The Cairo bulletin., 1906-10-20
The Lady Sheriff's
Captive

BY w. w. HINES

couple or cowboys from the Irlpic y
ranch went tearing By on little, under
sized cayuses that could run and were
then running, like, as Monty Jacobs
remarked, "a couple of scairt jack
rabbits"
Red Cutcheon was in company
with his bosom friend and boon com
! panion, Slim Jim Morley, With the
annual roundup on the Triple \ over
and with three months pay In their
pockets, the two were drinking In
/ large drafts from the cup of pleasure
| afforded them by the pleasing practice
of shooting up" San Carlos They
| were, or rather had been drinking
other things-many other things, but
principally mescal' whisky which
makes the brain feel like the interior
of an active volcano.
Being shot up was an old story TO
San Carlos and its citizens. 1t was
just one OF those little occurrences
which are none the less inevitable be
cause slightly unpleasant About once
month delegation of two or more
cowboys from the Triple X performed
the operation. which consisted in get
ting very drunk and then riding up
and down through San Carlos main,
and only, street. yelling at the top of
their voices and firing their pistols.
But the "mescal' must have been
worse than usual on this day, or else
Red and Slim Jim had absorbed large
ly OF it. Their spirits were too high
TO be satisfied with the harmless
amusement of yelling and discharging
revolvers into the air. They were
hunting trouble"
"Whoop-eet" they yelled, as they
drew rein In front Of Jacobs store
Come out, you old jew We want
Ticker"
Monty came He was no coward,
and besides he knew that the only
danger lay In the fact that he might
accidentally stop a bullet meant for
another destination.
You orter behave yourselves better
boys" said Monty. as he served tho
drinks they demanded, we've got a
new sheriff of Ranger county since
you were hero last
ITO Halifax with the sheriff Of
Ranger county," said Red What's
become Of old Mike Callaghan?"
Mike died two months ago" said
Monty land the boys thought hi |
widow needed the fees of the office, SO !
what did they up and do but elect his |
daughter to the Office. Some people /
said 'twarn't legal to elect woman |
sheriff. but the boys said they didn't |
care two whoops in a hot climate
whether twas legal or not So yon
fellers had orter quit SIGH folshness |
as shooting up the town"
"Whoopee'' said Slim Jim Morley |
"Hurrah for the new sheriff! Is she /
pretty?'
Well. of course, there's difference /
of taste about beauty" said Monty /
cautiously. But most of the boys
swear as how she is the prettiest girl /
in Ranger county"
Here's your money, you old jew i
said Red enthusiastically We're 60 /
ing round to call on the new sheriff I
Where is she? At the court house?
Monty had no hesitancy in answer /
ing in the affirmative, for he knew the I
boys would never think of harming /
woman.
Yelling like wild Indians. and pune !
tuating the yells with revolver shots,
the mescalcrazed cowboys started at
a gallop for the little red court house.
In front they drew rein with a final
yell and a voley from their six-shoot-
srs.
Not a man was in sight. The whole
own looked as though every one was
indoors and asleep.
"Whoop-ee," Bang Baug'; we
want to see the new sheriff Come out
and arrest US. sheriff Whoopee,7
The door in the front Of the court
house was quickly opened, and
foung girl stepped ont
"Whoop-ee,' began Red and Slim
lin in unison Bang went a pistol
n the hands Of the girl.
Evidently the new sheriff took the
iuties of the Office in dead earnest.
In each hand she held a heavy
'olt's revolver. and she began firing
first with one and then
With another bullet struck an
Idobe house on the farther side of the
trcet, another kicked up the dust at
he feet Of Reds cayuse. A third
tung the flank Of Slim Jim's cayuse,
nd he started of on a gallup.
Not knowing the cause Of his com
AIDES desertion. Red reyiled him bit
erly.
you pizSn coyote. can't you see the
ady is shooting al us? You amt got
10 right to run away" he shouted
The sound Of her own pistol shots
vas ringing too loudly in the sheri9s
ars for her 20 hear this shout. but
he recognized the fact that neither |,
ne OF tie two men had fired at her.
nd she began 10 wonder II she had
ot done wrong in sizing them W. as
espersdoes Within the court house
rails she had neryed herself no to
he point Of believing that the duties
( her Office required her 10 go ont +,
nd subdue the outlaws with their
WI weapons. That they would refuse
% meet her on equal terms. she never / +.
resmed
fs 49, r~sfTfrv ., - III. NJ /