The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1874-03-12

lures in the twilight as general
locks over battlefield before the
engagement begins. Then he dis
mounted, and kneeling upon the
leaves prayed with apostolic fervor
for victory over "the hosts Of sin and
the devil" When at last he got in
to the saddle again the winter sun
was sending its first horizontal beams
into his eyes and all the eastern sky
was ablaze. Maeruder had the
habit Of turning tie whole universe
to spiritual account, and now as he
descended the hill he made the wood.
ring with John Wesley's hymn
which might have been composed IN
the presence of such scene:
"]sun of Righteousness arise
with healing In thy wing;
To my deseased, my fAinting soul.
Life and salvation bring.
These clouds Of pride and SIN dispel,
BY thy all piercing beam
Tighten my eyes with faith; my heart
With holy hopes inRame -
By the time he had finished thi.
second stanza The bridle-pa,h that he
was following brought him into 9
dense forest of beech and maple, and
he saw walking toward him two
stout men, none other than our old
acquaintances, Bill McConkey and
Jake Singer.
"Looky yer" said Bill, catching
the preachers horse by the bride
"you git down.
"What fer?' said Magruder.
"We're goin' to lick you tell you
promise to GO back and never stick
your head into the Hissawachee Bot.
tom agin.'
.sBut | won't promise"
"Then we'll put fnishment to
ye."
"You are two to one. Will you
give me time to draw my coat?"
"Wal, yes, l low we will"
The preacher dismounted with
quiet delibe,ation, tied his bride to
= beach limb, offering mental pray
er to the God of Samson, and then
laid his coat across the saddle.
"My friends" he said, 81 don't
want to whip you. ! advise you now
to let me alone. As an American
citizen l have a right to go where !
please. My father was a reyolu-
tionary soldier, and l mean to fight
for my rights
"Shet up your jaw said Jake.
swearing and approaching the preach
er from one side, while Bill came up
on the other. Magruder was one Of
those short, stocky men, who have
no end of muscular force and cndur.
ance. In his unregenerate days he
had been celebrated for his victories
in several rude encounters. Never
seeking a fight even then, he had
nevertheless, when any ambitious
champion came from afar for the pur-
pose of testing his strength, fell
himself bound to ''give him what he
came after" He had now greatly
the advantage Of the two bullies il
his knowledge of the art Of boxing.
Before Jake had fairly finished hi.
preliminary swearing the preacher
had surprised him by delivering q
blow that knocked him down. Blu,
Bill had taken advantage Of this te
strike Magruder heavily on the cheek
Jake having felt the awful weight O
Magrsder's fist, was a little slow il
coming to time, and the preacher hac
| . chance to give Bill most polemi
cal blow on his nose; then turning
| suddenly he rushed like mad bul
upon Singer, and dealt him one tire
mendous blow that fractured tw,
ribs and felled him to the earth. Blu
| Bill struck Magruder behind, knocked
him over, and threw himself upol
him after the fashion of the Western
free fight. Nothing saved Magru
der but his immense strength. HI
rose right up with Bill upon him
and then by deft use of his leg
tripped his antagonist and hurle,
him to the ground. He did not dar
take advantage Of his fall, howeve,
for Jake had regained his feet AM
was coming up on him cautiously
But when Singer saw Magruder rush
ing At him again, he made a speed
retreat into the bushes, leaving Mag
ruder to fight it out with Bin, who
despite his sorry looking nose, wa
again ready. He now s'fought shy,
and kept retreating slowly backwar
and calling out, "Come up on him b.
hind, Jake! Come up behindv' Br
the demoralized Jake had someho1
got : superstitious notion that th
preacher bristled with fists before an
behind, having as many arms as
Hindoo deity. Bill kept backing vi
til he tripped and fell over : bit ,
brush, and then picked himself up an
made Oh, exolaiming:
:. II ain't agoin' to try to handle hi
alnel Hs must hev the very dev
Into him."