Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1883-10-11
The Squatter Wresties.
From the Arkansaw Traveller. |

An old fellow with grizzly beard and
lips indelibly dyed with tobacco juice,
sat on log near rude house in Arkan-
eas. A "stranger," well dressed and
muscled in no delicate way, rode up,
dismounted, tied his horse TO a sapling,
approached the old man, and said:
81 am lost"
"Wall, did 1 say yer want"
The stranger took off his coat and
rolled up his sleeves. 81 know all
about YOU" he said. "You are an
Arkansaw squatter, and have been living
here since '45 Hundreds of benighted
beings, lost in these Internal woods,
have begged you for information con.
cerning the road they desired to follow,
and you have given them all kinds OF
evasive replies. I am plize- fighter,
and have been sent here by an eastern
syndicate to thump you into civilized
submission. Now, 1 don't like to pun
mel an old man, and, propose to give
you chance. How would you advise
me to get out OF this community ?"
"Id advise yer ter ride"
"Come now, none of your foolishness.
Which way would you advise me to
ride 2"
Gas fast as yer KEN"
81 see that I'll have to discharge my
duty. l thought at first that I'd scare
you by saying that was a prize-fghter.
/ am only an unpretentious citizen, and
have come long way to look for the
house of Emanuel Peters"
" Wall, why don't yer look ?"
"l have looked"
"Look aein."
g. But which way must look ?"
"Outen your eyes, reckon"
cold man, I'll have to fight you"
"All right" and turning round he
yelled. "Ob, Tom, tell yer muir an the
ch1llun ter come out here, for we're
gwine ter have so fun. Fetch the gun
an dog with yer.
81 don't want to hurt you, ole man. u
"Don't be skeered. You won't hurl
me-"
"But [ don't want you to hurt me.
"Then mosey."
days | have been looking for the house
of Emanuel Peters and have been put
off by such fellows as you and have de-
cided not to stand it any longer. Now,
| am going to jump on you," and with
out giving the old man time to reply he
seized him. The old fellow exhibited
remarkable activity and in moment ha6
thrown the young man against the
ground with force that made his teeth
chatter. He was up again in an instant.
This time he secured better hold. He
danced around in way of which the OLD
man could hardly keep track. Tom apd
the old woman came out, but did moi
bring the dog and gun.
Watch his capers, pap" said the
old lady. "Bug him fur he's mighty
peart."
Finally the young man downed the old
fellow, sat on him and asked:
" Now, will you tell me where can
find Emanuel Peters ?"
81 amt never objected ter tellin' yer
whar the old man is
Yes, you did, " and he held the old
fellow in a manner not TO be mistaken toi
gentleness.
eyer never axed whar the old man
was. Yer axed me whar was his house,
The old man amt got no house. Tho
high water washed it over on anothe,
teller's land, an since that he has been
rentiu' it.
swell, where's the old man,"
"I'm' him."
"Great goodness" said the young fel.
low, arising, I'm your son and haven!
seen you since was child"
Well, I'll be dog gon!" exclaimed
the old fellow, grasping his sons hand
:" lthoughtscmething strange when l fell
yer grip. | mouter knowed then that
yer belonged ter the family. Muir, slute
yer son. Tom, fetch the bottle an nv
yaller coat. This is occasion for put.
tin on style"