90 home
tonight? You -knoY, tho ilssswill be-
a-worryin'." = <sSzf{
ss.No; you stay here Srd L +
me-" said George. I'm H6tf - to
risk you anywhere. eisk 8
- Ihey vent bnck y to = bf f}lf4o}n :
Buckley carrying tho ~