The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-09-17
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MIN, after tryln' to get me tramp
led by that outlaw stallion"
Coggswell fingered his clipped
mustache. II amt got nothin' to
do with Curran's motives" he re-
Piled. I'm thinkin' of my repu-
tation. I been sheriff here for
two years now, since Mr.. Brown
died, and there's been nary lynch
in bee since I took hold. I don't
aim to have my record spoiled
well, I amt goin' to try to
spoil that record of yours, sher-
iff," answered Dave, lighting a
cigarette. $50 that's the idea?"
"Yep, I'm goin' to do my best
to purtect you, Bruce. Mean
while, I'm tellin' yuh straight, the
Cross-Bar is a tough bunch to
handle. So if yuh got anything
to leave, yuh might as well make
out your will, and I'll have Sims
and myself witness it. And if
yuh got any money yuh want to
send anybody, I'll take care of it.
That's how serious it looks to me"
Dave opened his wallet and
drew out the partnership agree
ment he had made with Hooker.
He handed it to Coggswell.
"You tear that up, sheriff." he
said. "That'll give Miss Lois the
ownership of the valuable proper
ty I bought half-share in yes
terday. And you can see that the
duplicate that Hooker has is torn
up too. That's all got to leave,
except dollar or two, which'll
buy drinks for the lynchin' party"
Sheriff Coggswell stared at the
document in his hand. "Tll hold
it." he announced. Dang it, it's
hard for me to believe Teller
like you would shoot an old man
asleep, Bruce. But that amt here
nor there. If they git you, they'll
have to git me first"
He left the cell room, slamming
the door hard behind him.
"That fella's white" Dave said
to himself. Il sure would like to
have a gun in my hand, though,
if it comes to a showdown"
The sunlight faded abruptly
out of the cell. Dave finished his
meal and resumed his station at
the window. Lights sprang up on
the street. And now the dull
murmur of voices that had come
to his ears all the afternoon
through the barred, closed WIN
dow began to change to a hoarse,
menacing undertone.
The crowds in the street were
growing thicker. The silhouettes
surged backward and forward a
bout the front of the Jail. Then
of sudden there sounded the
hoofbeats of horses, and a body
of men rode yipping down the
middle of the street, scattering
the crowd.
Curran and his Cross-Bar out
fit had arrived upon the scene
we'll primed with whisky for the
lob that they had set themselves.
The sudden outburst of yelling
that ensued left no doubt as to
their intentions. Squeezing his
head against one of the window
bars, Dave was able to see what
was taking place. 49,.
In front of the Jail Sheriff
Coggswell and Sims, his deputy,
were standing at the head of the
three stone steps. Coggswell
seemed to be addressing the
crowd, but his words were in
audible, drowned in the yells of
the crowd.
Suddenly there came a rush
forward. Dave saw the sheriff's
hand 60 up and gun was in it.
Before he had time even to level
it, a piece of fence-rail, welded
by someone in the crowd, struck
the sheriff upon the head. he
staggered, reeled, and next mo-
ment he and Sims were both
down and being trampled upon
by the Infatuated mob.
Coggswell, unconscious, had
been tossed to one side, and men
were searching in his pockets for
the Jail keys. But the mob was
already battering against the
door, two men each welding two
heavy logs that thudded with
force that shook the building. The
door cracked, splintered, went
down, and the crowd came
streaming through the ante-room
and into the cell room. At the
sight of Dave savage shouts of
triumph broke from their threats.
They spat at him through the
bars, and some were already lev
cling guns when Curran forced
his way to the front, the keys in
his hand.
Hold yore fire!" he shouted.
eve amt amin to give this muir
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