The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-30

WAS telling the .HefterS OF the Incl
dent that evening, when Mrs. Peltel
remarked that the neighborhood haC
never been peaceable one since the
Croly family moved into it, and that she
would be very glad to have them leave
She had scarcely finished speaking,
when the door opened and in marched
q big, red-facctl wonlan, whom / had
never before seen. but immediately
recognized by the strong resemblance to
her iii-favosed son. Without stopping
to speak to any one. she planted herself
directly in front of me.
''Bes You the schoolma' amp. she
asked.
Il am, | replied
.'What d'you try to kill my boy forP"
Without giving me time. to reply, she
proceeded to abuse, growing more ex-
cited every moment
''Well, let me tell you," she con.:nu-
ed, shaking her ponderous fist in such
close proximity to my nose, that it made
me tremble for the future existence of
that useful ornament, people needn't
think they re going 10 beat my boy to
death, least of all woman Jest wait
till my man gifts home; he's comm
Saturday; he'll burn your dirty old
SchOol-house over your headi Dive
hear what | say?' she shrieked
L made no reply to this abuse rs
considered it useless to do So So far
she had made no use of profane Ian
guage, but ut this juncture she broke
into a fearful storm of oaths; swearing
in the most shocking manner AT me, al
Mrs. Pelter for permitting me to remain
in her house, and ut the children for
going to school TO such mean woman.
who did nothing but murder people
MIR. Pelter WAS absent, but George, Il
tall, slim boy of sixteen, rose indignant
" from his seat, and told the woman he
would not permit such language used
in his fathers house. He told her she
had better take herself OFF.
This threw her into a greater passion
than ever; she seized the boy by his
coat-collar and shook him as if he had
no more weight than an infant.
''I'll have none of yer sass, young
mani" she screamed. jest keep yer
tongue in yer head, will YEP" and with
another terrific shake. she let the dazed
and bewildered boy go.
Still shaking her fist in an angry
manner, she backed out of the door,
saying she was going to catch that Lou
Tompson, John Hidden and Charley
Monroe. and teach them not to beat her
boy. But the boys, knowing what to
expect, kep t'well out of her way, and
she never had the satisfaction of wreaE.
ing her vengeance upon them.
There was considerable excitement IN
the neighborhood, lest damage should
be done TO property in the night time by
old Mr.. CrOly, who was a desperate
character and had, previous TO his COM
ing into the neighborhood, served two
terms in the penitentiary.
Four bows - George Pelter, Louis
Tompson, John Hidden and Charley
Monroe-laid secret plan to sleep
nightly in the school-houSe, expecting it
to be set on fire. and determined if pos
sible 10 catch the culprit in the very
act. About nine O'Clock on the evening
after Croly returned, they crept to the
building, provided with ropes and
blankets, the former to use in securing
their prisoner. and the latter to serve rs
a bed.
The situation was novel and pleasing
to the boys, because it was so wholly
unlike anything they had ever partiei-
pated in before. The time was passed,
until sleep overcame them, in telling
stories and relating anecdotes they had
either heard or read.
About twelve O'Clock of this same
night Lou Tompson, who was very
light sleeper, was awakened by low.
creaking noise, as of some one trying
to raise a window, softly.
He quickly aroused his companions,
who were on the alert in an instant.
A moment later a sound was heard,
as of some light bundle thrown into the
room. Then they were sure they heard
a man trying to draw himself through
the window.
1t was an unusually dark night, and
nothing could be discerned at yards
distance. To Judge by the sound of the
mans footsteps. he had moved to the
farther corner of the room and was
making slight rustling noise.
Hes brought some shavings along"
George whispered in low key.
''HuSh!' whispered Charley, and
nothing more was said.
Suddenly there was a flash of very
bright light, shooting up nearly TO the
ceiling
With bound and yell the four
bows sprang toward the man, whose
form was now plainly visible in the
glaring light.
Without even stopping to look around
he made frantic leap, and succeeded
when John, who was foremost, seized
him BIZ the legs and pulled him back so
that he fell with Il heavy thud on to the
floor
He fought like tiger, but was soon
bound hand and foot. Lou Tompson
extinguished the flames while George
Pelter ran home after his father team,
with which he soon returned.
'rhe boys placed their prisoner in the
wagon and conveyed him to the house
of MIR Pelter, from whence he was taken
to the nearest town the following day.
where summary Justice was dealt out to
him,
The remainder of the Croly family
left the neiQhborhood few days after,
and heard nothing more concerning
them during my STAY in Texas. Their
departure was hailed with delight by
ali, and peace and quiet were again
restored in both neighborhood and
school.
i left for my Northern home, and no
tidinos ever reached me concerning my
Texas friends until eight years later.
| was travelling on an eastern-bound
railway train. when Young gentleman
of fine appearance came up and spoke
to me. j replied that i could not recall
his name, though his face seemed
strangely familiar.
he said that his name was John Hid
den, and that he had been pupil of
mine during the winter taught school
in Texas.
I greeted him warmly and invited him
to share my seat, which he did. He
then told me that his home was still in