The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-31
A HANDY JUSTICE"
The First Official Act OF Tommy
CaSSel.

Cassel.
When Steele's Landing consisted of
a natural river-bank wharf and Steele S
old red store, and when the entire coun-
tv did not contain POO settlers. old
Tommy Cassel selected the place as his
home. Every body for miles around
knew old Tommy because he came at
the same time Bildad Bennett and his
little red mill located there and because
al the time of the New Years Day in
cident about to be recorded both Tom
nv Bildad had grown white headed and
comfortable. Steele's Landing had
also grown. Steele's red store had
given place to a larger building of brick,
and Bildads little mill had received ad-
ditions until now it was long, RAM
bling combination of grist-mill. saw
mill, woolen-mIll, and planning mill.
The old once-a-day sidewheel steamboat
Quilted and padded fussily up and down
the river about the same. but instead of
carrying all the passengers and mer.
chandise which came into that part of
the country, as of old, it had degener-
ated into a weather-worn, rickety, old
contraption fer the carrying of cord
wood, baled hay, shingles and the like
Now the chief means of intercourse be-
tween S.eele's Landing and the outside
world was the stage and teaning route
controlled and operated between the
neares: railway station-Adamsburg-
and the Landing, distance of four
miles, by a stalwart. handsome Young
man named Lutte Briggs. The gossips
at the Landing, while they liked Lutte,
did not hesitate TO whisper that he had
once been an eight-horse team driver in
somebody's circus. and some even went
so far as to say that his span of white
mares, Fly and Kate" were ex-circus
horses.
Every body at the Landing confessed
that it was shame that the railroad had
been permitted to skip the town-that
is, every body but old Tommy Cassel
Bildad Bennett and Lutte Briggs.
Tommy thought it was a good thing the
railroad weat to Adamsburg. ..'cause il
preserved the in-tract the kcounty and
didn't Spite farms and SIGH" Bildad
liked the slight because "them railroad
surveyors allus expect us rich men TO
give 'em rightso' way fer nuthin' and
then want us to take four or five hun
bred dollars with Of stock, witch we
can't sell or do nuthin' with nowhow. -
Lutes applause of the railway route
which LETT the Landing four miles ito
one SIDE was based chiefly on his own
crship and manipulation of the stage
route, which included a contract to
carry the mails.
The chief reason why Tommy. Bildad
and Lutte were important factors in the
religions, social and political throbs
abcut the Landing was because they
delegated that privilege to themselves,
but the other reasons were their posi-
tons in commercial sense. Bildad
owned the combination mill and the
finest residence in the village, he had
been twice member of the grand jury,
and he was also father of the hand
soonest girl-Jerusha Bennett-in the
country. Tommy was not only shoe
maker, but he could do good turn a,
harness making, and he always beat
the bass drum-both ends-at al! sun
day-school picnics and Fourth of July
celebrations. Lutte, by virtue of his
mail carrying. was a Government Off
cial. He had an opportunity to see rail
way ears and their loads OF passenger;
daily. and finally bis experience with
the circus had made of him man
well up in worldly matters. Bildad
was grasping. penur.oCs and Unso
cial on the surface. but once in a while
and more frequently than any one knew
nc would send a load CT wood. a sack oil
flour, 9 side of pork, or something o.
the kind to some needy and worthy
resident of the place, and for wees
thereafter he would 20 around with :
guilty look. as though afraid somebody
had found it out. He was Jealous
ALWAYS, but that quality was only
shown in relation to the doings and
welfare of his daughter .Rushy.'
Tommy CaSsel was the best author II
on law points in the ylilage-in fact, al
the time OF which / am writing he had
certificate of his election to tie posi-
lion of justice of the peace slowed away
among the old lasts, discarded boot,
and shoes. and other odds and ends a.
the rear OF his shop. Tommy could
also sing capital tenor in the choir al
the meeting house whenever the black.
smith from the opposite end of the town
failed to put in an appearance. While
Tommy was very proud of his ability Is
n vocalist. he seldom gave thought to
his newly acquired official dignity and
power. and once when Lutte Briggs
called to ask a little advice relating to
a quit-ciaim deed OF something OF the
Kind, Tommy said TO him: You les
drop in on Squire Rice over 10 the
burgh and he'll give il to you from the
books. amt got time to bother
Jcrusha Bennett was rosy-faced.
bright, active. healthy end sensible.
and as a housekeeper she ranked with
the best She had fair education. and
for three months previous to the even,
winch shook Steele's Landing to the
very center of its half-miie diameter.
she had been going over to the burgh
once 4 week to take music lessons. She
was already the recognized organist 4.
the Westinghouse, and her present pur-
suit of musical knowledge was in order
that she might better manipulate the
new piano Bildad had placed in his
parlor on her last birthday. Being
handsome and, for the place and hei
surroundings, quite accomplished.
's.Rushy," as her father called her, had