The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-12-06
Written for the Free Trader,
DANDY BILL.
BY TIMOTHY HAY.

ttiHtl INC bCUu.
Can you make ont whether its line boat
or noty"
NO, il Amt line boat; its the old Otter
| can tell hy the white horse in the lead, an
Dandy Bill's The Teller what drives the team"
This announcement brought the fellow who
had been speaklngt To Shorty, with two or three
ether drivers, to the bank Of the canal, when
one of them remarked:
It's Dandy, surc's you're born. Now, tel.
lers, we'll have jamb0ree! Sandy Ryan's IN
the barn. an he's been BLOWN that the first
time he meets Dandy Bill he's goin to de
mor'li2e the ga!oot an don't you fail to re-
kerlect, Sandy's cad when he gifts on the war
path"
well, don't YOU forgit it," said Shorty, who
was little fellow, scarcely five feet in height
like the Irishman's pig, "llttle but Guild, -
hell have his claws full, for | hear Dandy s
dutier--a regular scrcccher, when he gifts
riled."
whats all this talkin' bout tightin'' Who
wants to whip Sandy Ryan, eh? I'll lick the
crowd in just two minits!" said Sandy, emery
ing froE the barn door. He was u strong built
young fellow, with thick bulLncck. and his
hair, which was Of a fiery red, wa cropped
close to his head. He wore "A heavy, double
breasted flannel shirt, with fancy bosom, and
his tall crown hat, which was Cayed III on each
side, was tipped forward in a raEish style, the
rim Of it nearly resting on his nose, and his
pants were graced with a roll Of about four
inches at the bottom Of each leg.
Nobody wants to fight: hut you said you
was going to scoop Dandy Bill when you run
cross him,-an here he come now" replied
one of the drivers
Sandy looked down the canal, and then ex-
claimed; "Oh, no the bold hcro Now, you
chaps just keep shady, an I'll just par'lysc
him; III take die starch MI ont o tl,c dainty
! I'll take HIM DOWN from his hl4n notions IN
'lucidate to him that faint healthy for an arts
sJokrat to come among Us with his fine airs
.the plgeon.tOed rooster Stand clear or some
o you'll git hurt m mad, smell bclud" w
Then Sandy jumped up, cracking his heels to-
. gclhcr, and gave a yell that would have made
a Modoc blush.
While We are waiting for the boat to arriveI
at the barn, it will he we'll to take a look at
Dandy Bill, who is accompanied by large
Newfoundland dOg,-WhlCh he calls Patscy -
his close companion day and night Dandy
Bill is ii young man Of about two-and-twcnty i
stands six feet and an inch in his stockings |
rather slim-built, though possessing remarka
ably broad shoulders His black, curly hair
sets Oft to good advantage his high, broad fore
head, and his eyes, which are great black one,
seem almost as an open book from which you
could read his very thoughts Whenever he
was angry though eXterlorly seeming cool
and selfpOsSesscd, his eyes seemed to fairly
blaze, and no driver had ever yet dared to look
into them without tlinching, His parents had
died when he was mere lad, and being
thrown upon his own resources, he went to
sea, and in his wanderings had visited MANY
parts OF the world; but becoming tired of the
monotony of a sailors life, he sought other
work, and finding nothing better to do we find
him on the raging canal.
1t happened that on this trip Miss Belle
Lennox, young lady of fifteen, was TIE guest
OF the captains wife Her mother who wa.
quite wealthy, had made serious objections at
first but she having been an old schOOlmateI /
of the captains wife, at last yielded to Miss |
Bellies entreaies, and allowed her to 90 on the
/ very romantic voyage down the canal and
Mack. Grl.likc she had taken great fancy
20 Dandy Blll's black eyes and was very friend.
ly towards him
as they came up Sandy Ryan placed himself
Immediately in trent Of Dandy Bill exclaim-
ing:
so you're Dandy Bill, that puts himself up
to be the highCockalorum of the ditch, are
you? Well, now, | tell you, you're chuck full
of conceit, an I'm gong to take 1t ont o. YOU
My names Sandy Ryan, I'm a red game an
| heerd yer said yer could wolop mo SO now t
your chance, my huckeberry" Ii
ravnr coil on,-,l,r,r ,,f ,I,o /,
Dandy Bill. Get out Of the way, and let me {
pass" \
Don't yer call me liar!' cried Sandy. III Ia
teach yer a lesson yer won't forgit; look out t
for yerself' As he SAID this he made a furi- |
Gus lunge at Dandy, which, however, went
wide OF the mark, for Dandy, quick AS a fash, .
struck up his arm, and the next instant Sandy 4
was stretched his full length upon the ground Il
Then seizlng HIM by the nape of the neck and a
the seat of his brecChes Dandy pitched him t
fully six feet out into the canal. As lie got v
back again upon the bank, shaking the water Y
from him like great dog, Dandy sad, well b
are you satisfied, or do you want another Ii
dOse?" Ia
Sandy looked at HIM a moment, and then re a
Piled: Dye think I'm a hog; | know when Il
! get enOughi" 10
"IIurrah for Dandy Billy yelled Shorty a
who had been watching the proceeding. San. il
Vy HCltcly upon hin, Out shorty rush q
I'D into the barn, closing and barring the door d
nnpd Dandy Bill started to catch up with his a
cam. Il
Nothing further transpired, aside from the Il
ordinary events of everyday canal life, until
the following night During the day they a
passed two or three boats going the same way "
as themselves, for Dandy's four horses were as
good as any on the canal, and when so inclin. L
ed he could pass any boat that could be seen d
of min. I'm pN-.l ,,- L. -,
running into Jacks lock, Dandy Bill was hail
ed by familiar voice, and looking up he be t.
held his old friend, "Cayuga Dick, just driv- h
inc up to the lOLk from above "