The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-02-13

| inc stones into the broad stream, each
vieing with his neighbor in the endeavor
| to pitch the missile at the farthest dis
| lance from the shore, when tall. rug
| ged-bult Nermonter. direct from the
green hills, suddenly made b appear
ance in their midst, and for awhile
remained quiet observer OF theI- -eove
ments.
He was a very brawny, strong-look-
ing Yankee. and was very decently
clad. The efforts of the little party had
been exhibited over and over again,
when the stranger picked up half a
brick which lay near him, and giving it
jerk, 1t fell into the water long way
beyond the line which had as yet been
reached by the foremost OF the crowd.
AT the conclusion of this feat, loud
"bravo." went up from half a dozen
voices around him.
Itwas a cold clear day in October.
and the men determined not TO be out
done. renewed their attempts, but the
Vermonter, without saying a syllable to
any one. continued 10 pitch the pebbles
far out into the stream, VIII ch seemed
to annoy one i'm \ green Jacket, the APP
parent leader of the gang. who declared
he wouldn't be beaten bya elbow right
straight out of the wools, nohow; and
sliding up to the stranger, he deter
mined to make his acquaintance.
.Nh here do YOU come f.om, neigh.
borP" he asked.
..Me? Wal, 1 halls from Vermont,
jes' now, friend"
"4in't been in these parts long, /
rec on?n
"Wal-no. Not edzactly yere-but
up aud daown. sorter.
s.iis. so 'spcsed.
sYaas," continued the green'un,
carelessly. and seielng large billet of
wood, twirled it over his head, and it
landed several rods from the shore in
the water.
you've little strength IN your
arms. neighbor.
..S0ne pumpkins with them flip
pers, stranger: up in our taown a
munth ago. driv them knuckles right
strait thur board moren a ninch'n
ha thick.
.Haw, haw." shouted the hearers,
the man in the green jacket laughing
the loudest.
..May be You don't believe its''
tNot much," answered the crowd.
Eve amt tery green down here in
York ice amt" said the fellow in the
green jacket; we've been about, You
bet"
"Wal, jes' look here, friend" con-
tlnued the Vermonter, in the most
plausible manner, 1--WE. in aour country,
we've got purity big river, considerin'
I'M, 4 ~ l1nI and h<,
you've hearn on it. Wal, / hove a man
he came down fair and square on
t'other side"
ala, ha. ha." yelled his auditors.
"Wal. naow, you may Iaff, but l kin
do 1t agin."
..Do WHAT" said the green jacket.
quickly.
Il ken take and hove you across
that river yonder, jes' like open and
shet.''
..Bet you ten dollars of it."
..Done," said the Yankee, and draw.
ing forth bill upon a broken down.
east bank he covered the shin-plaster.
ken We swim. feller?"
Like duck" said the green jacket
and without further parley the YER
monter seized the knowing Yorker
stoutly by the nape of the neck and
seat of the pants, jerked him from his
| oolhold, and with an almost superhu-
man effort dashed him heels over head,
from the end Of the docks, some ten
yards in the Hudson
A terrific shout rang through the
crowd, as he fioundered in the water,
and amidst the cheers and screams of
his companions, the dueked loafer put
back to the shore and scratched up
the bank. half frozen by this sudden
and involuntary cold bath.
.I'n take that ten-spots, il you
| please sad he. shivering rapidly, to
the stakeholder. "iou took US for
greenhorns, Ell, Well show you how
we do things here in New York, and
the fellow claimed the twenty dollars.
..Mal, reckon you won't take NO
ten-spols jes vet. Cap'n."
| .Why? You lost the bet
"Not edzactly. didn't calkilate on
deun it the jus. time-but tell yo't [
ken deu H." and again. in spite Of the
loafer's utmost efforts to escape him.
he seized him by the ne and the seat
Of his overalls and pitched him rec
yards further into the river than upon
the first trial.
Again green jacket returned amid
the shouts of his mates, who enjoyed
the sport immensely.
ssThird time never fails" said the
Yankee. stripping off his coat; II ken
deu it. I tell ""
"Hold on" said the almost petrifed
victim.
Sand will deu it-ef 1 try till To-
in0rrow n1OrHin'.n
II give it up.t shouted the sufferer,
between his teeth, which now chat
tered like mad badger's-"take the
money"
The vermonter very coolly pocketed
the stakes, and as he turned away re-
marked
1--WE amt much acquainted with you
smart folks daown here'n York. but
we sometimes take the starch Out
Of 'em up our way-and p raps you
wunt try it on strangers agin. rcck' n
you wunt,' he continued, and putting
IN a hrnad Ur;n f,f 0ood buuov ho loH