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Fred Stilwell, closely followed by his father, came riding into the square. Morgan leaped to his feet, new hope in him at sight of this friendly force. Craddock's companion turned to meet Fred with the fire of two revolvers. One of the three sent a moment before to dislodge the citizens, turned back to join this new battle. Morgan had marked this man as Drumm from the beginning.
After I leaves you, I walks down a piece towards the bay, and as I gets about to Drumm Street, I guess, a fellow comes along as I takes to be a sailor half-loaded.
The steamer "Oregon" was due, and it was hoped she would bring the news of favorable action by Congress on the application of California to be admitted into the Union. When in the early forenoon the steamer, profusely decorated with bunting, rounded Clark's Point assurance was given, and by the time she landed at Commercial and Drumm the town was wild with excitement.
"You take it easy, they'll not leave Ascalon till Sol Drumm, their boss, comes back from Kansas City," the young man said. "We're layin' for him ourselves, we've got a bill against him." "And we've got about as much show to collect it as we have to dip a hatful of stars out of the river," Stilwell said, turning gloomily from the door.
"How many are with him?" Fred inquired. "Seven or eight I didn't see them all. Pa's collecting a posse to guard the bank they're going to rob it!" "They're welcome to all I've got in it," Stilwell said. "You better come in and have a cup of coffee, Rhetty, before " "The one they call the Dutchman's there, and Drumm " "Drumm?"
Morgan asked. "Took the train east last night. The operator told me he got a wire from Sol Drumm, boss of the outfit, to meet him in Abilene today. He swore them six ruffians in as deputies before he went and left them in charge of the town." "Six? Where's the other one?" Conboy looked at him with quick flashing of his shifty eyes.
Stilwell was nowhere to be seen, his pursuit of Drumm having led him far. But approaching Morgan were five or six men carrying guns, their faces clouded with what seemed an unfriendly severity. "We want to have a word or two with you over in the square," one of them said. Morgan recognized all of them as townsmen.
Stilwell had put off even his own case against the Texas stockman, he had been so urged for time in getting his sick cattle down to the shade and water along the river. Now the job seemed over, for all he could do, and was taking his ease at home this night, intending to go early in the morning and put his case for damages against Drumm into Judge Thayer's hands.
"Let Drumm go let all of them go let the cattle go, let everything go! none of it's worth riskin' your life for!" Stilwell's affectionate good wife pleaded with him. "Now, Mother, I'm not goin' to git killed," Morgan heard Stilwell say, his very assurance calming.
First he dodged around the block into Drumm Street, and then ran down Drumm to California, where he climbed aboard a cable car and rode up into Chinatown. Arrived at Dupont Street he alighted and walked up that interesting thoroughfare until he came to No. 714.
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