The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-08-19
The Daily
Short Story
THE MoLLYcoDDLE SHERIFF.
Ranpi

1.-THE MOLLYCODDLE SHERIFF.
Bang!
| A slug of lead bit hole as big as
a teacup in the adobe window ledge
and Sheriff Cutie" ducked his head.
The mob in front of the little jail
beloved it's approval. The big
gun sounded good. Then the pow
der smoke got in it's nostrils and IL
beloved again.
Come out q minute, Sweetie!"
purred big Swede, his bull neck
swelling to his shoulders through
the folds of red bandana. Come
out and bring the key. We won't
hurt ye."
| No answer came from within.
A yell Of derislon mingled with
the midnight moonshine-moon.
shine which Swede said would
make shooting good. Cutie slowly
raised his eyebrows to the edge Of
the window, bang! The Colts 45
talked again. A handful of adobe
dust settled on the sheriff's tow
head as he crouched back on the
earthen floor to rub the grit from
his gooseberry eyes.
"Oh. hell" he muttered. whats
| the use? If Swede only knew"
Bring out yeh hoss-thief, Cutie.
We won't sile yeh clothes. Give i'm
to us, AM"
"Wait minute" the sheriff
called through the window. I'm
coming"
That's better!" gurgled Swede
Saves buildin' a new jug, and as
taxpayers we 'preciates yeh horspi-
tality."
Expectantly, legs apart, he folded
his arms and staggered to the
thead Of the mob.
"Wisht my boy, Jim, was here"
he said. grinning 'possum fashion,
"he'd like to. take hand in this
lrumpus. He loves Cutie"
The crowd laughed. 1t was
good joke.
The nail-studded door moved
ponderously and 1.-THE body slid
through. 10 banged shut, slicked,
deftly locked again.
A shout of triumph greeted the
sheriff as he stood on the dinky
mud veranda.
9TH key! TIL key!"
Big Swede stepped forward.
"Just you wait minute!" Cutie
held up a warning hand. 81 want to
say a word before"
speech! Speech" His voice was
drowned in jeers.
LET i'm crate, let i'm orate!"
shrieked Swede, motioning the mob
to silence Maybe he wants to give
us fletcher on Hempology, Or How
to Uplift Mankind. Fun fust, bust
ness afterwards. Now, sonny, crack
loose!"
Cutie took his time.
81 won't call you gentlemen ,"
he began. slowly; you rumdums
hate me because I'm a f1uke. You
elected me as a joke. Now it's on
you. You hate me because l wash
my face and wear a tie; because |
let a horse thief go month ago
when the pack of you wanted to
lynch him. He was guilty, but 1t
was his first offense, and he didn't
deserve death. He said he'd turn
honest, SO l gave him the chance on
my own horse. 1t was my first OPP
portunity to make good, but l let
him 60 And you, Swede, you called
me a coward for doing it. Now,
listen! That boy in that jail there
is the one let go. He is guilty
second time-guilty as hell-but
take him If you can"
A growl started in the mob some
where, but Cutie downed it.
"Silence!" he Numbered. I'm
talking now!" He paused, glover
ing. See this key" he resumed in
the calm that followed; "this key
in my hand? Well-now you don't.
| A steel-muscled right arm, bare to
the elbow, bent and Strengthened.
The piece of brass was lost amongst
the mesquite bushes and cacti
For 10 second heart beats were
audible, Then came the storm.
kill i'm! Ram tn door! Knock
his block off! Get log!"
The foremost Of the sweating,
swearing mass crowded towards the
speaker. But they stopped. A blue
steel barrel with gooseberry eye
squirting back of 1t was leveled at
the leaders, head.
STOP"
The command tipped like bull