Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-06-14
LITTLE DICKS NEW FATHER

Two rough bearded, shaggy haired men,
mounted sturdy "cayuse" ponies, drew
rein at the pole fence that surrounded prai-
RTE farm house and its attendant truck
patch" From a limb of the blackberry tree
that shaded the structure depended sign
that bore the legend:
Horse Doctor.
At the sound of their approach man,
coatless, hatless, and as shaggy haired as
either of the equestrians, appeared at the door.
A barefooted boy, with his trousers upheld
by single bedtick "'gallus," squeezed past
the man and stood regarding the new corners
with stare of wonder.
"Whewl Hain't he buster!" he NUT
tered.
"You bet he isl" the man replied.
1t was easy to determine which one of the
strangers was regarded as the cluster" for
one of them looked almost gigantic, SO large
and brawny was he
''Hello, thar!" the big man saluted.
"Hello, yerselfI" the householder answered
socially.
whats the show fer dinner? Able to pay
fer what we git''
''Jest DRAWN up to the table when you rid
up" explained the host, after the ponies had
been stabbed. "Buck, slide out couple more
plates. Draw up yer cheers, gents, an fall to. :"
Somebody's comm up the road" an
uounced Buck.
His father stepped to the door.
''It's ole Abe jackson, the meanest man in
seven states" he declared. Hes jerl1in' a
boy along by the collar. Wonder what's up?
More Nv ole Abe's meanness, I'll bet 'Nuth-
er trial, prob'ly. Blamed if l wouldn't like
to give it to ole Abe himself. Seems like he's
allus hungry to pop trouble onto somebody.
Sides bein' a horse DOCTOR" he went on, adj
dressing his guests, "Im jeStice Nv the peace,
an ole Abe, a-comin yonder, makes bout
half Nv my business"
Roney and Ben quilted the table, and, fol-
lowed by Buck, who kept his eyes fixed on
the former, joined the combined horse doc
tor and justice in the shade of the blackberry
tree in front of the house.
The ''meanest man in seven states'' came
through the gap in the pole fence. hauling
his captive after him. The LATER, thin
faced, under sized lad, was dragging an old
musket longer than himself, and looked half
dead with fright.
In the hand that was not gripping the lads
collar, old Abe held half featherless dead
quail which, as he came up to the group in
the shade of the blackberry, he extended dra-
matically toward the justice, and said:
''Ketched him plumb in the act, doc!"
"Whats the row, Abe!" asked the justice.
'What's that boy done to be drug around
that-a-way!"
'Done? l ketched him plumb in the act
Nv shootin' quails out Nv season. An right
on my own land, too. Oh, you needn't
squirm!" this to the boy. you'll have
sump'n' to squirm fer before git through
with ye Yer bout to the end Nv yer string
Ketched you plumb in the act, an the law
SEE that whoever shoots out Nv the lawful
season gits''-
abe" interrupted the justice, 'whos the
jestice Nv the peace, anyhow"
"Why, you air, an u
eThen whyn't you shet up an let me do the
tryin'"
Presently the prairie trial was well under
way. The combined horse doctor and justice
sat on a bench beneath the blackberry tree
and frowned solemnly at a legal looking book.
Old Abe stood near, still grasping his
frightened captive by the collar. Big Roney
and his smaller companion We're near at hand
witnessing the proceedings with grave intent
ness Buckle of the bare feet and single
"gallus"-had transferred his gaze from
Roney to old Abe's captive, who still chung to
his great musset
"Wal," remarked Buck, presently, 'that's
right smart Nv gum"
For this uncalled for remark in court he
was fiercely ordered to keep his mouth closed.
Having found the desired passage in the
legal tome, the judicial brow cleared.
''Bub air you guilty er not guilty?' he
questioned
"I"-
"Course he's guilty." broke in Old Abe.
"Didn't | ketch him plumb i'll the"-
'Shet up!" roared the justice ABE Jack
son, courts no place to shoot off yer mouth.
Now, boy, air We guilty er not?"
'Oh, spose I'm guilty." answered the
boy, drearily. 81 shot the quail, but it was
fer'-
Course he shot itli interrupted his captor,
excitedly. "Didn't'-
"Abe," roared the justice, Give dollars is
the fine fer contempt Nv court"
Old Abe subsidized as quickly as if he had
received knock down blow.
A thought seemed suddenly to strike the
boy.
'.Jedge," he said, eff I'm fined that pays
for the quail, an it's mine, hain't its"
81 reckon it is" was his decision.
'tMisters," said the boy, earnestly, turning
to the strangers, won't one Nv you please
take this quail down to the covered wagon
you'll find by the bend Nv the creek? Make
broth out ov it fer the sick woman in the
wagon, an tell her-tell her l can't come
jest yit."
The smaller of the shaggy haired men
stepped forward, jerked the quail almost
savagely from old Abe's hand, and hurried
away in the direction indicated by the boy.
Rooney" be said, as he turned away, 'see
this thing through"
s'You bet!" answered Roney.
"Wal," said the justice, my duty's plain,
l reckon. The boys got to be fined 'cordin
to law, butt
''Then whyn't We fine him an be done with
itf' cried the ''meanest man in seven states"
excitedly.
'Once fer all, Abe" said the justice. s'shet
yer mouth, and keep it shet. If l was in
yore place I'd feel too 'shamed Nv myself to
talk. Laws law, but it didn't compel ye to
See The boy, an if you'd "a BEN half man,
an had any heart in you, you wouldn't "a seed
him"
''Thats sol" cried Roney.
"An," went on the justice, 81 hat to do my
duty; but as man to man, | say'-
"Jedge," interrupted Roney, ''wisht you'n
the boy would go round tSe house a minute
an take the prs'ner with yon."
This was accompanied by wink that spoke
volumes
When they were alone, Big Roney stepped
close to old Abe, and, as he lowered over him
with six feet and more of Drawn and muscle,
he said several pithy sentences that made his
nearer turn very pale.
Then, as the others returned at his call, he
whispered sternly to Abe
Remember, thar WANT no witnesses to
what's jest passed"
"Jedge," he said, this yere gent lows he
was mistook Reckons it was some other
boy that shot the quail Hain't l sayin' it
right, ole'mans"
yes" quavered old Abe, in frightened