Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1883-11-15

sort O. bluff, an when you commence
to give 'em advice, like as not they'll
tell you to pop your whip an go
ahead. know that thar's some O.
them that would just as soon shoot you
as to look at you"
We talked until bedtime, and when
| went to sleep, | dreamed that the
beautiful little girl sat reading to me.
The next day travelled around con-
siderably. met several men who CON
fessed that they had been cutting tim
Der from government land, but that
they did not know it was crime, and
promised me that they would desist. |
was repeatedly warned, though, con.
cerning certain parties who would
treat my kindness with contempt.
One day heard that the Simmons
boys, quite large family of semi
outlaws, were cutting timber at night
and rafting it down the river. Near
tho place whore the work was going
on, stood an old deserted cabin, and
telling the captain that | would spend
the night there, left his hospitablc
abode, and after walking about mile
and half, reached the place. | built
up big fire and sat down to begin my
lonely watch. A heavy rain storm
came up, and the flashes of lightning,
illuminating for second at n time my
gloomy surroundings, made wicrd
picture. The darkness of the night
was so intense that it seemed to knock
at my door and demand admittanco.
While | lay on the floor, smoking,
something actually tapped at the door.
Come in" said, and Pig, the cap.
tain's little girl, entered, dripping
wet.
"Why, Pig, what on earth brought
you here?'
"Leave here, Mr.. Boots, for they
are coming after YOU"
"WhO?"
"The Simmons boys. They came ia
our house just now and asked for you,
an when papa said you were not there,
they said they would find you an hang
you. slipped out while they were
talkin' an come to tell you. Go away
as quick as you can," and before !
could recover from my surprise, she
had disappeared in the darkness.
put on my overcoat, and stepped tC
the door. | heard them coming,
Flight would be fatal, defense useless
Suddenly thought of the loft over.
head at which | had been gazing, and
in another moment, carcely know
how, | had climbed up aud stretched
myself on the frail boards. had moi
more than settled myself when the
wretches burst into the room below.
"Oh, he's aroun' here summers
said one fellow who seemed to be- the
leader, mean looking rascal, for
looked through u crack and shivcrcd
"Reckin he's out maxim his rouu's, y
said member of the gang. "Lie,
whut did yer do with the rope?n
scot it here
"Reckin afore mornin' the cap'r
will wush he hadn'ter interfered will
other fokls' business"
"Tied him hard, did yer Jake?n
80 hard he KANT move, an lef
him layin' on the edge o. the blun, JUS
above the house. III he wauster rol,
off an kill hisself, all right"
"Whar was the little gal all the
time, boys?"
"In bed, Ireckin, fur | didn't see her
BY Cd, I'd er tied her, too, of I'd q
seed her. Now, felers, the next thin!
is to find the gov'ment chap. Who
got the bottle? Lige, say yer got
quart that amt been toch?"
"Yas, an as red as tarrapin'
oye."
"Wall, pass her aroun' an less tai
her.
The bottle was passed and they al
drank freely.
"Glad he built fire." said on
whom l recognized as Lige. "Reckil
he's gone down ter the Slearin'. Wal
while an he'll be in"
"Tell yer whut's less do, fellers,
said short red.headed fellow whom
would like to have shot. LESS set tn
cabin afre an when he sees it he'l
come up ter see whut's the matter"
Then we'll have ter stay out in tn
rain"
"Wall, gosh dang it, who keros fu
the rain? Whut do yer say, LigeP Sa
the word an off she goes,n
} "You fellers amt got no sense
Don't yer know that Of yer'd fire tn
cabin the feller'd know we was airte
him nm take ter his heels"
"Wall, whut'll we do? Set aroun
here all night an waltz"
"Never mind" said Lige. "JakC
climb up thar an git some dry board
fur the fire." and tho fellow addresse
began to climb up. He had just take
hold of board near me, and was jus
on the eve of shooting him and takin
my ch ances, when Lige said:
"Never mind, Jake. 1t won't do te
have too bright fire, fur he'll thin
that somebody's here. Who's got tn
, bottle. Well, d it, why don't ye
; pass herP Think we're lot of cattleF
Again they drank freely. | kne'
: that if they kept on drinking migl
T have some chance of escape, and fo
| the first time In my life | regarde
3 whisky as n friend. The though OF
> Cured to me that | could make hol
in the roof and crawl out. began tn
work at once.
whats that noiseP" asked Lige.
"It's Jake rubin his big hoof o