Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-12-06

all, Thersl" He Called, "You FeIIsrs
Amt Invited to This Picnic"
no harm onless ye ram in too far.
So come on down, Buck, throw up yer
cards; we've got all the aces, an ye
can't bluff this whole durn camp"
Mason spat into the dump contemp.
tuously, his hands thrust into his pock-
cts. You're a fne-lookin' lot O. law.
abidin' citizens, you are! Blamed II
you amt. This yere man, Bob Hamp-
ton, is my prisoner, an I'll take him
to Cheyenne If l have ter brain every
tough in Glencaid to do 1t. Thet's
me, gents"
"Oh, Q of; you can't run your
notions agin the whole blame moral
sentiment of this camp"
Moral sentiment! I'm backin' up
the law, not moral sentiment, We cross
eyed beer-slinger, an If ye try edgin'
up Their another step I'll plug you with
this AS"
There was minute Of hesitancy
while the men below conferred, the
/ marshal looking contemptuously down
upon them, his revolver cleaning ON
inously in the light.
"Oh, come on, Buck, show a little
boss sense" the leader sang out.
We've got every Teller In camp along
, with US, an there amt no show fer
the two O. ye to hold out against that
sort of an outfit" S..
Mason smiled and patted the barrel
! of his Colt
"Oh, go to blazesl When | want
any advice, Jimmie, I'll send fer ye."
Some one fired, the ball digging up
the soft earth at the marshals feet,
and finging it in binding cloud into
Hampton's eyes. Mason's answer
was sudden fusilada, which sent the
crowd flying helter-skelter into the I'M
derbTush. One among them stagger.
ed and half fell, yet succeeded in
dragging himself out of sight.
Great Scott, if l don't believe I
winged james," the shooter remarked
cheerfully, reaching back into his
pocket for more cartridges. Maybe
them boys will be a bit more keerful
II they once understand they're up
agin the real thing. Well, perhaps I
better skin down, fer l reckon it's
liable ter be rifles next"
It was rifles next, and the "winging"
st Big Jim, however it may have in.
spired caution, also developed fresh
animosity in the hearts of his fol.
lowers, and brought forth evidences Of
discipline in their approach. Peering
across the sheltering dump pile, the
besieged were able to perceive the
dark figures cautiously advancing
through the protecting brush; they
sped out widely until their two tanks
were close in against the wall Of rock,
and then the deadly rifles began to
spit spitefully, the balls casting up
the soft dirt in clouds or flattening
against the stones. The two men
crouched lower, hugging their pile Of
Stag, unable to perceive even a stray
assailant within range Of their ready
revolvers.
"This whole blame country is full
Of discharged sojers," he growled, IAN
they know their biz all right l reck
on them fellers is pretty sure to gil
one Of US yit; anyhow, they've got US
cooped. Say, Bob, tibet lad crawling
yonder ought to be in reach, an its
our bounden duty not to let the boys
git too gay"
Hampton tried the shot suggested
elevating considerable to overcome dis
lance. There was yell and swift
skurrying backward which caused Ma
son to laugh, although neither knew
whether this result arose from fright
or wound.
obliged ter teach 'em manners ono
In awhile, or they'll imbibe fool no
ton they kin come right long up yert
without no invite. faint fer long, no
how, less all them guys are ijuts."
Hampton turned his head and look
ed soberly into the freckled face, i'm
pressed by the speakers grave tone
Why"
Fife, my boy, fire. The wind
dead right fer it; tibet brush will burr
like SO much finder, an with this BIZ
wall o. rock back of US. 1t will be hel
here, all right Some Of 'em ar
bound to think Of 1t pretty blame soon
an then, Bob, ! reckon you an vii
hev' to take to the open on the jump.
Hampton's eyes hardened. God
- -sAired to live inst then q