The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-09-30
With His Old Friend, the Marshal,
He Crossed Over the Great
Divide.

Story Publishing Co..
Rapid City was an extreme ex-
ample of a picturesque but I'M
wholesome community.
The incumbent of the marshalcy
of Rapid City had won his exalted
position solely because no one could
recall a time when he had been
either dilatory for a fatal moment,
or inaccurate for an effective hairs
breadth, In his manipulation of that
product of the American desire for
quick results.
So when he issued an edict
against carrying guns inside the
"city'' limits the cow-punchers took
out their revenge in oaths and
threats against the next election;
and, from the very day after the
edict, the place of the pistol knew
1t no more.
Rapid City had managed to sur
vive about week of this uncom-
Portable, negative virtue, when
Jesse Bolande, Esq, rode into town
at about in the afternoon. He
had been on his range all week,
and as he stood at the unmirrored
bar Of Keno Jim's place" he listen
ed to the new state of affairs with
many an oath of incredulous amaze.
The marshal was hardly above
medium height. The. marshal was
rather below medium weight.
The marshal and Bolande were
old friends. They had once moiled
on ragged claim upon the noun
tains together; they had stood back
to back in skirmishes with yelling
savages in bowling wilderness.
When the marshal entered the
saloon. he did not, at first, see Bo-
lande's revolver, and there was an
unrestrained cordially in the
Howl" with which he greeted
| him. while the warmth of Bolande's
answer strove with a pacificatory
uneasiness.
When finally the CLINT of b.
| lande's dingy weapon struggled
! through the smoke of the room to
the marshal's eye. he said quietly,
that the others might not hear:
Jesse. stick your gun behind the
bar till you're leavin' town. Can't
let you tote your irons in this mans
town now"
"Ownin' this place now, are you,
marshall" There was too little sub
tility in Bolande's information to de-
ceive the marshal in it's portent,
and he flung back a sharp reply,
"Any skin off you. if l do?"
And Bolande Gained before the
others frank resentment and
struggling himself again, murmur-
ed: Nope. But tharll be some off
the man that tries to take my gun
away"
Almost pleadingly the quiescent
marshal answered: Jesse. I'll give
you till 6 o'clock to put up your
gun, or pull your freight out of
this"
Still more unassumingly, but still
more firmly, Bolande answered:
you'll find me right here at G..
Bring your nerve with you, mar
shall. Have a drink"
Don't mind if | do. Jesse. Here's
howl and they drained the mar
tyrdom with unflinching gusto.
The marshal evidently thought it
only right to give his old friend
three minutes of grace, for it was a
little after the hour when his step
was heard on the board walk out
side.
AS the marshal's searching look
made out Bolande's form, and.
hunting further, found his pistol
uudethroned, his teeth set hard
upon the last plea of friendship.
and with perfectly level voice. he
said, inquisitorially calm, You're
still here. see"
I'm here" came an answer of
equal phlegm.
And though there was a cry of
iron rage in his voice, yet was it
quiet, as the marshal declared war
thus: Then, by God, look out for
YOURSELF"
With epic equality and speed the
weapons leaped into position.
|. Bolande fought with his arm
Swinging freely, his whole body ex.
posed. The marshal's first bullet
pit him in the depth of his chest
and whirled him completely about.
The marshal, little cooler and a