The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-07-10

Zone is enough" he replied, taking
the nearest bottle and pouring some
Of the fluid between the unconscious
child's lips"
whats up? What's all this mean!"
who've ye got thar?' asked the other
men from the rear, who had just ridden
up where the little group was gathered
round.
"A little gal, as l live!' exclaimed
one OF the men. "How in the blazes
did she come out hyar alone this time
O. the morningp"
Dunno" was the reply;" but reckon
we'll find out for she's comm round. y
"Oh, papa, papa! where is my
papaP" came from the little girls lips,
as she opened her eyes and saw the
men clustered about her.
"I'll be hanged If know, little un', +"
answered Bill Strong, kindly, 'that's
just what we wor goin' ter ask Nv
YOU" ..a. 10 .ro4
"Oh. my poor papa! my poor papa!
cried the child, and she began to weep
bitterly.
Boys" said the leader, l guess
we'll halter put of our business with
the squatter till we kin find this little
gals pa" Then to the little girl:
There, now, don't cry, an jist tell us
whar yer pa is an we'll take ye to him
in a jiffy."
Between her sobs the little girl then
told of her fathers illness. and how
she had been afraid he was going to
die and she had started to Neutral
City for doctor.
Gentlemen" said Bob Akers, "Pll
be dad gummed If that little gal amt
a brick, an no mistake, an | say that
a man who's got a gal like that hain't
a bad man an that little gals pa is
Amos Lee. 1 saw her there when ]
went to sarve the notice on him."
A murmur of surprise ran through
the crowd, and the speaker continued:
"As fer as obeyin' the orders, in the
League, I hain't nuthin ter say against
it, an We can all go ahead an do as
you please with Amos Lee; but If any
man tries ter harm this little gals pa,
he's got ter walk over me fore he
does it." Els nrr5.,
me, tooP"
"You bet!''
And several OF the mon stepped to
Bob Akers' side.
Boys" said Bill Strong, turning
and confronting the men. "do We aim
ter say that We disobey the orders Nv
the Leaguep"
"We do" they responded, firmly.
"Then," continued the leader, II
fine every many in tn crowd thot
thinks as ye do two dollars an half!
an want every one NV We ter come
up hyar an pay yer fine ter this leetle
ga. who l appoint as treasurer.
And as he spoke he took the re.
quired amount from his pocket and
dropped it into the little girls lap.
Every man in the crowd followed
his example and dropped his fine
into the "treasurer's" lap, who found
herself nearly covered up with the in.
cumbrances of her new Office.
snow. boys" said Bob Akers, "Fm
goin' after the doctor fer this leetle
gals pa, an thar amt no time ter be
foolin' around hit"
He swung himself into the saddle as
he spoke, and turned his horses head
; toward Neutral City.
"Some Nv ye kin take the leetle ga
J home an stay thar till 1 come" and
with this he galloped away, and wa
soon lost to sight in the wreaths o.
} mist that were rising across the
prairie.
, A few moments afterward three mer
| rode out from the crowd, and wen
, in the direction of Amos Lees cabin
/ Bill Strong riding ahead carrying tn,
little girl in his arms, while the othel
members of the party wheeled theil
) horses and went in different direction
to their homes. just as the first CLEAN
= Of the morning shot across the broat
, waste Of prairies. a '
On the night following tn,
League" held meeting at Bol
Akers' house.
Flows the squatter an the leetl'
galp" asked one of the men of Bill
Strong.
1.-The leetle gal is as pert as |
, cricket, an the doctor says the squat
ter's gittin' along fine, an hopes t.
have him up in a week"
brothers Nv the League" said Bol
!, Akers, rising, shave men been ap
p'inted ter take care NV the squatte
till he gifts wellp"
= They have" was the reply.
"Then," continued the speaker, g
!, call for the report Nv the leader u
:. the delegation that wor sent ter han,
;. ole Amos Lee"
Bill Strong rose up, and said:
y Gentlemen, I'm redy ter mex m
report. Thar amt no Amos Leen
Then the meeting adjourned. Wi
Lesenbee, in brakes Magazine.
u Poison Made from Dead Ants.
). Not the least interesting episode. |