Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-07-26

taken for wandering musician, for Un-
der my arm | carried an ancient fiddle,
but beneath my ragged jacket were two
of the best American revolvers, and be-
meath the jacket upon the bosom of my
shirt, was fastened the star of the detec-
tive service of the United States.
My plan was simple, and yet [ believed
it to be all that was needed. proposed
to visit the island DIS travelling fiddler,
seeking a New Years festival at which
hoped, [ should gain admission to the
dance where Dirk Sutton and his COM
panions were to be found, [ trusted to
my own wit and the circumstances of the
evening to afford me an opportunity OF
beguiling the men on to American soil.
Red Fox Island lies little more than
a mile distant from the south shore of
the river, and little less than the same
from the northern or Canadian coast.
1t is small bit of ground containing
less than thousand acres of land, wood
ed and clear, and supports but two fam
lilies, that of Branch Sutton, Dirk's
brother, a fisherman-fa farmer, at the
north end, and that of Olin Dakin, q
Norwegian, at the south end
The dance, or merrymaking, which /
proposed to attend, was to be held at
Branch's cabin.
Just as the first set had formed upon
the rough floor within the snug house,
and the regular musician-a half breed
from the Indian village on the main
land--had drawn his bow across the
strings the first time, entered the room
and cried:
"God save all here, and our queen I"
whats the queen to us ?" growled
the host, as he left his partner-a bright
Canadian girl, with a most substantial
pair of ankles showing beneath hershort,
red skirt-and moved toward me- "Good
evening friend What would you?"
tThat | might earn afiddlers penny, +"
said [, unbagging my ancient violin.
81 beg you let me join the merrymak-
ing"
"But we have one fiddle now" said
Sutton, doubtfully, when he was inter
rupted by one of the boys of the "gang, ="
who cried:
"Glye the scraper chance Two
squealers make more noise than one.
Grease your bow, my man, and go at
it p
Without further parley I obeyed, and
the revelry of the night began.
say revelry--I might say rioting. AS
the hours passed, the fun became fast
furious, and thescore ofpeople who filled
the small house made more noise than
would a hundred in a hotel on shore.
The girls laughed, shouted, sang, and
danced; the boys romped with their
partners, stealing kisses while they
shouted over the feat, drank, swore, and
danced.
Sometimes they even quarreled; and
as the time few, the liquor began to
make itself felt on both women and
men.
When supper was announced at mid
night all present, except myself, were
half drunk. I saw that whatever was to
be done must be done quickly.
A plain farmer meal was spread In an
adjoining room. Dancers and hddlers
ate together. As we stood side by side
around the long table, I turned and
spoke to buxom girl at my side.
Mistress, 1 can't stop playing to
dance, but I'll tell We if L could there's
Lot a gossoon in the room could bate
mel and winked knowingly.
+" What's that, fiddler p" cried Dirk,
from across the table. eyer dancer %
"Yis, mister" I replied; +" an good
one. [ can dance, or jump, or run, to
bate any man I ever met yit!'
A roar from the assembled company
answered this statement, and one of the
gang shouted:
eyer meats got inter yer head, cat
quit Go back to yer stooll''
I felt that my time had come. Quicker
than thought [ dropped the glass held,
and turned to the scoffer.
50 Ill run We race, ye mud-turtle from
here to the American shore and back,
for ten-dollar note p
A sudden hush fell upon the room for
an instant; then Branch Sutton roared
out, Run, Jem Yell beat him sure p
aud all the others gathered around and
urged their comrade on.
sc I will run" said he, separating him.
self from the others with all of a drunk
en- mans bravado; San I'll bet We twen-
ty dollars, if ye will p
[ was about to reply when Dirk inter-
posed:
Get out! "You're too full to run.
III 1ddle-de-de6 wants to lose his money,
I'll win it, % and he shook greenback in
my face.
"See here, mister said I, "you fell
lers is a-cha6in' me, but I'll tell ye what
I've got just thirty seven dollars In my
pocket, an eff the entire crowd'H put up
twice that amount against it in one O.
these yere gals hands, I'll run We all
from here to the shore and return %
A perfect bedlam of cries arose, the
money was produced, 1 deposited my
stake in the hands of of the most sober
of the women, and five minutes later
stood in line with Dirk Sutton and his
entire gang, close to the hemlocks that
fringed the islet, awaiting the word
600"
"Across and back, mind p said Dirk;
and smiled and nodded my head.
Then came the word, and we sprane
away.
The game was minel
For short time I easily outstripped
them all, for I was feet of foot, but af.