Marshal Captured by Seth Gang

Posted on 10/15/2008 at 6:18:58 PM

On Sunday, Oct. 12, Seth Wright, along with Slim & Rattlesnake, rode into town looking for stirrin’ up a bit of trouble. Rattlesnake & Slim started things up a stoppin’ citizens as they rode peaceful-like down the street. After a bit they ratcheted up the fun by cuttin’ loose with a blast or two from Slim’s scatter gun. Before long wagons were backing up as traffic was stopped.

Marshal Payne, the only lawman on duty, was relaxing alongside the Leopard enjoying the warm, sunny day. The shotgun blast startled him from his afternoon siesta on a shaded chair.  Hitchin’ up his gunbelt, he moseyed over to perceive what was all the commotion. Spyin’ only Slim and Rattlesnake annoying the good folks of the camp,  the Marshal moved into the play.  “I thought I told you outlaws to get out of the camp and stay out. Now haul yer freight on down the trail before I have to speed up your retreat with my Colt’s .45s.”

The two rabble-rousers declined to accept the Marshal’s invitation, and offered to up the ante with some gunplay of their own. Marshal Payne met their raise and called with a lead filled response. When the smoke cleared the contenders were all still standing, but cradling empty iron.

Seth, who had been sitting out the play, dealt himself in by steppin’ behind the Marshal with a full hand of six .45s. With nothin’ left in his Colt to add to the game the Marshal holstered his empty revolver and handed over his chips. I do believe it was the first time the outlaws had caught a lawman, and they were bit befuddled as what to do. A meeting was called and after mulling the situation over a bit, there was a move made fer hanging. Which was quickly seconded and the crowd voted aye. But the Marshal cut the deal and said they just could not hang him as it was too nice a day for a hangin’. And besides, the Marshal observed, there was no rope to be had.

Lacking the main tool of the hangin’ trade, the gang decided to lock the Marshal up in a shop that was a front for the Seth Gang. They figured he could be exchanged later for a bag of loot. Seth marched Marshal Payne inside and quickly rejoined his cohorts in harassin’ the town folk. A carelessly left key allowed the Marshal to make his escaped. Seth had left a box of bullets sitting on a table to which the Marshal helped himself. With a fresh load restin’ in his .45 Marshal Payne moved out to confront that bunch of hooligans again.

The gang was taken aback by the sudden reappearance of the lawman they thought was out of the game. The Marshal informed the gang they were just too ignorant of the business of locking a gent up, and confirmed his hand by shaking out a round from his six-gun. Them outlaws had a whole new meaning of the word ‘ignorant’ and were right pleased with the call. So much so they settled right down and thanked the Marshal for being so nice. Why they even ask the lawman to step in with them for a round of picture taken by the crowd. Which ended the hostilities for the day.