The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-02-20

door. Git the pistol outen the top drawer of the bureau an come on."
 Len obeyed. "Sarah," said the old man, "keep Mix Haney here tell we come back"
 Grandpa" Len remarked as he closed the door, " You'd better let me carry the gun. Pm stronger than you are"
 Stronger the mischief" replied the old man. ken fling you down the best three outen five. Les take this short cut l don't know why in the world any body's got anything ag'in' Mort for he never harmed nobody in the world"
 "If run on ahead, grandpa, might get there in time to save him."
 "Yes, an you mout get there jest in time to get shot. Les climb this fence"
 They hurried along in silence. A screech owl cried and fox, bounding from patch of briars, struggled through the deep snow. The moon was shining brightly and the woods were illustrated by white spots and dark shadows.
 {" Stop," said Len.
 !" Hear anything3"
 "Thought heard some one yelling Yes, come this way"
 The cries became more distinct "They are whipping him 1" Len exclaimed as he rushed forward. The old man could not keep pace with him.
 "What are you doing here 1" exclaimed Len. Two men, throwing down some thing which they seemed to be using with much vigor, turned and ran away in different directions. Len fired his pistol, and old man Gansett, taking aim as though he were drawing down on a deer, fired his gun"
 Didn't git him." said the old man. " So much for small shot,"
 They found Haney tied across a log. "W'Y Mort, whuts the matter ?" MT. Gansett asked.
 "Let's unite him" said Len. "l'll have to cut the ropes. Now you're all right"
 Haney arose to his feet, stretched him. self, tucked his shirt into his p pantaloons, and, as he took up his coat, said:
 Whew This is the hottest night fur sich cold weather that ever seed. Got CT chaw uv terbacker erbout yer, Mir Gansett."
 Old Bob gave him some tobacco. Len could not help laughing.
 "Tain't much uv CT laughin' matter,n said Haney. My back feels like it has been run over by CT OK cayart"
 "Whut does it all mean ?" old Bob asked. He was leaning against a tree and was holding his sides.
 "Wait tell yer git through with yer fun, gentlemen. an I'll tell yer," Haney replied. "Yer ack like yer wuz at CT show. How did yer find out want en- joyin' ther best uv health ?"
 "Your wife told us," old Bob replied. " She's at my house now, an reckon we'd all better go there. Come ahead"
 " Ell find out who my comp'ny wuz ter-night, somebody's goin' ter be too sick ter eat merlasses," said Haney as he walked along between old Bob and Len. "I hadn't quite got through my supper when somebody hollered at ther gate. l thought it wuz somebody that wanted ter stay all night an l went out. Bout ther time l got ter ther gate, CT feller grabbed my arms from behine, an jes' then some other feller flung CT rope over me, an then they both tied me. My wife, she seed lem erbout this time, reckon, but she wuz too sharp ter run out whar they wuz They had suthin' over the'r faces, an l coul'n't tell who they wu1. When they took me out in ther woods they tied me ercross CT laug an wanted ter know ef I'd leave ther country ef they'd let me of l want prepared ter leave ther country jes' then, fur want quite dun eatin' supper, so told lem we'd better argy erwhile. We'll, we argyed. They talked hoarse sos l couldn't reckonize the'r voices, an'it peered airter while that they had got ther best uv it, fur they gunter GU, some switches ter larrup me with. Wall, they had gunter warm up ter the'r work an had gunter git putty tired, when heard suthin' go off an then wuz united They cut ther blood outen me, but never mine, thar's anuther night CT comin. Ther worp want made in CT day"
 "I didn't know that anybody had any, thing ag'in you, Mort," said the old man.
 Nuther did l, but it peers like they have. never done nobody no harm that know nv. While them fellers wuz CT whuppin' me lowed ter myself that it wuz CT good thing didn't have no chill