The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-08


'1t's only Geraldine" said one of them.
''There amt no call to flash your gun,
Pete"
"Take the drunken fool away ordered
Collins angrily. "Who let him in here? This
is place for men not for girl-faced
clowns"
"Msher Collins" said Geraldine. doffing
his broad brimmed hat and speaking with a
thick, telltale accent isher Collins, l
ask your pardon. shir."
He bowed unsteadily, and his hat brushed
the floor.
81 plumb forgot | was in church with Sill
yer Pete for a preacher." he went on.
The audience turned their heal, and
ohackled deeply.
Take him out, will your Numbered Col
Inns. Take him out, or Ill come down
there and kick him oue myself"
The two men at Gera!dire's side turned
him abe ut and led him toward I'll, door.
Here he struggled away frcm his guides.
"Misher C6llinsp he cried in a voice half
whining and ha'f anger, eff l capture the
Ghost do l get the loot?"
A vel! of laughter drowned the reriv, and
Geraldine staggered from the room.
what do You say, mem" roared Collins.
enragad by these repeated Interruptions. "Is
Silver Pete the nan for u.s."
There was no shout of approval, but
acer lnuttering Of consent
"I'd hire the devil hrrself," murmurcd
one man, eff he'd get rid of the Ghost.
CAN right" said Collins, and he turned
to Pete. you're in charge here, and it's up
tn 10 %ol vk>k % L. h.
foreman, and we're all in your gang"
The crowd was delighted, for Pete, find
ing himself deserted before the mass Of
waiting men, shifted uneasily from one foot
to the other and kept changing the angle
of the hat upon his mop of gray hair.
Speech" yelled miner. "Give US
speech, Petew
Silver Pete favored the speaker with a
venOmOuS scrowl.
Speech nothin,'" he answered, 81 amt
here to talk. amt no gossipin' bit Of cal
leo. got bunch my six-gunll do my
chatterin' for me-
But what do you want US to do, Pete?"
asked Collins. How are we GOING to help
you?"
"Sit tight and chaw your own tobacco"
re said amiably. Il don't want no advice.
There's been too many posses around these
diggins Maybe III start and hunt the Ghost
by myself. Mayoc I won't If l want
help I'll come askin it."
As sign that the meeting had terminated
he pulled his hat farther down over his eyes,
hitched his belt and stalked through the
crowd without looking to either side.
Thereafter Murrayville saw nothing of
him for a month, during which the Ghost
appeared five times and escaped unscathed.
The community pondered and sent out to
find Pete, but the search was vain. There
were those who held that he must have been
shot down in his tracks by the Ghost. and
even now decorated some lank hillside. The
majority felt that having undertaken his
quest alone, Pete was ashamed to appear
in the town without his victim.
On the subject of the quest Geraldine
composed ballad which he sang to much
applause in the eight saloons of the town.
1t purported to be the narrative of Silver
Petes wanderings in search Of the Ghost.
In singing it Geraldine borrowed revolt
yer and belt from one of the bystanders.
pushed back his hat and roughed up lis hair,
and initiated the scrowling face of Pete so
exactly that his hearers fairly wept with
pleasure. He sang his ballad to the tune Of
"Auld Lang Syne," and the sad narrative
concluded with wailing stanza:
81 don't expect no bloomin' tears;
The only thing ask
Is something for monument
In the way of whisky flask"
Geraldine sang himself into popularity