The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-02-10
CHAPTER XVII.

IH December George was alone
the office. He had just finishe
writing some letters when Jei
Truitt came in and stood near tn
stove. He was a slender young maj
under twenty-five, short and frail look
ing. His clothing was ragged and hi
sandy hair unkempt. Buckley looket
at him and smiled. Been getting your
+ self into no end, of rows over home,
he remarked. My mother tells IN
they sent you a deaths head the othe
night, and your father said somebod!
shot at you in the field"
That's all so, George" said Truit
gloomily. Il reckon I've been shootin
off my mouth little too much
Il really thought you had more sense
than to report that desperate gang ovel
there for moonshiniDg," said George
in kindly tone.
Wouldn't "a done it eff I'd beer
SOBER replied Truitt. They made
me mad when l was full. an l done
'em all the harm l could"
well, what are you going to do about
it, 'JeffT
'sThat's what l come to ak you
George. Ma and pa are mighty nigh
crazy about it, an i give 'em my word
I'd come an ak yore advice. By gum,
they think they'll go to you when they
die! Eff you was me would you go
back over thar today, George? IL
got another warnin' last night: in fact,
six or eight of 'em was scattered all
about the place. / say warnin', but l
reckon they was wuss than that; they
was to pa an ma an said eff they
ketched me they wouldn't do a thing
to me-"
''Well, there's some consolation In
that" said George dryly.
you know hain't afeard O. any rea-
sonable number o. men," said Truitt in
regiment Of 'em comes to drink fell
ler's blood jest git ratified an want
to make tracks. Ell had my way,
though. I'd go back home an defy 'em,
but mas mighty nigh crazy"
'No; you'd better stay in town today
anyway, Jeff," said Buckley after
moments reflection. go up to the
Johnston House and get your breakfast
take all your meals there while you
are in town-I've got en- account there;
tell them to charge 1t to me- Stay IN
town tonight anyway. I'll see you to
morrow. I'm very busy today. Do
you think the gang would dare follow
you here?" ts..
''They might, George. They raised
rumpus here about a year ago, you
know-,whippin' niggers in Niger
town"
Later in the morning Buckley met
the town marshal, Joe Batey, on the
street. The officer wore a broad brim-
med hat, dark blue suit of clothes
with brass buttons and carried q po-
,iceman's club strapped to his wrist.
George gravely explained the situation
to him, but the officer refused to con-
FERN himself in the matter.
Look y here, George Buckley" he
aid. do you reckon I'm paid measly
own wages to do both town and coun-
y work? Eff the sheriff caynt keep
Town them riots over thar in the noun
aims, l cayn't. Fer $50 month I'm
to do police duty in daytime,
at night an act as coroner
IN special occasions. Besides, jeff
FRUITS gettin' entirely too numerous.
every time he gets full he wants to
cratch some o. them daredevils' eyes
nut. He's funny chap. They say
When he's drunk he'd fight a swarm o
but when he's sober he'd |
care at the sight of baby popgun,
n, on top O. that, when he sobers up |
e's so stubborn he'd die fore he would |
pologize fer what he's done. What |
'ou goin' to do with man like that? |
les no ornament to the community"
well, l only thought I'd let you |
now the situation" George smiled as
e walked on. "All 1 want to do is to
ave the fellows neck"
George saw no more of JEFF Truitt /
hat day. He had some important cal
ulations to make in connection with
he sale of certain large quantities of
otton to mills in the east. and he was
loosely occupied in his Office till past
Midnight. When he had finished he
vent to the front door of the ware
ouse to get breath of fresh air be-
ore retiring. He did not feel sleepy.
UGH work as he had been doing usu-
lily had contrary effect on him. Sud-
emily he heard shout up the street
/ the direction of the Johnston House.
revolver was fired, and a gruff voice
RED out, Thar he goes, boys!"
This was followed by a clatter OF
lany feet on the brick sidewalk, a
form Of furious CALCULATIONS and sti-
ed oaths, and then a dark human bill
w rushed down the street in Buck
y's direction. 1t was a mob pursu-
lg JEFF Truitt.
Hardly knowing why he did 1t,
Gorge ran into his ONCE and secured
Is big revolver from the drawer OF his
esk and turned back quickly to the
Dor. He was just in time for the
OBJ, Numbering fifty or. more, was SIT
Ov.ls d.. u 1