Adios Newton Gang

Adios Newton Gang

Suzanne Marsh

Sheriff Tom Lord watched in dismay as the Newton Gang whooped and hollered, causing the horses on Main Street to stampede. There was no love lost between Tom Lord and his nemesis, Tagg Newton. Flames shot from the roof of the Merry Time Saloon and began to spread to other wooden structures in town. Tom Lord knew he had to do something to stop the Newton Gang; the question was what? He could shoot Tagg, that would bring the other Newtons to town, and possibly destroy the town. The smell of smoke spread quickly; a horse-drawn fire engine made its way to the Merry Time Saloon. The fire brigade began to put the fire out; down Main Street, several more stores were on fire. The town had withstood Indian raids, the Union Army but could not withstand the Newton Gang, at the least was the way it seemed to Tom Lord.

The Newton Gang knew they would be back within the month; the stagecoach was bringing in a load of gold. Tagg wanted that gold, the gang could then move on to a better area where robbery would be easier. Tagg’s lady friend, Elinor Masterson, worked at the bank, where the gold was kept; he expected her to give him the information about the gold. Elinor, had other plans, as she strode toward Tom Lord’s house. She knocked on the door, noting that he was not at home. Somehow she had to let him know about Tagg and the Newton Gang’s plans for the gold shipment. She cautioned herself to be very careful what she did, if Tagg discovered she was unloyal to him; he would murder without even thinking about it. He was implusive, with a hair trigger temper.

Lurking in the shadows of the sheriff’s office, Tagg’s brother watched as Elinor left the sherrif’s office. He followed her to the bank, where she worked as a teller. Elinor, he thought was beautiful, he knew that if Tagg found out she had been to sheriff’s office; no matter the reason, he would her til she was black and blue. He thought maybe she had just stopped at the sheriff’s office to drop something off or pick it up; that seemed reasonable to him.

Sheriff Tom Lord had just finished his rounds of the town, when he bumped into Elinor:

“Elinor, what brings you to this end of town?”

“Tom, I had to warn you, Tagg Newton and his gang are planning to rob the gold shipment.”

“You’re taking a mighty big chance, Elinor, even talking to me.”

“Yes, I know Tom, but Tagg has to be stopped, and you are the law here.”

“Elinor, be careful, I saw Tom’s brother near my office; whatever he see,s he informs Tagg.”

“I know Tom, but there are no choices for me other than to tell you the entire truth.”

Tom turned to enter his office when he heard shots fired: Elinor lay face down. Tom waited a moment to see if any blood appeared before he could take action. Elinor stirred, and Tom gave a sigh of relief; she was alive. He hurried out, his Colt .45 drawn; he saw no one. He carried her in his arms to the Doc’s. Doc, checked her out:

“Miss Elinor, I sure am glad whoever did this was a lousy shot. A few days' rest and you’ll

be your old self again.”

The Doc informed Tom Lord that Miss Elinor was fine, other than being scared. Tom decided to hide her out in a line shack up in the mountains, until he could determine who had tried to kill her. Obviously, it had to be Tagg or his brother; the sheriff was inclined to think it was the brother. Tagg had not been in town that day.

Tom snuck Elinor out of town in a covered wagon; rode around town hoping that Tagg’s brother would think she was dead. That was the only way to protect her. Tom headed out of town, toward the mountains. The wagon, with mules pulling it, went up the mountain slowly. The apex of the mountain stood a small, line shack. Tom looked around carefully, hoping he had given Tagg’s brother the slip. He helped Elinor out of the covered wagon, then brought in supplies. Tom was sure no one knew about the shack; he found it by accident two years ago. He decided that he would spend as much time as possible with Elinor, without putting the town in jeopardy.

Tagg Newton rode into town several days later; he planned to murder the sheriff. His spurs jangled as he strode toward Tom’s office. Tom’s deputy was in the office:

“Where’s the sheriff boy? I wanna talk to him.” He patted his holster Colt .45.

“Mr. Newton, Sheriff Lord won’t be back till the day after tomorrow; he took some prisoners

up to Dallas for trial.”

Tagg thought: ‘That boy is hiding something, his voice is shaky. I don’t want to scare him, but maybe he will talk on his own with a gun pointed at his middle.’ The thought left his mind just as quickly as it had come; Tom Lord jumped out of the covered wagon:

“Tagg, leave the boy alone; you want to pick on somebody, pick on me.”

Tagg knew that if he drew his gun, he was a dead man. Tom was one of the quickest draws in Texas.

The gold shipment arrived later that night; soldiers armed with Winchesters guarded it. Tom spoke quickly to the Captain in charge of the detail:

“The gold is going to have to be hidden; the Newton Gang is aware of this shipment. That

wagon is an open invitation. I think if we put it in that wagon over there, it can ship tonight.”

The captain knew about the Newton Gang; they were dangerous, some said just plain mean.

Just as Tom Lord finished speaking, they heard loud whoops. Dust rose as horses galloped down the main street. Fires began to rage on rooftops; Tom Lord knew that Tagg Newton was walking into his own trap. Winchester’s began to fire from the covered wagon marked US Infantry. Tagg knew then that Elinor had betrayed him. He drew his Colt .45 and began to fire at the wagon. He felt the sting of a bullet crease his shoulder. His brother rode up, yanked on the bridle, and they rode out of town.

Tom jumped into his saddle, riding out of town at a fast lope; he had to get to the line shack before Tagg figured out where he had hidden Elinor. She was in greater danger than he thought. He arrived at the shack, knocked on the door. Elinor opened it, her eyes wide with fright. Tom hoped he was wrong; Tagg had figured things out, and he was there in the shack. Tagg shoved Elinor out of the line of fire. Tom drew his Colt .45, aimed, and fired. Tagg dropped his Colt, his hand bleeding profusely. Tom, checked Elinor to be sure she was not shot. He put handcuffs on Tagg, put him in the wagon.

Weeks later, Tom Lord and Elinor were married in the small white clapboard church. Adios to the Newton Gang.