The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1891-06-13
A BaCkVOOdS Hold-Up."
EY CLARENCE PULLEN.

SOIICHtt
at midday was freezing. The red SOUR
refs ''chitter' and the rustic of SOM
| falling twig were the only sounds tina
/ broke the stiffness.
! But soon there were signs of life astir
! Among the bushes that lined the ole
Robinson logging road large gray vol
vas standing, with ears cooked, listen
! ing. y half mile away a black bear
lean from winters fasting, whom the
MONDAY warmth had tempted into the
outer air, was making the best of his way
back to his den. At the end of fallen
tree in roadside clearing a vicious
! looking loupccrvicr. or Canada LYNX.
with upturned, tuftcd ears, was dining
, off rabbit.
The wolf lifted his nose and howled
call presently answered by similar
sounds in other parts Of the forest. Then
he stepped into the path and waited.
Soon there was a glimmcr of yellow
metal among the lealless trees, the
crunching of frozen snow under mans
heel and round a turn in the road came
walking rapidly tall, slender youth,
carrying large brass horn s!ung to him
by strap passing over his shoulder.
This young fellow, Gideon philbrick.
taught the district school in Plantation
A. lie had left the Single camp of Pete
McDermott al hour before. and was still
three miles from home, with not house
to he seen in the whole distance.
Gideon from his tallness and BUDDING
whlskcrs seemed a man, but really was
only II years of age. His height and
sllmness were common subject of Jest
ing in the neighborheod.
You must have sprouted IN a cellar
grown rank" was Deacon Aminidab
Greens comment; and the young school
master had also been disrespectfully
compared to "a potato ball on whip
stick"
Gideon, who played the bass horn in
the brass band in his native village, had
taken his instrument with him into this
remote backwoods settlement. The peo-
pie looked with doubt at the great brass
piece with its tlaring end "bigger n
punkin leaf" and were not pleased with
Its melody. ''Cap'n" Otis Stinchficld
voiced the general opinion when he said
FOR hoe-down he'd gin more for
Il hull battery o such brass pieces as that
young spraout of school teacher wuZ
SO master fond o. tootin'."
The Pete McDermott referred TO was n
good-tempered, happy o-lucky fellow,
who made shingles in the winter. and |
hddled for those dancers at every merry
making in the whole country about. lie |
was always ready for anything but work,
10 when Gideon, taking advantage of a |
lift" on lumber sled, had visited his
camp on this Saturday he had gladly |
taken up his fiddle to join his guest in /
duets with the two oddly combined in
'truments. They had thus pleasantly
passed the hours together until it was
overtime for Gideon to start; and now
the schoolmaster was making his way
homeward with every prospect of finish
ing the walk by starlight.
About midway in his Journey the sound
'f iar-away bowling caused him to
quicken his pace. He had now reached
he point where we find him walking.
\ minute later he stopped suddenly at
he sight ahead of what seemed a mon
'trous dog facing him from the path.
For moment he paused; then walked
esolutely onward, hoping that the animal
would make way for him. But the crea
ure grinned fiercely. showing long white
eeth, and, with hair bristling along its
Jack, stood its ground.
The young man felt creepinr sens
ltion at the roots of his hair and down
us spine as for the first time he realized
hat he had wolf to deal with. He had
zone too far to retreat, and, jim desperation
tut his horn to his lips and blew it loudly.
with a frightful shrek at high
and ranging downward through a
umbled chromatic scale to a dismal
Yellow at double B fiat.
This hideous and unexpected sound
demoralized the wolf. which
capped upward as ifsomething had stung
i'm. His tail lowered until it swept
he snow, and he whimpered piteously;
hen with low, long jump he landed in
be wayside bushes and bolted over the
rest of a low ridge lying parallel with I
be logging road.
With sigh Of relief the young man
'alked on. But presently he saw that
he wolf had not gone far away, but was ;
INNING along the ridge as if he meant ,
keep him in sight. The sun had gone
own, the woods already were gloomy,
nd the bowling had come nearer. He ;
'resaw that in a few minutes more, the ,
olives would attack him. As he entered {
clearing he looked wildly about for I
omc way of escape. Near the middle ,
the opening stood dead birch tree of {
nusual size. Its top and small branches I
adj fallen, and the white bark was peel
lg away In great patches from its t
unk. !
Gideon started at full speed across the t
low-crust for this tree. Half way &c its q