The Washington herald., 1920-09-16

rear. In another moment they
We're reinforced by hhe marshal
and his other men, and then Cal
liope felt that in order to sue
Ccssfully prolong the delights of
the controversy he must find
some means of reducing the great
odds against him. His eye fell
upon structure that seemed to
hold out this promise. providing
he could reach ii.
Not far away was the little
railroad station. its building
strong box house. ten by twent"
feet. resting upon platform four
feet above ground. Windows
We're in each of It's walls. Some
thing like a fort it might become
to a man thus sorely pressed by
superior numbers.
Calliope made a bold and rapid
squirt for 1t, the marshal's crowd
smoking him as he ran. He
reached the haven in safety. the
station agent leaving the build
ing by a window. like fving
squirrel, as the garrison entered
the door.
Patterson and his supporters
halted under protection OF pile
of lumber and held consultations.
In the station was an unterritied
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. il
was a sure thing that the man
who attempted to enter that un-
protected area would be stopped
by one of Calliope'S bullets.
The city marshal was resolved.
He had decided that Calliope
Catesby should no more wake the
echoes of Quicksand with his
strident woop. He had SO an
nOunced. Officially and personal
'ly he felt imperatively bound to
put the soft pedal on that instru-
mcnt of discord. 1t played bad
tunes
Standing near was hand
truck used in the manipulation
of small freight. 1t stood by a
shed full of sacked wool. a con
signment from one of the sheep
ranches. On this truck the mar
shal 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
juggernaut of justice that was
creeping upon him. Only once
did Calliope make demonstration.
He fired from window, and
some tufts of wool spurted from
the marshal's trustworthy bull
wark. The return shots from the
posse pattered against the win
dow frame OF the fort. No loss
resulted on either side.
The marshal was too deeply
engrossed in steering his protect
ed bsttlesi1ip to be aware of the
approach of the morning train
until he was, within a few feet of
the platform. The train was COM
ing up ON the other side of it.'S1t
stopped only one minute at Quick
sand. What an opportunity it
would offer to Calliope, He had
only to step out the other door,
mount the train. and away. .- "
ABANDONING his breastworlls,
Buck, with his>gun ready. dashed
up the steps, and into the room.
driving open the closed door with
one heaye of his weighty shoul-
der, The. members of the posse
heard one shot fired 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 ~
ing on wooden bench. A tall
man with a perplexed counten-
ance. wearing a big badge with |
city marshal engraved upon ii. !
stood over him. A little old !
woman in black. with a wrinkled. !
face and sparkling black eyes, !
was holding wet handkerchief |
against one of his temples. He
was trying TO get these facts fiXcd !
in HIS mind and connected with |
past events. when the old womsm
began to talk.
There now. grsat, big. Strong