Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-08-29
CHAPTER V.

with the qnckness IF panther the
mountSineer lCsPed toward the outlaw,
ard With = swift stroke buried the
cleaning tadc Of his 4 nifc DC, D i, his
antagonist $ breast. With I SIN thercd
cry the outlay reeled backward and
nrumpled to the earth corpse. Pull
I"g the knife from the breast of his
dead en- my Jim stepped back into the
shed where his c,mpsnions were
What I'D that roise mean we heard
out there a moment ago?" asked Moore
~ Jim
Come with ne and I'll show We.
h. answered. holding 10 his bloody
knife and leading the way out of the
shed. His companions. VINO were close
upon ms he'll, htlted sudderly as they
came upon the dead body of the outlaw.
My God, man. said Randolph, in
an agi'ated voice, what has heppsned
here?''
Air We blind. man," answvr red Jim.
airn' t hit plain to We that another one
o those devils hez at last received his
just deserts?'
All now realized what the mountain
Ger had done in few short moments he
was out Of the shed only minute be-
fore
II am relieved" said Randolph. "to
know have one here who can hold his
own against even the Copperhead him
self"
III We ever see me git pull at Their
old Copperhead ye'd think l can hold
my own, Jim replied quickly.
How could you do him up any quick
er than you did chat fellow" asked
Randolph, pointing to the PROSTATE
form of the dead outlaw.
"Es said afore, if We ever see US
come together yen see it kin be done,
fer I'll send him on II donble quick time
ter jine his companions in place that =
hotter n that pile o. Goals over thar. -
answered jim.
To dwell in such place would be
but Just reward to one like him." said
Randolph
Il think. " interrupted Reuben, tibet
they'll all be thar purity soon eff they
keep gettin' in Jim's way.
Il dou't know so much bout tendin'
ter all o. Them" replied jim, "fer
thsr's great COB o 'em; but eff ven
all do yer part. we kin make hit pretty
| hot fer the whole bunch NV en-
IN shore do my part" said Reuben.
fer want ter finish Their job, SOS we
kin take er trip down on Sandy"
''Weil, Rube," said Jim, Il alters
know'd We wuz a friend ter be depended
on. We will stay tergether until Their
| Copperhead's no more 'en then we'll go
arter'n yo' girl"
Here the conversation ceased; the
store house had settled to q mere pile Of
smouldering Goals. l. was nearing noon
but the sun still shone but family
( through the dreamy haze.
1t may seem strange that none of the
villagers came 10 the assistance of the
Randolph when the store was fired. but
all the men had gone to their work eth
er ut The sawmill or into the forests.
/ and on account of the heavy smoke
were unable to see the burning build
ing. The little village was composed of
the grocery store, a blacksmith shop
and few log cabins. It's inhabitants
were mostly laborers, who employed
every means possible for the support Of
| .heir families.
Not an outlaw had been seen for
some time, but just at this moment the
shrill scream of a woman was heard fol-
lowed in a moment by another 1t came
in the direction of RandOlph's home.
and reached the ears of four men gath
cred around the burned grocery store.
The fearful truth of the situation
at once burst on Randolph, for he real
lied that the outlaws had slipped away
to his little home on the outskirts of the
villege, and were engaged in some sort
of brutal work
Holding their rifles ready for instant
use the four men bounded down the lit
tie valley towards Randolph's home.
Being the swiftest of the quartet, Jim
took the lead easily. shouting to his
companions as ne did so:
Charge 'em, men, charge EN-. Well
hem EN- in and wipe out the dang last
one o. EN-"
my fortune is indeed hard one, ="
said Randolph as he sped along.
Here, Rubs," called Jim, give this
gun to Moore or Randolph, I'm goin' at
'em with my knife"
AS he passed his gun to his compan-
ion his long, cleaning knife flashed in
the hazy sunlight, and as the Randolph
home doomed into view he increased his
speed to its utmost.
The cries of Randolph's wife, the
screams of his children and the feeble
prayers of his aged father were plainly
heard as the four men bounded into the
yard and through the doorway.
"What're ye devils a dom here?"