ywelve -> twelve
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Nick Corrado 2023-08-14 22:22:35 -04:00 committed by Alex Cabal
parent 4977ccbcf9
commit ff9a0fa851

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@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
<p>The artillery was in trim. Calliopes hand was steady. The high, calm ecstasy of habitual battle was upon him, though slightly embittered by the sadness of Alexander in that his conquests were limited to the small world of Quicksand.</p>
<p>Down the street went Calliope, shooting right and left. Glass fell like hail; dogs vamosed; chickens flew, squawking; feminine voices shrieked concernedly to youngsters at large. The din was perforated at intervals by the staccato of the Terrors guns, and was drowned periodically by the brazen screech that Quicksand knew so well. The occasions of Calliopes low spirits were legal holidays in Quicksand. All along the main street in advance of his coming clerks were putting up shutters and closing doors. Business would languish for a space. The right of way was Calliopes, and as he advanced, observing the dearth of opposition and the few opportunities for distraction, his ennui perceptibly increased.</p>
<p>But some four squares farther down lively preparations were being made to minister to <abbr>Mr.</abbr> Catesbys love for interchange of compliments and repartee. On the previous night numerous messengers had hastened to advise Buck Patterson, the city marshal, of Calliopes impending eruption. The patience of that official, often strained in extending leniency toward the disturbers misdeeds, had been overtaxed. In Quicksand some indulgence was accorded the natural ebullition of human nature. Providing that the lives of the more useful citizens were not recklessly squandered, or too much property needlessly laid waste, the community sentiment was against a too strict enforcement of the law. But Calliope had raised the limit. His outbursts had been too frequent and too violent to come within the classification of a normal and sanitary relaxation of spirit.</p>
<p>Buck Patterson had been expecting and awaiting in his little ten-by-ywelve frame office that preliminary yell announcing that Calliope was feeling blue. When the signal came the city marshal rose to his feet and buckled on his guns. Two deputy sheriffs and three citizens who had proven the edible qualities of fire also stood up, ready to bandy with Calliopes leaden jocularities.</p>
<p>Buck Patterson had been expecting and awaiting in his little ten-by-twelve frame office that preliminary yell announcing that Calliope was feeling blue. When the signal came the city marshal rose to his feet and buckled on his guns. Two deputy sheriffs and three citizens who had proven the edible qualities of fire also stood up, ready to bandy with Calliopes leaden jocularities.</p>
<p>“Gather that fellow in,” said Buck Patterson, setting forth the lines of the campaign. “Dont have no talk, but shoot as soon as you can get a show. Keep behind cover and bring him down. Hes a nogood un. Its up to Calliope to turn up his toes this time, I reckon. Go to him all spraddled out, boys. And dont git too reckless, for what Calliope shoots at he hits.”</p>
<p>Buck Patterson, tall, muscular, and solemn-faced, with his bright “City Marshal” badge shining on the breast of his blue flannel shirt, gave his posse directions for the onslaught upon Calliope. The plan was to accomplish the downfall of the Quicksand Terror without loss to the attacking party, if possible.</p>
<p>The splenetic Calliope, unconscious of retributive plots, was steaming down the channel, cannonading on either side, when he suddenly became aware of breakers ahead. The city marshal and one of the deputies rose up behind some dry-goods boxes half a square to the front and opened fire. At the same time the rest of the posse, divided, shelled him from two side streets up which they were cautiously manoeuvring from a well-executed detour.</p>