The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-07-19
FOURTH
An Unexpected Surrender.

in the semi darkness of the store.
But the government survey shows
it's his'n," drawled a nasal voice that
seemed to be in discord with the sum
mer evening.
can Lank is deservin' of bein'
helped" piped up the horse trader
Amsbaugh.
"Still it goes agin the grain" and
the postmaster shook his head as he
pulled together the strap of the single
mail pouch that came to New Basel.
"Of course, this here Englishwoman
ha1n't no right to the strip of land nor
tn hay on it, but Lankis askin' a good
deal when he wants us to turn in an
help him jerk tn crop into his barn in
tn night"
"And on the Fourth of July, too"
added Amsbaugh. "StiIl you know
he promised to treat us white when tn
job was done Hank !" as a step was
heard outside.
In a moment a comedy woman's form
appeard outlined against the darkness
of the night. The men looked at one
another sheepishly, but she did not
notice them and walked straight to
the rude counter.
"a quarter of a pound of rat poison"
she almost whispered, so gentle was
her voice.
Silently the storekeeper put it up
for her and then she was gone. There
was a rattle of pony's hoof outside be-
fore anyone spoke. 1t was Amsbaugh.
What dye think now?" he asked tri-
umphantly.
Coin ter pizen him." drawled the
nasal voice.
"Guess we'd better CO." admitted
the storekeeper. Il don't like tn
looks of things an l believe Lank is in
the right"
There was a little council of war and
then the door was shut and a half
dozen forms cantered away across the
dusky plain toward farm house lights
twinkling in the distance. The widows
inopportune errand had decided her
fate at their hands and they had agreed
to help out their comrade.
Melancthon did not believe his nick
name, Lank. He was long, bony and
ungainly. He had been the only
bachelor in the little colony when it
came out from Ohio to the western
country, and had never married. He
had taken up a claim like the rest and
lived on it alone.
A few weeks previous the English
woman had purchased the adjoining
quarter section and claimed the hand
some wedge shaped piece of bottom
land which the government survey
by an error had left unaccounted for.
Melancthon had always used this
strip and was bound to keep posses
sion. The Widow Morley had hired
the grass cut and stacked while her
opponent was called to the county seat,
sixteen miles away, by jury duty; and
now he proposed a flank movement,
assisted by his friends. The following
evening the hay should stealthily be
transferred to his own barn.
Melancthon rose early on the NOR
row. He took down a tattered flag
which had done service in the old
training day S and hung it against the
wall. He decked himself in a red sash
and a blue army chat with brass but
tons and after dinner started out for a
stroll.
1t was intensely sultry with banks of
white clouds floating aimlessly here
and there across the electric blue sky.
He rambled toward the disputed land,
thinking, and chuckling as he thought,
how neatly he would outwit his enemy.
His heavey boots swished through
the uncut grass before reaching the
moved section. "Cold day when any
body gifts ahead of me-" he unused,
IAN to day amt chilly. Mighty good
time to declare my indepen-well,
what's. that2'
A curly head rose from the bending
grasses and wilddowers before him,
almost at his very feet. It turned and
a round, babyish face looked up into
| his bronzed and harsh one.
"Wen, little one, where did you drop
| down frOm?'
From mammals house." replied a
sweet, girlish voice. "It's lonesome
over there an I ruined away"
"Who is your mother?"
"Just mamma. Are you a soldier!'
The child took in with eager glances
the semi-military appearance of Me-
lancthon's attire.