San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-06-12
Ehe 1ai1Y Eight.
o~-~-o-o-~O~O~~O~-o-oOo
WEDNESDAY, JUNE, IL, 1899

whats that boy done to be drug around
that-a-wayF'
"Donea 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 We. Yer bout to the end Nv yer string
Ketched you plumb in the act, an the law
seq that whoever shoots out NV the lawful
season gits"-
ABE" interrupted the justice, ''who's the
jestice Nv the peace, anyhow
''Why, you air, an -
"Then whyn't you shet up an let me do the
tryin'g"
Presently the prairie trial was we'll 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 were near at hand,
witnessing the proceedings With grave intent
ness. Buck-he of the bare feet and single
"gallus"-had transferred his gaze from
Rooney to old Abe's captive, who still chung tc
his great musket.
WAL" remarked Buck, presently, that's
right smart Nv gun.
For this uncalled for remark in court he
was fiercely ordered to keephis mouth closed.
Having found the desired passage in the
legal Tome the judicial brow cleared.
"Bub, air you guilty er not guilty1" he
questioned
''T'-
Course he's guilty." broke in Old Abe
Didn't ketch him plumb in thee
'Shet up!' roared the justice. ABE Jack
son, courts no place to shoot off yer mouth.
Now, boy, air We guilty er not"
"Oh, s'pose I'm guilty." answered the
boy, drearily. Il shot the quail but it was
fer"-
"Course he shot it'll" interrupted his captor,
excitedly. "Didn't"-
ABE" roared the justice, five 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, ''if I'm fined that pays
for the quail, an it's mine, hain't it,"
Il reckon it is" was his decision
"Misters," 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 creek9 Make
broth out ov it fer the sick woman in the
wagon, an tell her-tell her | 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" he said, as he turned away, "see
this thing through"
"You bet!" answered Roney.
"Wal," said the justice, my duty's plain,
reckon. The boys got to be fined 'cordin'
to law, butt
"Then whyn't We fine him an be done with
ity' cried the 'meaneSt man in seven stares,"
exctedly.
"Once fer all, Abe" said the justice "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 tc
see the boy, an if you'd "a BEN half man,
an had any heart in you, you wouldn't a seed
him"
"That's sol" cried Roney.
"An'," went on the justice, ~ hat to do my
duty; but as man to man, say"-
"Jedge," interrupted Roney, "wisht you'n
the boy would go round the house minute
an take the pris'ner with yon."
This was accompanied by a wink hatspoke
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
hearer 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 MANI"
YES" quavered old Abe, in frightened
way.
'Wall," remarked the justice, in tones of
great relief, that puts another face on the
matter. Bub, you're discharged. I'm glad
Nv it, and-I don't keer a cent whur you got
that thar quail"
''Now, ole man," said Roney, as he fixed a
wise like grip on Abe's shoulder, you take
the highest track fer home, an don't you 60
often yore place today. If you 10, people
will have it to say that the meaneSt man in
seven states was the worst whipped one, tool"
The hurried manner in which old Abe
jackson obeyed orders proved that he had no
desire for the doubtful distinction of being
the worst whipped man in seven states"
By the side of the covered wagon, near the
bend of the creek, Ben, the lesser shaggy
haired man, had kindled fire without arous-
ing the sick woman in the vehicle, and over
the cheerful flame the quail was fast turn.
ing to appetizing broth.
When the savory mess was done, Ben
poured some of it into one of the several tin
plates he found in the grub box" on the rear
end of the wagon