Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1910-03-05
The LAST TRAIL or
JESSE BOLANDE

Rapid City was an extreme example
IOf picturesque but unwholesome
community
The incumbent of the marshalcy Of
Rapid City had won his exalted posi-
ticn solely because no one could recall
a time when he had been either dila-
tory for fatal moment, or inaccurate
for an effective hair's-breadth.
So when he issued an edict against
carrying guns inside the city limits
the cowpunchers took out their re-
venge in oaths and threats against the
next election; and, from the very day
after the edict, the place of the pistol
knew It no more.
Rapid City had managed to survive
about a week of this uncomfortable,
negative virtue, when Jesse Bolande
rode into town at about four in the
afternoon. He had been on his range
all week, and as he stood at the un-
mirrored bar of "Keno Jim's place."
he listened to the new state of affairs
with many an oath of incredulous
amaze.
The marshal and Bolande were old
friends. They had once moiled on
ragged claim upon the mountains to-
gether they had stood back to back
In skirmishes with savages.
When the marshal entred the sa-
loon, he did not, at first, see Bolande's
revolver, and there was an unre.
strained cordiality in the How" with
which he greeted him. while the
warmth cf Bolandes answer strove
with pacifcatory uneasiness.
When finally the CLINT Of Bolande's
dingy weapon struggled through the
smoke of the room to the marshal's
! eye, he said, quietly, that the others
might not hear: Jesse, stick your gun
behind the bar till you're leavin'
town Can't let you tote your irons in
this mans town now"
"Ownin this place now, are you, mar.
shal?" There was too little subtility
in Bolandes intonation to deceive the
marshal in it's portent, and he flung
back sharp reply: amy skin off you,
If do?"
And Bolande Gained before the 9th.
er's frank resentment and Struggling
himself again, murmured: Nope. But
thar'll be some off the man that tries
to take my gun away"
Almost pleadingly the quiescent
marshal answered: Jesse, I'll give
you till six o'clock to put up your gun
or pull your freight out of this"
Still more unassumingly, but still
! more firmly, Bolande answered; you
will find me right here at six Bring
your nerve with you, marshal Have a
drink?"
Don't mind If 1 do, Jesse. Here's
howl" " and they drained the martyr
dom with unfilnching gusto.
The marshal evidently thought It
only right to give his old friend three
minutes of grace, for it was a little
after the hour when his step was
heard on the board walk outside
With epic equality and speed the
weapons leaped into position
Almost reverentially the partisans
Of each lifted his limp majesty from
the sticky pool~of his own blood and
both were carried upstairs to lit
| tie room in the hotel.
They placed a cot near the mar
shal's bed. Outside, the red glory Of
the prairie sunset was thrilling the
earth to a responsive flush. Within
the reom was greater glory, the
austere passing of two granite-cour.
aged heTees.
The sinewy hands of the twain lay
clasped outside the coverlet
Bolande was the first to find power |
for speech.
"Are you easy marshall"
Easy as a kid in a cradle, Jess |
How're they oomin' on your side?"
Same here, old man. But I'm goin'
fast"
"You won't beat me out five min.
utes, Jess"
AT length the marshal looked re |
quest, and one of the men bent over |
to hear his feeble mutterings, then
went out and returned with two glass
es of whisky on a cracked plate.
Acress the marshars face fluttered |
the wan ghost of a smile, and he
spoke between fierce gulps OF pain
"You-siood the-last treat Jess
Have one--on me-now?"
."Sure-old hoss!" was the grisly |
cordiality Of the tortured Bolande.
"Retter luck---in-the-next couD'
try!'
Howl" was the marshars accep
tance; and they drank with painting
effort.
So they died, stern in wrath, stern
in love, each content, rather than
proud, that he-and his friend-had
died game.