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Show I WELLSBURG LAWMAN ; By Denny McClung HAT'S troublin' you, Sher-V Sher-V iff?- Gun Wheeler said. "Seems like you got a mighty long face today." Sam Fuller closed the door. "This dern thing." he said, and held up a folded newspaper. "What's the paper got to do with ft?" Gus asked. "Well, sir," the Sheriff said, "It happened oh, say two weeks ago." He glanced down at the paper be-foi be-foi e he continued. "This reporter from the State capltol happened to stop by here one day. Don't remember what for, but anyhow, we got to talktn'. You know, about the town, about my Job things like that." "Don't see nothin' wrong with that," Gus said. "Well, there wasn't. But the longer we talked, the bigger I talked. By the time I had sense enough to shut up, I had him thinkin' 1 was big-shot law man, I reckon instead of Just do-nothin' do-nothin' small town sheriff. It was pretty disgustin' the way I went on braggin' and boastin' like a crazy pop-n-jay." "Shucks." Gus said, "we all do a little talkin' out of turn same-times." same-times." "Yeah." Sum said, "but not to a big city newspaper reporter. That's where I played the fooL" "How so?" Gus asked. "Huh! Just take a gander at this," Sam said, and he handed the newspaper to Gus. "That repot re-pot ter had to go and make a big story out of it. i sure didn't figure on anything like that." He remained re-mained silent while Gus read the article. Gus was chuckling by the time h nnished. "Sure sounds like this town's just seethin' with crime," he said. "And you, Sam why, you're practically a one-man F.B.I. Sort of the Hair-Trigger Kid." "That's it." Sam said. "Just like you that's what everybody'll be doin', makin' a joke out of me. Why. I'll be laughed out of town." ' "Don't take it so seriously," Gus said. "They'll all forget It in a day or two." "I'm not so sure," Sam said. "Why, the nearest I ever get to enforcln' the law is givin out traffic traf-fic tickets to Lizzy Owens; every dad-burn day, I'm havin" to write out a ticket for Lizzy Owens. That woman's got no business drivln' a car. but what can a body do? her beln' the Mayor's wife." A car stopped outside and they both glanced up as a man entered. He looked around the store and then walked over to the window. Gus went around to wait on him. When Gus got behind the counter, facing him, the man slid a revolver re-volver out of the holster beneath his arm. "Okay, friend," he said, "Just start shoving the dough In that cash register out here on the counter." Gus and the Sheriff rushed to the door when they heard the car start off. "Looks like an Ohio license," li-cense," Gus said. "Yeah," the Sheriff said. "I better get on that phone and notify the State Police. Maybe they can set up a road-block before he gets far. Might be able to catch him that way." He was already grinding grind-ing the old-style telephone. After a few seconds the Sheriff made his connection and talked hurriedly tor several minutes. The door suddenly opened and little Tad Richards entered the store. "Sheriff Fuller," he said breathlessly, "they sent me over to get you. Mrs. Owens just ran into some feller's car Just up the street here." He paused to catch his breath. "Said to tell you he must be from Ohio got Ohio license on his car. He don't seem to be hurt, but he can't get out of the car. It's all bunged up and be can't get any of the doors open to get out. They said for you to come right up," he continued. "Said you'd sure do more than Just give Lizzy Owens a ticket this time." |