The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-01-23
LANK BEN.
lopis P. Read. ia M.mpAi. rin.s.l

Ben Stephens. whose style ot consaSuc- tion has won for him the name Of Lank Ben, Tecently moved from the hill re- Rioas down Co 6ssle shedaexing Aeeg town, where every girl Is the beautiful and accomplished Miss So~And-So. and where every young man is 90 intelligent that he is the rising son of our distin- guished fellow-townsman, Such-and, Such. has drouth-like grin and his head is shaped like the average early rose DO. tato. When he arrived in town and be- gan, in an unassuming way, to discharge the duties of q position in . cotton gin- house, the rising young sons of several distinguished townsmen met and agreed that it would be the appropriate caper to have some fun with him. h all the river towns of Arkansaw the snipe joke Is still in the vigog and ireshness of youth. ln those towns the intelligent young men think that this palsied lAndmark of an an- cient sell originated with them. Yes. Lank Ben must hold the bag SO Abe Granger, Luke Potter and three of the Mills boys called on Ben and introduced themselves Ben threw down an armful of lint cotton and shock hands with his visitors. He was hattered at receiving such attention, and moisteuiug his grin with warm flow of tobacco juice, he said |: Gentlessen, am powerful glad tha, I've seed yer"
 Mot at all," Luke Potter replied. "Dont mention it." said Abe Granger. "We always try to make fcller feel at home. Going to live with us, under stand1 ?"
 "Yas, thought I'd try yer few falls. !"
 "Glad of it." Mr. Granger resumed. By the way, do you like sport ?" "Wall, ken stand little uv it," "Glad of that. too. Now, I'll tell you our object in calling on you. Out on the island, in front of town, there are any number of snipe. and at this season of the year they drive splendidly"
 Why don't you shoot em ?"
 "Oh, that wouldn't do, fer 1t would fighten 'em."
 "%h., !" W . s.sy ali, yer s0'n' to drive lem in ?"
 Ben laughed. "They won't go In a bag" said he.
 "Oh, yes, they will,' shouted the Mills boys, Granger. "Au you've got to do Is to hold a candle at the mouth of bag and let the birds run in. We catch bushels of them that way"
 Ben meditated seriously and then re- piled Gentlemen, was raised in the woods, an blame ei dent b'leve thar's pant'ers over on yan island" The boys roared with derisive laughter. AAai~vsaa sA picions were unjust he was willing to make any reparation which the island might demand. The apology was ac- cepted, and arrangements for the pro- posed hunt were soon completed.
 The night was dark and windy. The unbridled moon reared and plunged from one cloud mass to another. L.nk Ben, simple and unsuspectins, got into sk,H with the heartless young men The river ran high, and with yellow gurgle strug gled to overthroW the great cottonwood trees that grew along tho edge oi the sandy shore.
 Here we are," said Potter, as the bow of the skiH touched the island. "Hop out, boys, and let's draw the boat high up, for the river is rising. What do you think of the prospect2 2" he added, as he held up a lantern and surveyed Lank Ben's face.
 Don't know. but thar peers to be ruther too much wind"
 "No, it's just right" said Granger. Fetch the bag, Lem Mills. Nov, come on and don't make fuss."
 The island was large and heavily tim bered. The party, arriving at a small I knI( sk boat, halted and began to instruct Ben.
 You hold the bag and the light this way" said Potter, land we'll go out and drive the snipe. Keep perfectly still"
 "All right"
 The boys hurried away. They had no, gone far until they had to stop and laugh. The sind roared; the sky put on black rubber coat, and heavy thunder rumbled
 Let's pull for the shore as fast as we can" said Granger.
 Where did we leave the boat2"
 Left it right here under this tree" 1" Granger replied, in accents of alarm. Are you certain z"
 know it."
 A fearful scream split the agitated air. Great God r exclaimed Potter "it's a panther, and he's up in this tree v Don't move," Granger breathed In terrified whispers. "He'll jump on us" Another scream.
 Oh, Lord 1" supplicated Lem Mills, dropping upon his knees; give us this day our trespasses, and forgive sur daily bread. Lead us not into green pastures"
 Hush," whispered Potter. Con- found 1t, you can't pray"
 Another shriek, folio Wed by . terrible growl. Twigs and pieces of bark began to fall The boys, with yells of terror, ran into the thick woods. The panther came down from the tree, walked short distance, found the boat where it had been carefully secreted, got in and leis- urely pulled for the shore.
 A heavy rain fell that night, and when cheefless morning dawned steamboat stopped at the island and took up several