Charlevoix county herald., 1910-01-08
!" Scarcely had he spoken when he

er." Scarcely had he spoken when he
whipped out his revolver and emptied
the six chambers into Jim so quickly
that the reports were almost instan-
taneous, then he leaped aside and
threw down the empty revolver as he
ran. In a moment he was lost In the
uncertain shadows of a moonlit alley
Alarm, horror, shock. confusion,
pity, expectancy, withheld pursuit.
Glover. who had not been three
PAGES distant. turned awkwardly and
spread out his arms. Two men led
him nearly block TO the nearest
drug store.
The marshal had been directly
across the street from John. He
caught his breath, swore, called on
the by-standers, and started in chase.
Some ran one way. some another.
Clouds drifted heavily over the moon.
Shouts sounded loud in the sleeping
town. Men and women ran to the win
dows and called out for news. Little
negro boys danced about shivering
with excitement, whispering with
blood-curdled eXultation: "DeyH get
de dawgs, dey'll get de dawgs!" But
the bloo1hounds were not needed.
big black negro was close behind the
marshal, "De cotton warehouse,
Marsh" he called. The marshal
turned down Western avenue and the
negro to the other end of the alley.
His instinct was true. There was the
flying figure of Penfield. He ran him
under the high platform, where the
cotton bales are dumped. The alley
was too dark for the marshal to see
what was happening at the far end of
the platform He halted to listen The
negro had plunged on hands and
Knees into the blackness under the
platform, following the murderer.
John. thinking escape ahead, dashed
on. At the far end of the platform he
rose suddenly before the marshal who.
startled, pulled the trigger of his re-
volver and fired four shots into the
ground between them before John
could stop him. "Quit Bill, All give
up" he said. At that moment the
negro got his arms around Johns
body and was hardly to be plucked off.
nor persuaded John walked without
handouts to the jail
In the drug store where Jim lay was
gathering of physicians, come I'M
called, for every man accustomed to
it recognizes the sound Of shooting
to kill" Five bullets were found
to have entered Glover's body, the
sixth having pierced his coat collar.
Glover did not die. Penfield was
housed in jail until the danger was
over and then allowed out on BAIL In
prison John had sat behind the bars
cheerfully talking to visitors or read
ing his Bible-but outside in the town
again he was a changed man, going
around nervous and watchful.
The trial would be in autumn. Pub
lie opinion divided on his guilt or in
nocence Johns friends claimed that
after the fight Glover had threatened
to do for him next time" and that,
on the night of the shooting Glover
had taken his right hand from his
trousers pocket and reached back for
his revolver, but that John saw the
motion and was too quick for him.
They claimed. too, that Jims friends
had fllched the revolver from his
pocket while leading him up the street
to prove him innocent of that first
move. But that Jim Glover ever went
unarmed was incredible.
Late one Saturday afternoon John
was returning from town with Uncle
Primus, a grizzlad negro, beside him.
The buggy-top was pushed down so
that John might see all around with
TO obstruction. AS they neared the
path to the creek, he gave the lines
to Uncle Primus, felt his revolver and
drew forward his shotgun, his thoughts
concentrated on the possibilities Of
that path
Primus, beside him, proud to drive
blooded horse, was chuckling and
calling out: up step, sub" and
whoa, sub" and Now thar, you!"
He saw nothing and thought of moth
ing in this world but Rags dainty
steps. And even so they came abreast
of an empty house, Rags turned his
ears and Primus chuckled again.
Johns eyes were fascinated by the
, swaying of a grape vine partly down
the path. AS they drew past the
house he clicked his tongue for Rags
to trot AS the horse moved into his
long stride, at the very moment that
; his quickened speed bafIled the aim,
there was a rifle shot from the house
and then another. Rags. used to hunt
; ing, stood still, while Uncle Primus
, gutteral with fear, urged him on. But
2 John turned, and springing from the
; buggy to the window in the end OF the
l house, emptied his shotgun into the
, door behind which, if anywhere, in
$ that single empty room, his enemy
must be. His blood beat so loud and
, surged so madly in his ears that he
\ could not hear