Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-08-30

ton and OF what his obstinacy might
mean; he begged him to consider his
Selwood's-feelings, If there were
none Of his own to move him. The
old gambler proved adamant TO every
consideration, and, not only that. he
grew more and more set against all
proposals. "John," he exclaimed, rag
ing like a grizzly at bay, "are you
running. too?"
"You know very well, Dave, there's
heap of difference between a well
mans running and wounded mans
being carried out Of the way Of a
fight"
"You going to stay?"
"There's no reason why shouldn't"
"Aud fight?"
"Nobody will miss me If I do fight"
'If you stay, there's just one an
swer-you get killed." said Tracy.
"Dash you, know you better than
you know yourself. Now, John,
listen" The old man, gray, grizzled,
unshaven, hollow-eyed, but stern, his
iron-gray hair falling in great mat
over his wrinkled forehead, sat bolt
upright on his cot. He tore open the
breast Of the coarse shirt he wore
his only upper garment-and pointed
to an American flag, tattooed over his
heart.
Selwood sat with the eyes Of youth
silently fixed on his country's emblem.
Bill Pardaloe stepped closer in,
craned his neck forward, pulled of
his Uttered hat to get still closer,
and peered dumbly at the tattooed
breast
Tracy spoke to Selwood. "John, I
don't say I've never done anything to
disgrace it." he went on, 'but fought
for that old flag nigh three year. I
tramped down the Peninsula with Nc
Clellan, and double-quicked back
aga,1; I stood, best I could, against
Pickett at Gettysburg, with George
Meade; I went up against the Bloody
Angle in the Wilderness with Grant.
It don't mean a continental to lot
Of folks nowadays, but it means
something to me yet. Does anything
you've ever seen me do, John, look
to you as If I'd run from a blamed
parcel of Vigilante crooks? I'll admit
I'm no saint, I'm no preacher"
"You're preaching right now, Dave
''Then, d-n it, let me preach-but
the worst I've ever done was to in
wife man to back his luck against
mine. I've played crooked with
crooks, I'll admit 1t, but no honest
man can say I've ever stacked deck
against him-I took my chances, same
rs he took his.
"Now, a parcel of Vigilantes threat
en- to hang mel know, same's II
you'd told me. I left the best of my
life in health and strength down on
the Jim river for this old f1ag-that's
why I can't put up a mans fight
today" He barred his right breast
There was gap in 1t in which you
could lay a hens egg. "a Johnny
Reb shell took that lung, John" He
tore open, with flerceness, the shirt
sleeve of his left arm-"a MIME ball
splintered that arm, John-you know
It's no good. It wasn't that fight with
Frank Sanger that did for me. I was
done for in the Wilderness and came
out with no health to earn a, living,
and here I am-and not sorry for 1t.
Well, they can hang me. But it'll be
done after I'm dead. And then" he
muttered with satisfaction, 1T.
blamed skunks have got to hang the
old flag with me. I tell you again, I
don't say I've never done nothing to
disgrace 1t. don't say I'm proud Of
winding up as gambler. But things
Is as they is. And If this is my last
stand-why, it's all right"
He reached his hand out toward
the tent pole. scr me my gun, Bill"
With Selwood sitting in silence, Par
daloe lifted from the nail on which
It hung by the scabbard an old Colts
army revolver. Tracy took It almost
affectionately. leave this with me-"
he said, falling back on his frowsy
pillow. 'Bring me a couple dozen
ca'tridges-that'l be all I need"
Selwood smiled. "More'n you'll
need, Dave" he said quite undis-
turbed.
Selwood continued to smile; not
mirthfully-seriously, rather. He just
studied the mumbling old gladiator
half toothless, laid low after many a
stout fight-stiffened in joint, frayed
In nerve, caressing the old gun with
shaking hand, so enfeebled he
could with difficulty hold up his head,
and with only the gray eyes flashing
the old fire as he hurled defiance at
his enemies-it was not a cheerful
picture! No home to die in; no
woman to be tender with his pain or
patient with his Feasibility; no
child's kiss to close the weary day
Just a human derelict, cast by the
rtnrn and Waua of ciuilization on Ito