The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-04-04


eye the street from which the weakest
and least accurate fire had come. he
invaded it at double quick, abandon
ing the unprotected middle of the
street With rare cunning the OppoS-
ing force in that direction. one of the
deputies and two of the valorous vol
unteers, waited. concealed by beer bar
rels. until CalIiope had passed their
retreat and then peppered him from
the rear. In another moment they
were REINFORCED by the marshal and
his other men, and then Calliope felt
that in order to successfully prolong
the delights of the controversy he
must find some means of reducing the
great odds against him.
Not far away was the little railroad
station, its building a strong box
house 10 by 20 feet resting upon a
platform four feet above ground.
Windows were in each of its walls.
Calliope made bold and rapid squirt
for it, the marshals crowd smoking
him as he ran. He reached the haven
in safety, the station agent leaving the
building by a window.
Patterson and his supporters halted
under protection Of pile of lumber
and held consultations In the station
was an unterrified desperate who was
an excellent shot and carried an
abundance of ammunition. For thirty
yards on each side of the besieged
was stretch of bare open ground.
Standing near was a hand truck
used in the manipulation of small
freight 1t stood by shed full of
sacked wool, consignment from one
of the sheep ranches. On this truck
the marshal and his men piled three
heavy sacks of wool. STOPPING low
Buck Patterson started for Calliope's
fort slowly pushing this loaded truck
before him for protection. The posse
scattering broadly. stood ready to nip
the besieged in case he should show
himself in an effort to repel the jug
gernaut of Justice that was creeping
upon him Only once did Calliope
make demonstration. He fired from a
window, and some tufts of wool squirt
ed from the marshaps trustworthy bull
wark
The marshal was too deeply en-
crossed in steering his protected bat
tleship to be aware of the approach Of
the morning train until he was within
few feet of the platform. The train
was coming up on the other side of it.
1t stopped only one minute at Quick
sand. What an opportunity it would
offer to CaIiope. He had only TO step
out the other door, mount the train
and away!
Abandoning his breastworks. Buck.
with his gun ready. dashed up the
steps and into the room. driving open
the closed door with one heave of his
weighty shoulder The members of
the posse heard one shot fred inside.
and then there was silence.
At length the wounded man opened
his eyes. After a blank space he
again could see and hear and feel and
think. Turning his eyes about. he
! found himself lying on a wooden
bench. A tall man with a perpleXed
countenance. wearing a big badge
with city Marshall engraved upon it,
stood over him. A little old woman
| in black, with a wrinkled face and
| sparkling black eyes. was holding q
wet handkerchief against one of his
temples. He was trying to get these
| facts fixed in his mind and connected
with past events when the old woman
began to talk.
There now. great. big. strong man,
That bullet never fetched you-jest
skeeted along the side of your head
and sort of paralyZed you for a spell
I've heerd of sech things afore. Con
cussion is what they names it. Abel
watkins used to kill squirrels that
way-barkin' EN-. Abe called it. You
| jest been barked, sir. and you'll be
all right in little bit. Feel lots bet
ter already. don't you: You just lay
still awhile longer and let me battle
your head. You don't know me.
reckon, and faint Surprisin' that you
shouldn't. l come in on that train
from Alabama to see my son. Big son
amt he? Lands. you wouldn't hardly
think he'd ever been a baby. would
/ you? This is my son. sir"
Half turning. the old woman looked
up at the standing man. her worn face
lighting with Il proud and wonderful
smile. She reached out one veinet
and calloused hand and took one OF
her sons. Then. smiling cheerily dow,
at the PROSTATE man. she continued t.
dip the handkerchief in the waiting
room tin wash basin and gently apply
it to his temple.
Il amt seen my son before she
continued. lin eight years One of my
nephews. Elkanah Price he's a con
ductor on one of them railroads, ant
he got me u pass to come out here.
can stay whole week on it, and theI
it'll take me back ag'in. Jest think
now that little boy of mine has got t
be officer-a city marshal of Who'll,
town. That's somethin' like a con
stable. amt it? | never knowed b,
was officer. He didn't say nothin
about it in his letters. | reckon h,
thought his old mother d he skeeret
about the danger he was in. But
! laws I never was nnucb of q hand q