The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-23
LenGanSett.
BY OPIE p. READ.
CHAPTER VII.

Anc tdOIe, SPuCeo Wltn DOaIQS ana SCI of" with many old dishes with blue rims, extended the full length of the din. ing room. Some of the men put on theil coats. but the majority of then. sat down in shirt-sleeved disregard of appearances Mrs. Gansett was much worried by the cares imposed upon her, but then she was never happier than when she contem. plated her guests in the act of "gorgin their appetites" Colonel Bently had sent bear roast, which proved an at. tractive feature of the dinner.
 Colonel Bently Undressing Braley) = "How are you getting along with the work2"
 Braley-" Fust rate, conl; fust rate Some uv the logs air old residenters, but we kotch lem nappin' an have put lem whar they'll do the most good"
 Mort Haney-" Oh, Braley knows how ter take advantage. It comes nachul te, him"
 Braley (with due appreciation of the compliment)-" Bet yer life do. Whul do yer think uv 1t, young feller ?" (address. ing Len).
 Len-"You seem to understand your business"
 Braley-" Now yo're shoutin'. When yer wake up in the mornin' an find yer j'nts like rusty hinges, yer1l be willin' ter bet that I'm ther, cap'n."
 Bently (addressing old Bob)-"I am inclined to believe that our friends will find Len to be much tougher than they imagine"
 Old Bob" Let 'em go ahead. never seen a Gansett that was easily Aoored an l don't b'leve they ken do much with him"
 Mrs. Gansett-" Air you men tryin' to plague that child2"
 Len (with an air of embarrassmenO- Grandma, must protest against being called child"
 Asa More" Ef he's a child, I'd like ter know how big ther men git whar he come rum. I'll take another help ter that sweet pertater pie. ef yer please. Not as much as yer give me befo.. Bout half as much."
 Rufe Malone-"Jest as we'll give him as much, fur ef yer don't he'll ax fur mo-"
 Braley-" By ther way, colonel, hain't hearn nothin' rum the stage robbers yit, reckon?"
 Bentiy-" No, as they have not fur nished information with regard to their whereabouts, the officers of the law have not found them. The reward offered, of course, had stimulating effect but has resulted in nothing but assurances that the rascals should be brought in. Honeycut. who seems to possess some of tho unenviable qualifications of the bloodhound, is still on the track. He is certain that the leader of the gang is Steve Grade, the Missouri outlaw. l don't know what reasons he has for be- ieving this, but reconcile it with the re- hection that five believed nothing except that which is based upon reason so plain that every man can see 1t, we would in- deed be an incredulous people. With regard to one thing have made up my mind-that If the law do not give me better protection, shall discontinue the stage hne."
 Bob Gansett-"I hope you won't do that, colonel for it would be a serious loss to the community"
 Bently-" Then let those who profess to uphold the law take that into consid- eration. No one should expect me to 60 on in this way"
 Len-"l share your opinion, colonel. f the law is powerless to protect you, I would, if so situated, protect myself by withdrawing from an enterprise so full of loss and vexation."
 Braley (sAoving back hischair) -" Gen. tlssses, yer talk may be mighty interest in', but 1t don't roll logs. don't want tw huru yer, but it's time we wuz git- tn back down thar"
 Asa Mere-" Oh, don't be snatched." ;"
 Dsalsy-s Talks cheap, but it doat lift authint Come ahead, ssntle~es."