The newsboys delivered the Daily Iowegian all over town, selling to merchants for resale, and to people on the streets, the newsboys crying out “THE STRANGER TELLS ALL!” and “THE WIDOW AND THE BLUE DEMON!”

 

Townsfolk of Centerville were already anxious to learn about the stranger, but who was this widow? Who was this “Blue Demon?”

 

Ms. Winona had written about it all, and by mid morning all copies of the Daily Iowegian were sold out.

 

* * * * *

 

The posse continued to scour the countryside, stopping at farms, and looking for signs of the Blue Demon’s presence. Sheriff Cowan visited with Widow Molly to get her story, but her story only confirmed the kind of man they were dealing with. What was foremost on the sheriff’s mind was where he went and where to find him. 

 

* * * * *

 

Tycoon Harrington crossed paths with Baron Anderson again and they were both bone tired from riding all through the night, but knew they had to keep going.

 

“Anything?” Baron Anderson asked.

 

“I stopped at one farm,” the Tycoon said, “and the farmer there told me he saw a man dressed like a soldier riding towards the Chariton River. When I described the Blue Demon the farmer said yeah, looked just like that. Tipped his hat and kept riding.”

 

“So the Blue Demon is a coward,” the Baron said. “Only prey’s on old widowed women that can’t fight back.”

 

“I’m ready to show that snake how a Colt .45 matches up to that big knife he’s carrying.”

 

“Well, then let’s keep riding.”

 

The Tycoon and the Baron crossed the Chariton River and as they were climbing up the bank of the river they heard a growl. They stopped riding then they heard it again.”

 

“What kind of animal is that?” The Tycoon asked.

 

“That’s no animal,” the Baron said. “It’s a man. And not just one man, it’s two.”

 

The Tycoon and the Baron spurred their horses and galloped ahead to the open meadow. That’s when they saw the two men fighting. It was a mountain man, and the other definitely the man who fit the description of the Blue Demon.

 

They reined their horses to a halt. “Is that Mountain Ed?” The Tycoon said

 

“It sure is,” the Baron said. “He must have been trapping the river.”

 

“He must have read the flyer.”

 

“I didn’t know Mountain Ed could read.”

 

In no time Mountain Ed had the Blue Demon subdued and a knife to his neck. The Tycoon and the Baron quickly dismounted and helped secure their wanted man.

 

“Mountain Ed,” the Tycoon said. “It’s been a long time, and you sure came along at the right time.”

 

Mountain Ed reached down and grabbed the Blue Demon by the front of his coat and shoved him over to the mountain man’s mule.

 

“Indeed,” the Baron said. “We certainly appreciate you helping us apprehend our prisoner.”

 

Mountain Ed looked sternly at the Baron. “What do you mean ‘our prisoner?’” Ed tied the hands of the Blue Demon and encouraged him up to the back of his mule. “I’m the only one going to claim the reward for his capture.”

 

The Tycoon and the Baron glanced at each other.

 

“Well, now Ed,” the Tycoon said. “I don’t know about any such reward. We consider this our civic duty.”

 

“I ain’t no civil servant,” Ed said. “I’m taking this fella to Centerville. And if you want him in your jailhouse, then there’ll be a reward.”

 

The Tycoon and the Baron glanced at each other again. The Baron nodded. “All right. We’ll see what we can do. And we’ll ride behind you to see that all goes well.”

 

“Suit yourself,” Mountain Ed said, then started leading the mule and prisoner away.

 

The Tycoon and the Baron mounted their horses to follow.

 

“How much do you think he’s going to want?” The Tycoon asked.

 

They Baron nudged his horse. “Well, the price of a bath, for one, which he badly needs. A bottle of whiskey, and a visit to Madam Lorrie’s brothel. That would at least be a good start.”

 

* * * * *

 

Magnate Lawson crossed paths with the Baron and the Tycoon and was happy to see the Blue Demon apprehended. He was even happier to learn about the existence of Mountain Ed. “My sister is going to love this story.”

 

Lawson rode out to find the rest of the posse and Sheriff Cowan to let them know that the Blue Demon had been captured and was on his way back to Centerville. The magnate knew that not only was the county a safer place, but that Centerville and all the other communities could resume to their normal lives. But for now it was time to celebrate.

 

* * * * *

 

The schools all over Appanoose County reopened, commerce resumed, and the townsfolk of Centerville were talking joyfully about the defeat of evil and the image of Mountain Ed walking through town with the Blue Demon secured on the back of his mule.

 

The headline in the Daily Iowegian read “BLUE DEMON CAPTURED” with the subtitle “Mountain Ed Town Hero.”

 

Mountain Ed had no problem securing his desired bounty, put up personally by the Tycoon and Baron Anderson, and Ms. Lorrie had a hot bath waiting for him.

 

R. Guffey could finally ride into the countryside to the farm of G. Eddy to see the steam tractor, the first of its kind to ever grace the soil of Appanoose County. The mind of the implement dealer was churning up ideas to bring these massive machines to the Centerville market and create an agricultural revolution.

 

Ms. Carrie found the womenfolk of Centerville in a particularly festive mood and arriving at her dress shop to purchase the latest fashions. Ms. Cindy and Ms. Marlene were only two of her customers that day to grace the finest establishment of women’s apparel in the city.

 

Ms. Kay’s cafe was also bustling with patrons, spending more and eating more than usual, but when Mountain Ed showed up for her renowned breakfasts, she made sure he ate his steak and eggs in the back alley.

 

But no one in Centerville was happier than M. Miller, who could not only resume the opening night of Cozy Theater, but completely scratched the Shakespeare play from the marquee and scrambled to write his own play, “The Desperate Blue Demon.” His only challenge was choosing who would play the roles because once the word was out, the entire town wanted to audition. One thing was for certain, however, Miller himself would play the role of the Hero Mountain Ed.

 

* * * * *

 

Season 2 of CENTERVILLE 1884 COMING SOON!