St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-01-25


There came chorus Of yells from
Spangler's Nance Williams listened .
moment.
'Hear that" she said harshly,
''they're gettin' ready to 60 It's time
was movin'. You mark my words, Mr..
BARLOW. the professors claim is safe
Nance Williams says So"
She rushed out of the store and away
into the night. A few minutes after
horse came past 1t lightning speed with
Mad Cap Nance crouching low in the
saddle and speeding away on her hare
Drained mission.
Shouts and yells came from Spangler's,
and not long after Nance had gone a
drunken rabble rode by the store in the
direction she had taken. l felt certain
something of serious nature was
threatened so, as soon - could leave
the store, saddled my horse and fol-
lowed.
The moon had come out Of the purple
sky overhead. In her light the land
scape was brought out with startling
distinctness, for Dakota moons are noted
for their intense brilliancy. Tom Jen.
kins' gang had half-hour the start OF
me and put my horse to the run in or
der that / might be on hand with as
little delay as possible. As my horse
clattered over the bridge that spanned
the Pipe-stem, heard a succession o!
professors claim.
''My God" cried, ''thc girl will be
killed." and dashed my horse TO greater
speed.
1t had never occurred to me that
would be helpless in an encounter with
the drunken rabble. had thought o!
nothing but getting upon the ground in
the quickest possible time. for it was
more than probable that Nance VII
liams would be alone at the mercy Of the
crowd. As drew nearer and nearer my
destination l heard cries from time tC
time, and my nerves were all a-tremble
with excitement and apprehension.
When / came close to the professor
claim shanty, however, l realized that
Nance Williams was in no immediate
danger for the men, some ten or twelve
in number, stood counscling together.
From their loud talk CLEANED that they
had met with a disappointment-they
had thought that the professor was in
Jimtown. while they had found him in
the shack, on hand to protect his prop
erty.
whats the matter, boys?" in
quired. springing from my horse.
Its Barlow" said Tom jenkins tc
his associates in low and not very de.
lighted voice. Then. advancing toward
me he asked: ''What do you want, Ike
Barlow?"
ITO see fair play" said I. promptly
''what arc you fellows here for?"
"'Tain't nothin' to you. You 60 back
to town an leave US alone"
While was haranguing Tom Jenkins,
Rice Fielding. his partner. tried to steal
up to the door of the house. lie had
gone barely half way, however, when a
rifle was thrust through . partly-open
window and fired in his direction. The
bullet whistled nncomfortably near him.
and Rice retreated with more haste than
gracefulness.
mo use, Rice" said Tom Jenkins;
''the TELLER means business. There
only one way to get at him, an that's to
burn him out"
look here, cried, excitedly; shave
yen men any idea of the crime you are
perpetrating? This outrage -"
There were several derisivc yells from
the crowd and could see they were toe
much bent upon mischief to be infiu-
enced by me.
.'Say, Barlow, you know as we'll as
do that Charley Atwood hadn't no right
to jump that claim in the first place.
That there place belongs to me an Tom,
an the rest of the fellers are goin' to
help me get it back, SO you just keep
mum an get out O. the way!"
Al, that was the idea. 1t was fac,
the quarter had originally been filed or
by Rice Fielding, but he never wen,
near it and made no pretension of living
mp to the law. consequently it became
iuppable and Charley Atwood had taker
advantage Of this fact. All the while
Atwood held the place, Fielding had
made no move to get it back. but now
Ahat the professor had bought it fan
cied wrong ranked in Fielding's breast
In this view of the case thought hes,
not to tell the men they were battling
against woman. The chances were
they would consider her more easily i'm
posed upon than the professor and,
pushing TO greater extremeties, the at
fair might be made infinitely worse.
decided to draw one side and watch the
affair passively, and then. when il
reached climax, would do my utmost
to protect Nance Williams.
Going to the rear of. the house where
there were no windows or doors through
which . rife could be fired. preparations
were made to burn the building. A bill
let of wood was saturated with the oil
of lantern one of the men had brought
ard, lighting this torch and taking an
s-mful Of straw, Rice Fielding ap
preached to burn the professors shack,
Before he could put his plan into opera
ton, however. figure appeared on the
roof of the house. Standing aloft, stern
and undaunted, upon the fiat roof. Nance
Williams covered Rice Fielding with
ker rife.
"Not another step" she cried, warn
S-gly, mot another inch or you're Z
lead man.
Good God!' yelled Fielding, tits
Nance"
There she stood, erect as . statue
target for dozen guns!
s.Nance Williams cried, ssfOr GOO
sake come down."
.If they take the professors claim they
walk over my dead body ter get it. What
are you goin' to do. Rice Fielding?
Don't shoot, boys. Nance-pus III
your gun-l'n quit. In heavens name