Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-05-18

oppression oil great wrath
That was all that could be said OF tho
snnil-liko advance of tho distant vohi-
Gle. 1t was moving and little more
BY the time all but Long Ike had fin
ishod their dinners, tho cowboys had
decided to investigate tho mystery.
"Cnttlc will take kcor NV themselves
while wo'ro gone, reckon" said
Sand.
They flung themselves onto their
sturdy "Cayuso" ponies and dashed
away across the prairie, Long Ike in
the rear, contontcdly munching n hugo
chunk of corn bread, tho last of the
dinner.
"Must bo Old Man Poverty HIMSELF"
commented Ben Daywood, MS after n
sharp rido they drew near tho slowly
advancing vehicle. "ono spring wagon
with n rag for cover"
Conc big limpin' skeleton with hoss
hide stretched over it," commented
| Stub.
"Ycs'n ono little limpin' skeleton
with mulo hide stretched over it, " add
cd Sand
Long Ike, busy with his corn-dodgcr,
said nothing
whole outfit amt worth six bits"
said Stub, Cant euro them limps.
If you had tcam that limpcd that-a-
way, Ike, what'd you do with emp"
Let EN- limp!" Ike answered la
conically.
"Wal, I'll be switchcdln calculated
Stub, MS they came close to the vehicle.
"Mc, tool" Ben and Sand echoed
The broad -brimmcd hat that con-
ccalcd tho face of the driver of the
limping team was pushed back by
small hand, and tho sight of tho face
that was revealed caused Sand to burst
out:
Boys, it's a-a-"
IA girl!' put in Long Ike, so inter-
cstcd that, for moment, he forgot TO
MUNICH the chunk of dodgcr.
"Tacklc her, Stub" said Sand.
"Tacklc her ycrself," was the reply.
"lm no good on pretty talk"
"Nur me; Ben, you do the talkin'!'
Not me-" demurrod Ben Daywood.
Without word, Long Ike rode for
ward, and his comrades followed him.
Long Ike thrust the corn dodger into
the breast of his shirt, and, with mo-
ton that was intended TO be graceful. |
removed his hat, revealing mop of
sun-fadcd hair that seemed n total |
stranger TO the application of n comb.
Instantly the other cowboys initiated |
his example, aud, in turn, exposed |
shocks of hair rs tangled rs was the |
thatch of Long Ike.
Don't hc skccrcd miss" began
Ike, paclically. "Wo won't poster
you. That thar's Ben Daywood. Eel
Ter next to him is Sand. All the name
hos got, | reckon. Little fellow thar
is Stub Tally. An this ycre'-indi-
eating himsclf-"is Ike Bcadler." -"
As each was introduced he made an
elaborate but awkward bow, and fur
lively rubbed his mop of hair, as if in
hop, of reducing its rcbellious snarls
to more prcscntable appearance.
II am glad 10 meet you, gentlemen"
the girl said pleasantly.
"Much oblccgcd to yc," returned
Long Ike, while the rest repeated their
awkard bows
Hits jest this-a-way," Ike went on.
None NV our business what yer doan'
ycrc, an We hain't a-goin' to ask yer.
but if yer sorto felt like tcllin' us,
wy"
They listened in silence while sho
told her story-a simple story with n
dash of originality and vein of pathos
running through it.
Me an the boys" began Long Ike,
when she had finished "will-"
Thar goes the cattle9" shouted Ben
haywood.
They dashed away with such speed
that the chunk of dodger bounded out
of the breast of Long lke's shirt and
was lost. 1t was nearly half an hour
before the broad horns were driven
back where they belonged, and the
cowboys, by riding line" for awhile,
had got them to feeding in the opposite
direction. As they rode back again
toward the wagon, Long lkc's head was
bent as if he was pondoring deeply.
Boys" he said, suddenly, "if
struggle like her'n don't deserve to be
rewarded with success nuthin' does"
"Yer right" agreed his comrades.
"An' ! reckon she needs hit bad
enough, too" Ike went on. "The
long trip on the cars an the buyin' in
the wagin' an skeletons whar the rail
road stopped must n took right smart
NV her money. Wal"
Miss" Ike began, when they reach
ed the wagon. Were sump'n morn
common cowboys. We're the school
board'n this yerc decstrict."
His comrades stared in astonish-
mcnt.
"Wc'vc decided that you kin haze
the school, an the term will begin TO-
NOR, if"
like" called Stub. "Yere, n min
ute, will YEP"
They all rode out of carshot of the
wagon and engaged in an animated
discussion.
"Haint playin' no pranks with her!'
Ike rctortcd, in response to the indig-
nant accusations of his comrades.
'But thar haint child twixt this an
the county line" protested Stub.
Nobody to go to her school"
'Haint schools for ignorunt peoploP"
demanded Long Ike.
YES"
"Wari, I'm yere TO say that we're as
ignorant as they make 'em, AN the fol-
Ter that knows any thing has got to
fight me. i"
Ike" interrupted Ben. 1--WE don't
know nothin'r'
That's what we don't" agreed his
comrades.