The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-12-27
The Coming of the Law
By Charles Alden Settler

man 'on the trigger a. Its ehSef ID
vocats. Few men cared TO appear be-
fore such = court With an argument
against its jurisdiction.
The law. as the citizens Of Dry Bot
tom had seen II. was an Institution
which frowned upon such argument,
Few men cared TO risk IN adverss de-
cision of the established court to ad-
vocAte laws which would come from
civilized authority: they had remained
silent against the day when II would
come In spite Of the element that had
seoffed at IT, And now that day had
arrived. The Law had come.
Even the evil element knew It. This
atmosphere was vibrant with sup
pressed excitement: In the stores men
and women were copyrighted; In The
saloons rose q buxx of continuous con-
versation. on the street men greeted
one another to discuss the pheu meuon.
In a dozen conspicuous places were
posted fiaring printed notices Inform
Ing the reader that . thousand OF the
Circle Cross CATTLE description OF
which foliowed--were on the following
day to be sold to the highest bidder.
Below this announcement In small.
neat print was quoted the law.
Dry Bottom gasped Ths saloons
swarmed. In the rashiop two bar
tenders end ths proprtetnr iaeorsd he
roicaliy TO supply their customers
with the liquid stimulant which would
nerve them to look upon Ben Aliens
posters with . certain degree OF eQus-
nimity. The reckless cisment-ths gun
men who In . former day were wont
to swNegsr forth with reckless disre-
gard for the polite conventions
skuiked in the background. snserine 81
this thing which had como 10 rob them
OF their power and which they Salt
prcsaeed their ultimate downfall.
But Dry Bottom ignored the Runmen.
or smiled bisndiy At them. giving It's At
tention TO Den Aliens posters and d.
cussins rumor which had gained rapid
crcdence. TO the effect that the new
governor had tcieeraphed Allen tina. nc
would hold a detail 6f United States
soldiers IN readiness for any contin-
gency.
Tho GOOD citizens emitted. And
throughout the day many Of Them
passed and repasssd the Kicker once.
anxious to get a glimpse Of the man
who had been instrumental Ia bringing
Hsout this innovation.
Shortly after noon on the ssms day
Dunisvey rode into Dry bottom. ais
mounted. hitched his pony to the sail
in front Of the Faxh'o, and entered.
In former days Dun'avey's appear.
Hnce within the doors Of the rashi,l
was the signal for hols,crons Treetinvs
For hero might always no found the
laws CHIEF advocates TODAY. howevs-
there were no gree.lngs. Minds were
nlled with vague and picturesque cor
lecture concerning Dunlavey's probab,
actions and the outcome OF this stranse
affair
Thus upon Duniavey's entrance
eilence--r'range and awkward ~
the barroom. There were short ROD.
and mon fell away from Dunlavey a. ~
crossed the room. and came TO h1i,
before one OF Zen ALIENS posters W
read every tine OF i,-eyery VOID -
man interrupted him Then. nrishlrk
his reading, no turned ard faced IT,
crowd bis face white wish wrath. h.
tips snsrllns.
why didn't some Of you biocmr'
fools tear this down." no demanded.
No man foit Il incumbsn. upon him -
rep'y 10 this. ana Dnniavey wat-hrS
them for an instant. rrasr'ng. ~, r'fs
giittering menac,nsiy. Then n, sr'.
denly turned. seized the poster. 49,.
agely tore u into plecS,. hur.sd r.
pieces 70 the roor and stamped up"7
them. Then ne turned nssin to tho s!lert
crowd. hts face tnramed. his voice sn,n'
ping with bitter. Won oanous sircssn.
Scared" ne said. Scared out clean
like a bunch ~ COYOTES runnin' from
tho daylight" He made q strange sounf
with his lips. expressing his unuttersn'-
contempt for men IN weakly consttuiri
Quit. he grated. "ouit clean be.
cause q tenderfoot comes ont hers AMI
t-es 70 run .hlnssi So long RS thing
como your wsy you're willing 10 stick
1, ont, M. when thlnr, 70 the other
wnv-Vgh"
lie turned abruptly. strobe out through
the door. mounted his pony and rob.
rapidly down tho street. Several of tn.
men, who went TO tho door st's- ~.
departure, saw him riding furiousiy
toward tho Circle Cross.
Then one % his former friends laughed
harshiy--ssrcnsticnlly. IT reckon that
thors tenderfoot II bothsrin' big Bill q
whole lot." he said ~ ne turned 10 this
bar.
II had been . busy day for Hoins.
His hand hnd been shaken 90 much thai
IL panied him. The day had boon Q
rather warm ono for tho season and 80
when late IN tho afternoon Norton rode
into town, ITO see the exeitsnent." he
told Hollis, the latter determined 20
make tho return trip 70 thu Circle nsy
IN tho evening.
Therefore. after short conferences
with judge uraney and Aliep-and
frugal, though wholesome sup ~ In the
Judgoe rooms back OF tho courthouse
which 'Ailsa oookod-hs and Merton rode
out upon the Coyote trail ana jogss1
quietly toward the Circle DAs.
There was Q good moon, the eiP We
invisoratlns, though siishtiy elm. An
the t~aii lay CLEAR ana dls(kn1 bs1epe
them. hard sftse ths pstA. lsel ~
riding,