Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-05-15

ed Shockley. Reynolds looked around.
There appeared to be no hopeful alter
native. The drop looked very cold.
Not cowboy interposed. Under con-
voy Reynolds stumped over to the
stove and threw in his gun, but the
race Of the doing was bad.
"Get up there Oh the bar and dance.
Hustlew urged Shockley. They hid to
help the confused cowboy up. and when
he stood, slamefaced, looking down on
the scene Of his constant triumphs and
did a painful single foot, marking time
with his peg. the cowboys, who had
stood their own share Of his bullying
roared. Shockley didn't roar: only
stood with busy eyes where he could
cover any man on demand. not forget
ting even Pat Barlie.
Peg Leg, who had danced so many In
his day. danced. and his roasting gun
sputtercd an accompaniment from the
stove; but as Shockley, who stood In
front of it. paid no attention to the
fusillade of bullets good form prevent
ed others from dodging. "Thatll do;
get down. Come here, Chris called
Shockley. Chris Oxen. greatly disturb
ed, issued from an obscure corner.
"Get down OH your knees" exclaim-
ed the yardmaster, Jerking Reynolds
with chilly twist in front Of the fright
ened Russian. Get on your knees.
right where l threw your whisky" And
Shockley. crowding Reynolds down to
his humiliation, dropped for the first
time into range civilities himself, and
the shame and the abascment Of 1t
were very great.
Boys" said the yardmaster. with
one restless eye on Reynolds and one OIL
everybody else, as he pointed ut Chris
this mans coat was burnt NJ. Hes
a poor devil. and his money comes hard.
Chip in for a new coat. I've nothing
against any man that don't want to
give, but Reynolds must pass the ha'
Take mine. you COYOTE"
Nearly everybody contributed as Rey-
nolds went round. Shockley made no
comments. "Count IT," he continued
when the fallen monarch had finished.
and when the tale was made Shockley
told Pat Barlie to put in as much more
as the cap held, and he did so.
"There, Chris; 90 home. / don't like
you," added Shockley insolently. turn
ing ON Reynolds. You don't know
what fun Is. This town won't hold
you and me after tonight. You can
take it or you can leave 1t. but the first
time 1 ever put eyes on you again one
Of us will cash in"
He backed directly toward the front
door and out.
Peg Leg Reynolds took only the night
to decide; next day he hit the trail.
The nervy yardmaster he might have
wiped out IL he had stayed, but the dis
grace of kneeling before the dog OF a
Russian was something never to be
wiped out In the annals Of Benkleton.
Peg Leg moved on. and thereafter cow
boys took occasion to stop Shockley c.
the street and jolly him on the way he
did the one legged bully, and the lights
were shot no more.
The railroad men swore by the new
yardmaster; the Russians took their
cigarettes from their mouths and
touched their caps when Shockley pass
ed: Callahan blessed his name, but lit
tie Chris worshiped him.
One day Alfabet Smith dropped on
at Benkleton from Omaha headquar-
tiers. Alfabet was the only species Of
lizard on the payroll. He was the
west end spotter. "Who is that slim
felloww he asked Of Callahan as
shockley few by on the pilot board Of
an engine.
THAT'S Shockley."