The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-03-20

"rhe marshal was a young fellcr.
and he hadn't mover felt any sposlai
longing 10 quit this world for another
that hc didn't know anything about, no
IN suddenly decided that he'd give ~
bis Job and 20 away 10 some plsce
That was more conducive To longevity,
Accordin'ly, he rendered bis rcslgna-I
tlon and without waitin' for II to be
accepted III out.
AFTER that there we're other mar.
hhala, hut none of them neld the once
very long. An fast IN they were elect.
vi Joe invited them TO rcalgn, and they
showed respect for his wishes. Some
OF them were little slow. though, and
10 had 70 come In and press his inyi
tation by frin' few shots just close
enough about their heads 10 make them
nervous and loosen up tho muscles Of
their legs.
We'll, things went along that way
for bout u year. Then one day long
ganglln' fcllcr with d mild eye, d soft
voice and solemn lookin' face hap
pcned Into town. His name was Alb
Case, and that's him n-sittin' over
there on the left.
"Ab hc was lookin' for a Job, and
the town Il was lookIn' for a marshal
Jest then, 10 the two gifts together and
strikes up 4 deal Alb says no Amt
never been marshal. but lows no cnn
manage Il all right. and tho town In
Hadin' Il diiiicnlt 10 get anybody 10
Take tho Job with Joc Kern and shore
death hangin' over II, 30 to speak.
"Weli, Alb Ii sworn In and puts on tho
star, and then here comes invite to
him from Joe, askIn' him to resign. Alb
listened TO Joc's message, which was
delivered by another cowboy, thcn
shrugs his shoulders aud replies that hc
don't never accept invitations second.
hand.
"Tf Mr.. Kern wants mo to consider
any proposition he has rot TO offer
along that linc.' no says. he wiz have
10 come IN and see mo pnssonally.'
"About three days later Mr.. Kern
did come In. Down at the saloon he
to,a cham whv ~ had cone /, una
40 rory,nc. m. nav marsha, ,hs, he
ought to resign and 20 away,
"'And have brought my very best
ARGUMENTS with me. he 0nisbed .ar.
g,,u.r,a that ain,t never faIled ~ \
is., rcso,t,
.ga shora had than ,oo.-a Win.
chester and n brace az air shooters
Ara ha knowsd how N handle them
Arguments bout me- eloouently as any
mar that ever lived
.He irrigated his system at the bar,
coolly lighted cigar and then went
cut to look up the marshal and pay his
respects 10 him. And he didn't have to
70 far. either, for he was scarcely out
OF tho saloon when somebody pointed
out Alb standin' ON q corner bout half
a block away.
"'Are you shore that's hlmr Joe
asked. I'd rather not make any mis-.
take and kill an innocent man II II can
bc helped
"That's shore him." they answered.
Joe smiled and raised his gun.
"Til sortcr wake him up he said
Il won't hurt him at first, but Jest call
bis attention that I'm here
"He fired, and the ball cut lock OF
hair from Abs head. Alb looked
Around sort OF casual TO see what II
meant and the next instant sent back
~ answer to Joc's shot That answer
lowed furrow along the side Of Joes
lad.
eFrom that thew went NJ Il In dead
1fnest. Everybody else rot out Of the
Nv ana give 'em A clear field. There
Sx'n't NO backln, down and no runnln,
Tl the mart ~ peIther ~ ,em Thav
$Tt stood m there and pumped lead at
/! I'll into each other as earelessly ana
Eheerfully as YOU please
nAfter 'bout ten minutes The fIrIn,
CEASED and then wa nil cautiously
peered ont 10 ace how n had ended
They was both down on the ground
helnleas but stIll irwin. to shoot
when we come 10 examine. we
found em pretty badly riddled up. but
with no wounds that promised TO BIO
fatal Wa carried sam off ana tha