The Tall Men (short story)

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"The Tall Men" is a short story written by William Faulkner in 1941. It begins with two men, government officials, visiting a house to serve a warrant for two brothers who have not registered for selective service. One of the officials, a marshal, is partial to the house owner, who has been involved in a terrible accident at work. The other official, a bondsman, is anxious to arrest the men and return. But when Buddy, the homeowner and father of the brothers, dies, the bondsman realizes that attempting to continue his duties at such a somber time was immoral. (correction - Buddy does not die, his leg is amputated)