Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009 –

The Medicine Park Marauders held a gunfight show this afternoon in Town Center. Seth Wright, Rattlesnake and Cactus Jack played the outlaw’s hand, while Marshal Payne and Sheriff Odie pinned on their badges as the law.

The show began with the outlaws going through the Riverside having fun with the visitors and promoting the gunfight. While the Seth Gang was causin’ trouble on that end of town the law moseyed into the Plantation asking if anyone had seen the outlaws. At one table sat a family with two boys, the youngest around 6. Odie pointed to his dad and ask if that guy was giving him trouble, and if we should arrest him. Odie then ask; “If arrest him do you got any money to bail him out.” The boy dug out three quarters. Marshal Payne said; “Hold on there Odie. If we arrest him the kid’s only got 75 cents fer bail and the reward is a dollar. That’d leave us short 25 cents.” So Odie decided we’d better not arrest him.

After making the rounds of all the tables the law headed out looking for the outlaws. The laws met up with them down near the Riverside where one outlaw fire off blast from a shotgun. The law drew their six-guns, but Seth claimed they were only shootin’ a squirrel fer dinner since they didn’t have money fer the eating establishments. The gunfire quickly drew a large crowd to watch the fun.

The law told the gang to get on out of town. Words flew and quickly escalated into a fast draw showdown between Rattlesnake and Odie. Now to keep things fair Seth pick young lad from the audience to start the showdown on a count of three. But since the Marauders cain’t count and would not know if the counter was right or not, we choose to have him drop a hat. The shootin’ was to commence when the hat hit the ground. But the starter did not have a hat so Cactus Jack lent him his.

Now Rattlesnake complained that he couldn’t watch the hat and Odie at the same time. The was solved by moving the starter into into the middle. Marshal Payne figured the lad was short enough that they could just shoot over him. The hat fell, Odie and Rattlesnake drew and fired. When the smoke cleared both side were claiming to have the fastest shooter. The argument quickly broke down to the gunfight. And the outlaws made a clean get away as everyone ran out of bullets.

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

Tipton Centennial Celebration became several firsts for the Medicine Park Marauders: our first grand finale, first outing for our new gold domed tent, and the first selling (and signing) of the Marauder Comic book outside the Park. Before the show some of the Marauder’s sold comics and t-shirts and other’s wandered warming up the crowd. Tipton entertainment offered some very talented ladies singers which inspired Slim, Dog & Rattlesnake who stood front and center, took off their hats and listened to “A Rose Among The Thorns” which brought tears to their eyes. However when Rattlesnake thought one might make a good wife she rebuked him with “I don’t date men over 40”. The Marauder’s were next up after the calf judging held on the other end of town, about 7:30 and the crowd drifted back from the judging. The announcer introduced us and it was Show Time. We started off with Madam Olga leading the Marauders in singing the “Ballad of the Medicine Park Marauders’. The song ended we drifted off leaving Madam Olga Seesall to start the action by reading a few palms of the fine people of Tipton. While the Slim, Little Britches, Rattlesnake and DOG cased the local banks lookin’ to make a few withdrawals.

The Outlaws arrived in the center of town and scaring the good town people away from Madam Olga. Slim insisted she read his palm. Madam Olga could barely see through the dirt on Slim’s hand until he spit on it and wiped it on his pants. His fortune was of evil doings and dark trouble. Having received only disastrous news, the gang disparaged the Gypsy’s abilities. A disgruntled Olga walked off in a huff muttering “you will have much sorry for insult”.

The law had arrived in hot pursuit of the Marauders and Madam Olga eagerly informed them of the gang doings in Tipton. The Marshals recruited young deputies from the locals handing, them wanted posters and promising them a reward. In short time the new recruits “brought them in”. Shooting was about to break out when the news that a few stray calves gotten loose from the livestock judging. (Marauders may not respect each other but they do respect cattle).

Little Britches agreed to give Odie the bank bag if he would let them go in exchange for the loot. Slim & Little Britches both grabbed a hostage from the crowd. The Law, remembering how tricky the gang could be, wanted a volunteer to stick their hand in the bag first. Odie tried to get one of the hostages to pull out the contents, but the gang stopped him. As the law suspected the bank bag held a rattlesnake. It was Olga’s missing pet, Wilber. Slim carried another bag; the Law demanded he hand it over. Slim passed the bag off to his hostage and bag was then quickly passed around the outlaws while Odie desperately tried to find out who had it. Miss Goodbody having hid the bag in her bustle, tripped and the bag fell to the ground.

Across the bag the word “Laundry” had been embroidered. The law deduced that it must mean the gang was laundering stolen money. The Law immediately starting digging through bag in anticipation of stolen loot but instead pulled out a pair of drawers with hearts on them. (Odie needed a new pair). Next was unearthed some foul smelling socks, old long johns and some mighty fancy bloomers (which they figured could attract a floozy or two). Yes, the law was tricked again; it really was the gang’s dirty laundry.

With no loot to swap things quickly broke down into a gunfight. The outlaws made a clean get away while gun smoke still filled the air and once again the law had run out of bullets. And so goes the story.

As the Marauder’s rode off after sundown it was remarked that there was never a finer audience than that in Tipton, Oklahoma. Medicine Park Maruader’s thank you for puttin’ up with us.

It was a hot and dusty morning when Seth, Little Britches, Slim & Dog came trailin’ into town. Miss Vycke, local floozy, stood waitin’ by the bridge for them. Seth was a lookin’ fer a gift for his Mama. He couldn’t remember what fer, but figured he was better off with a gift then without. Scouting the Rusty Buffalo he came out with a straw cowboy hat. But the gang informed him his Mama wore only bonnets. Seth wandered on over to Lulabelles where he lassoed a jar of Buffalo Breath Salsa and was about to put his brand on it when the gang reminded him that his mama weren’t to partial on spicy chuck. The next stop the Laughing Lizard where Seth rounded up a dime novel, The Great Stagecoach Hold Up. I reckon he plum forgot his Mama couldn’t read, she taught him everything he knows. The gang reminded him no one could read ‘cept’ Little Britches, and she said she t’wernt gonna camp out a readin’ to his Mama when outlawin’ was more fun.

Headin’ on down the shop trail Seth rode over to the Bliss Boutique. He stunk so bad he was a scaring the real customers and the shopkeeper stampeded him with a double 12 gage. Bustin’ out the door she cut loose a blast to let him know she meant it. That brought the law a running. Marshal Payne quickly spotted the bank money bag Little Britches was totin’ and figured it was them that robbed the Texas bank they had gotten the telegram about. With threat of arrest and hangin’, Little Britches tried to cut a deal trading the bank bag to let ‘em haul freight out of Town. Marshal Odie called the play figurin” they could split the loot and still blame the Seth Gang. Deputy Doc Holyday was all fer it, but Marshal Payne recollected the last time Little Britches made the same deal leaving them holdin’ a bag full of rattlesnake. Odie figured he’d best get someone from the audience to check the bag, but thee were no takers. Marshal Payne noted Slim was a packin’ a bag and told Odie to give Little Britches back the bank bag and cut the same deal fer Slim’s bag.

Odie took Slim’s bag into custody with much protest from the Gang and proceeded to dig for the stolen bank loot. Odie pulled out a worn out pair of under-britches, which he sorely needed. Deputy Doc came up with pair of dirty, threadbare socks & lady’s bloomers. He was sure he could cut a deal with a floozy fer the bloomers. Thinkin’ the loot was hidden deeper Marshal Payne reached in and pulled out a dress. Seth came a runnin’ saying that was his mama’s and we couldn’t have it. Figuring they’d been hornswaggled again and left with the gang’s dirty laundry, Marshal Payne grabbed Seth’s sixgun. “At least we can get the reward fer yer arrest,” he said. The rest of the gang tried to call the Marshal’s play with their Colts .45s. The law raised the anti with their six-guns causin’ the rest of the gang to skedaddled not wanting to wing Seth. The law hauled Seth off to jail with him a hollerin’ fer the gang to tell his mama and she’d come bail him out.

Right after lunch the law was camped outside a make do jail when Miss Vycke and Miss Goodbody, came a strollin’ up the street. Notin’ the good mood of the lawmen they ask what they were a celebratin’. Odie replied we’d done caught Seth who had a big reward on him. They ask to get dealt in on the fandango and everyone could mosey on down to the Shortbranch Saloon. Marshal Payne decided they could not all be a trailin’ off leaving Seth unguarded. A quick vote left Odie to ride herd on him while the rest hauled freight to the Short Branch Saloon. Little did the law know that the floozies, were out to distract the law from guardin’ Seth.

As soon as the they got out of sight Slim, disguised as Seth’s Mama came sashaying up to the jail. Odie said no one could to see Seth until the judge got there. Slim replied, “I’m Seth’s mama and you can’t keep a Mama away from her boy.” Odie relented and let her go on in. As soon as Slim got into the jail he tried to free Seth, but the cell door was stuck tight. Slim passed a gun to Seth, hitched a rope to the cell door and came out getting’ the drop on Odie. The rest of the gang came in and hired on some young hands from the crowd to haul on the rope and spring Seth. After a couple of hard tugs the door sprung open freeing Seth. The gang got so excited one of them cut loose with their Colt. The shot brought the rest of the law running. The outlaws cut a trail for the bridge out of town with the law givin’ chase with hot lead. But they ran out of bullets before the posse could saddle up as the gang lit out fer the hills.

By late afternoon and things had quieted down when the Seth Gang decided to head to the Short Branch Saloon to bend an elbow. As they rode into town they spotted Miss Goodbody & Miss Vycke which they lassoed in and herded along fer a good time. The floozies threw in with the gang, but Miss Goodbody had to use the facilities of the town outhouse first. No sooner then she got the door closed the law cut the gangs trail and rode up. The law’s attempt to arrest the Gang soon broke into an exchange of opinions from six-guns. As the Seth Gang ran out of bullets one of them pulled dynamite from the loot bag, lit it and tossed it at the posse before skedaddling. Marshal Odie, always alert for littering, pick the dynamite up and brought it over to the rest of the lawmen. Panicked by the smoldering fuse Marshal Payne and Deputy Holyday told Odie to get rid of it. He tried to give it to the audience as a souvenir, but no one was wantin’ to be dealt in that game. Not wanting to litter, Odie tossed the dynamite in the outhouse. The door being locked he just put it through the moon opening in the door.

BLAM! The blast shook the town and smoke billowed. When the smoke cleared and the dust settled the towns only outhouse was history. Standin’ in the rubble amid fluttering boa feathers was a tattered Miss Goodbody, who noted that “Buffalo Breath Salsa was pretty powerful stuff”. All Odie could say was: “Blast it All.”

Appearing in Stagecoach Hold-up

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A few weeks ago a large Ramada of horseless plowing machines came a chuggin’ into Medicine Park. I’m sure it weren’t no posse hunting a fugitive as they couldn’t get up enough velocity to catch one if they saw him.  Of course this bazaar sight brought both the Seth Gang and the law a runnin’. They reined up short a wondering what those noisy contraptions were.  Soon Seth, Little Britches, Rattlesnake, Doc Holiday, Marshal Payne & Marshal Odie were all clumped together tryin’ to figure out exactly what them things were. Seems that these new machines were fixin’ to take over the job of perfectly good horses. As it turned out the Seth Gang & the lawmen were secret pards and joint owners of the local feed business.  Without the need for a lot of horses them feed business profits would be a hurtin’.

They determined something was needed to rein in this menace. The lawmen quietly slipped their badges into pockets.  Together the Marauders approached the intruders meaning to run those machines clear out of the territory.  Nearing where the tractors were corralled Seth demanded to know who was the head wrangler of that outfit. He was pointed out and, with drawn six-guns he was quickly taken hostage. They figured with the head honcho of those varmints hobbled and threatened they saddle up and vamoose.

But as it turned out he was leanin’ a little to the Marauder side so he was recruited and given a hat and a .45 Colt.  The Marauder gang got the idea if they got the feller holding’ the high hand would have a lot of loot which could be appended to the mutual Marauder investments. It appeared to be a fellow named John Deere as he had his brand on most of them infernal machines.  But no one in the outfit had that handle.

Since John Deere was not ridin’ with that bunch the Marauders got the inspiration to steal one of them tractor machines and hold it for ransom. That’s when trouble flared up. There were two real pretty mechanical mounts in the herd. Little Britches had a hankerin’ to haul freight with an orange tractor and Seth was spinning his rope for a large green one. Both were good looking mounts, which split the Marauders into two camps. The dispute quickly escalated into gunfire, which once again, ended when they ran out of bullets.

The skirmish over, a deal was cut with the tractor outfit. They’d be let allowed to depart with their scalps intact if they hauled freight out of town after grabbin’ some chuck at the Riverside eatery.  They were so grateful not to get shot up they even bought the Marauders a round of lunch.

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.

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