Take him to jail, Sheriff,” I said motioning toward Olson.
“Os, get out some paper and write exactly what you saw and heard,” I ordered Oswald Dierker the bartender at Olson’s saloon. “I want it dated, and signed. Sheriff, before you take off with Olson I want you to read what Os wrote, then sign it.”
I turned my attention back to McCall who was now standing. “McCall, I don’t understand you. I even vouched for you to the city council.”
His face turned into a snarl, and he lashed out. “Forrest, you’ll pay for this.” He dropped his hand lower toward the butt of his gun. I stepped on his hand and it sounded as if I broke a bone, but it would have been in his little finger. Painful, a little, would it keep him from handling a gun, slightly maybe.
“Go ahead, give it a try,” I challenged him.
“I’m faster than you, Forrest!” he asserted.
“Your call, I’m waitin’.”
Quickly he placed both hands on the table. He must have figured there was just enough damage and pain to slow him down and he didn’t figure on eating some of my lead.
“I’ll be back for you,” I informed him then picked up the Greener, took the two shells from my vest pockets and loaded it.
Walking out of the saloon I turned to my left starting up the street toward Foster’s mercantile. There was always a pleasant atmosphere in his store, largely due to his daughter who kept the shelves straight and stocked. When I walked in she was standing on a little ladder dusting shelves.
“Hello, Darnelle, your father around?” I asked.
“Why, Marshal Forrest, I haven’t seen you in several weeks. Where have you been keeping yourself? And yes, he is in the backroom. Daddy! You’ve a visitor!” She stepped down from the ladder and stood behind the counter busying herself straightened out jars filled with different kinds of candies.
She always made me grin. “Been chasing badmen down in New Mexico. Bad deal,” I informed her.
Fear ran across her face for a moment. “You didn’t get hurt?”
Shaking my head, “No’m, but two U.S. Marshals were seriously wounded. The Lord kept His hand on me.”
“Why, Miles, welcome. I didn’t know you were back. What can I do for you?” inquired Wilson Foster.
“Mister Foster,” I began. I always liked him and his wife, a good man, but at times he was sort of weak-kneed. “Has McCall asked you for money for his protection?”
He started blinking his eyes rapidly then looked down. “Uh, why Miles, whatever do you mean?”
“Wilson, don’t play games with me! If you’re hidin’ somethin’ I’ll find it out! Now answer me!”
I glanced at Darnelle; her eyes were wide. “Daddy, tell him!” she snapped.
My stare went back to Foster. “I’m waitin’.”
“Uh, well, he called it ‘insurance,'” responded Foster. “It’s just twenty-five dollars a month. No real big deal.”
I wanted to slap him silly. “It’s called extortion! An officer of the law doesn’t protect you for money; it’s part of his sworn duty.”
Upon receiving the information I was needing I turned to walk out tipping my hat, “Darnelle.”
Going across the street to John Newsome’s shop I hoped he wouldn’t be as mealy-mouthed as Foster. He was over at a counter rearranging some of the ladies’ wear. This was a shop that I wanted to be out of quickly and so I go right to the point and he answered me the same.
I stopped to see Rufus, owner of the Broken Drum, and he was quick to answer my question. The charge for him was to be thirty-five dollars since he was competition with Olson. I liked Rufus, didn’t care much for his occupation, but he was an honest man.
One more stop, I didn’t have to go to every store, but I wanted a fair sampling. On down the street, back toward the diner next to the telegraph office was Solly Vendor’s cigar store. The same story, McCall was planning on making a tidy some from these businesses. I had enough evidence to arrest McCall so I headed back up toward Olson’s saloon.
McCall wasn’t there. Looking at Os, he just opened his hands shrugging his shoulders. As I started to walk out I heard the shot of a small caliber pistol, then the boom of a .45…
Author: Ira Paine
Echoes From the Campfire
If somebody does you dirt and gets caught at it, they hate you all the more.”
–Louis L’Amour (Chancy)
“For the wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.”
–Isaiah 57:20 (NKJV)
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Psalm 38 shows a tremendous cry for help from David. He didn’t bother with any of his accusers, even though they were falsely accusing him. He showed restraint in not acting against them. W. Graham Scroggie said, “When we answer back, we may win a battle and lose the campaign; but when we are silent we may lose a battle but shall win the campaign. It is well to sacrifice a passing victory for the sake of the final triumph.”
David went to the Lord with his sin, asking for forgiveness, but did not answer his critics. Meditate on the words of this portion of Psalm 38.
13 – I am like a deaf person; I do not hear. I am like a speechless person who does not open his mouth.
14 – I am like a man who does not hear and has no arguments in his mouth.
15 – I put my hope in You, Lord; You will answer, Lord my God.
16 – For I said, “Don’t let them rejoice over me—those who are arrogant toward me when I stumble.”
17 – For I am about to fall, and my pain is constantly with me.
18 – So I confess my guilt; I am anxious because of my sin.
19 – But my enemies are vigorous and powerful; many hate me for no reason.
20 – Those who repay evil for good attack me for pursuing good.
21 – Lord, do not abandon me; my God, do not be far from me.
22 – Hurry to help me, Lord, my Savior. (HCSB)
There are those who love to gloat over another’s misery, whether it be a mistake, or failure, or sin. They are smug in their satisfaction of seeing a righteous man fail. David finally puts that aside, realizing that his hope is in the Lord and not in the vain thoughts of his enemies.
Why was David being attacked so mercilessly? Because he pursued good. He didn’t go along with plans for evil. He did not call evil good and good evil; he stood for the right. He knew they were powerful, but he would put his trust in the Lord. In that, he cried out to the Lord to be his immediate help.
“Be still, my soul! The Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul! Thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”
–Katharina von Schlegel
It our iniquity and in our quandary the Lord might not give us an immediate answer or immediate relief. He might allow the process to continue in our life until we finally realize the lesson and call in deep sincerity upon Him. Keep your trust in Him no matter your situation, whether it is induced by others or by your sin. “He wants our obedience at His first call, but He will accept our surrender even after many invitations have been spurned.” (George O. Wood) Lean on Him, and tell your soul to “be still.”
Coffee Percs
Some of Slim’s coffee was still left over from yesterday, a little bit warmed over and added to. And tasting it on that second day, I’d guarantee no horseshoes or anything else would survive in it one way or the other.”
–Clair Huffaker (The Cowboy and the Cossack)
Not too bad a start this mornin’ for graylight is just now appearing. Yur cup’s ready Pard; threw in a couple of extra scoops of coffee this mornin’. Yuh know, sometimes the starter just starts harder and yuh need that extra jolt to get goin’. Now, it’s nothin’ like ol’ Slim’s coffee. Yuh’ve had some of his, haven’t yuh? I figured there’s really only two types of coffee I don’t care much for, no, make that three: weak, highly scorched (and Slim’s leans thataway), and flavored. Yuh know to keep the cinos out of my kitchen!
Talked to an ol’ Pard yesterday, we’ve rode many a trail together faced the arrows of the devil together many a-time. He’s been cooped up because of this corona. He reckoned it was preparin’ him for life in the nursin’ home. I guess it’s been different in the big cities. Life out here in the woods has stayed fairly close to the same.
Ahhh, that extra scoop helped; the ol’ gizzard’s takin’ pure delight this mornin’. How ’bout some of them bureaucrats–that loud-mouthed bunch encouragin’ folk to stay at home and not go back to work. Let the government continue to feed them and that means you and me, Pard. Kids, the poor whiny babies, are still cryin’ for their student debts to be canceled. And who’ll pay for that, you and me, Pard. The wife and I were talkin’ just the other day about how I had to work each summer to make money to go to school the next fall; plus I had to take out a loan which I paid back.
No use, gettin’ the gripe over it. I know the Lord’s in charge of my life and those of my family, no matter what the bureaucrats say and do. Them an’ their cronies may be a bother, but I look to the Lord for my help. He’ll help us get by, He always has, and always will.
Pard, now yuh be watchin’ who yuh shake hands with. Don’t be dismayed if’n there are some who don’t want to be shakin’ that mitt of yurs. They’re just bein’ cautious, yuh just tip yur hat and grin. Yuh be havin’ a good start to the new month, and that means yur not goin’ to forget to check yur cinch. Why I heard the other day of a fella that…well, that’s a story for another time.
Echoes From the Campfire
The best gift to man—or, if not the best, then at least the rarest—is the power to meet the emergency: to do your best and a little better than your best when nothing less will serve.”
–Eugene Manlove Rhodes (Bransford of Rainbow Range)
“In this confidence let us hold on to the hope that we profess without the slightest hesitation—for he is utterly dependable—and let us think of one another and how we can encourage each other to love and do good deeds.”
–Hebrews 10:23-24 (Phillips)
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My mercy, it’s May already! Hard to believe. May 1–May Day, an ancient celebration to bring in the spring season. Through the years there have been many “versions” of it. The most common in the U.S. was the giving of baskets, candy and flowers, left anonymously on the neighbor’s doorsteps. It has also been designated as Law Day in the United States. However, communist countries have celebrated it by the display of the nation’s armaments. Quite a difference.
The talk continues, and will continue regarding the virus. The accusations, especially since this is an election year will harp on and on. But the most important thing is: what have you done during this quarantine? Have you done your best to keep a good attitude? Have you done your best to meet the situation as it comes to you? Have you done your best to encourage friends and family? Have you done your best to get with your Lord?
Again, I will say, I do not believe that the Lord sent this virus upon the earth. However, I do believe that He has allowed it. There are several reasons, one of which is to wake up the people. The Lord is coming soon, here is a wake-up call. Another reason is for the Church, the believers, to clean up, straighten up, and look up for their redemption draweth nigh. A third reason is to set the stage for the coming of the Antichrist and his world government. There could be several more listed, but one last thing to consider was that the Lord allowed it for you. This has been a wonderful time to spend more time with Him, study His Word, meditate and contemplate on the things of God. This has been your time.
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.”
–Hebrews 10:22-24 (NKJV)
Since the Lord has given us this special time I want to close this Echo with some words from Fenelon. Perhaps it may help you during this time in your prayer life.
“When you see your mind wandering [during prayer], bring it back gently without being upset, and without ever being discouraged by these distractions which are stubborn. On the contrary, they will help you more than a prayer which brings with it very evident comfort and fervor, because these distractions will humble you, mortify you, and accustom you to seek God purely for his own sake, unmixed with any pleasure.”
As Texas begins to move back the restrictions do not neglect the habits that have been formed in your spiritual disciplines. Don’t waste and throw away this opportunity which the good Lord has given you.