Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1891-06-12

IL
unnecessary risks. l knew the
malice of the Multums never
sleeps, besides Mrs. Mossbacl
dreamed three times in one nigh,
that | WAS languishing in Jail
Musing upon lost privilege and
opportunity at length induced {
detection, from which / could onl,
free myself by fishing trip tc
the Charlton Fishing and seek
Ing office are alike, both empha
sized by chsnce and uncertainty
and neither success without the
element of luck-or the trickery
of money. Here l may say that
the Multums get their fish as they
do their otfice-they buy them.
Un the third day OF court
started to the river, taking with
me my hooks, my gun and four Of
my dogs. l had not been there
long enough to get bite, when
saw a party coming down the riv-
er. There were several of them,
and soon saw they were from
Lancaster. AT once | grew appre-
hensiYe and began to look for the
deputy sheriff. He was not with
them, however, and [ felt relieved.
Directly they came up, and each
one recognized me. One of them
a tall, bony specimen nearly seven
ieet in his socks, cried out:
"Ah, Mossbsck, better get out
of thisl They will be after you
to-day from town"
"Who? what for??" l asked in a
breath.
Fellows from Lancaster" he
said; "they are ali plotting against
you. The deputy sheriff wanted
me to come with him this morning
after you. They want you for libel,
for transcending your authority
when justice OF the peace, and [
don't know what all. You'd better
get across the river, or somewhere
else, pretty quick
This walking skeleton has tie
OF prrctical joker of
the worst sort, and | tried to make
the most of this fact.
You are not in earnest" | said
very much as a criminal might say
ii to the Judge after sentence.
"Ain't II" he demanded. ASK
these fellows with me-"
They volunteered confederation
i'll chorus. Long and bony re-
marked, Better get, Mossback.
Llsien!"
Just then | heard wheels at a
distance, and disordered fancy at
once painted 1t out as the depu-
TVS cart. 1t was no time to wait
for developments, | knew the
Multums were hungering for my
liberty and 1t felt doubly sweet
Just then. Into the river l plung
ed headlohg, leaving ny gun, my
hooks and even my dogs. The
water was quite deep, but my old
skill at swiming did not forsake
ne. just rs gained the opposite
bank, long and bony shouted:
Run for it, Mossback! Here he
isl"
| didn't look back. Through the
timber ] ran at my utmost speed.
Out OF breath at last. l sat down
at q distance from the road to rest
and think. The malice of the
lultums was certainty, and |
doubted the friendship of the
Judge. 1t was more than proba-
Die my enemies had told him [ |
voted for Higbee, and, while this
vas not true, great men rarely |
'toop to enquire into designing
alsehoods. l shuddered with the
conviction of danger. [ must not
eturn to the county till court ad-
ourned. Yet [ couldn't think of
asting for possibly two weeks. An
I'D acquaintance lived near Mar
instown; I would visit him. AT
er being called a tramp about a
hundred times on the road, l fin
lily reached his house. He was
ather cold and distant, as old
riends usually are when called up
n unexpectedly. He is member
+ the Alliance, though his old
Democratic views are unaltered.
lie is selfish and parsimonious al
lost to dishonesty. Not long ]
fter reaching his house, my ez-
rtion in running and exposure in
le water began to tell on me. A
all was followed by severe indis- ,
osition, lasting nearly a week. At (
y request doctor was called.
e had been with the Putnam S
ilitia, and happened to know me. s
e said my illness was mainly due b
nervous excitement in time of ]
ar. Afier this remark, l dis
'lned to take the stuff he left. .
citing up at last, / was informed :,
my old acquaintance that | h h
red him a weeks work for board =
d trouble. 1t was almost an +
roclty, but what could | do?
lree days [ drudged like Mig ST
r, blistering my hands and hate d,
3 the Multums terribly. The Il
nlly retired early one night, and q,
tOle nnlselasslu amau from, 4Lo