Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-08-24

would hold out against the newcomer
attacks.
Jake slid into the editorial chair after
carefully closing the door and old man
Bangs, with reluctant nod in the dircc-
ton of the bottle went on with his task.
"Sit down, r." said Jake briefly, pointing
to n chair and declining the implied invi-
tation.
Old man Bangs sat down and refreshed
himself with pull at the bottle
ITS n nice sort of night at the Four
Corners" he said cheerfully Il guess,
If the river keeps on risin, old Hutchinson
will be drowned out afore mornin."
"Mebbc," said Jake
"Therc's n sort of yarn, when the rivers
that high, " said old man Bangs, lighting
pipe, there's a sort of yarn when the
river rises suddenly it carries away a soul
with the mornin light. But I reckon you
NOM take no stock in such dun foolish
dess?"
Reckon I do" said Jake, still speak
ing without a sign of resentment. "Reck-
on do That's why I've come down"
".Jusso, - said old man Bangs, putting
away with undiminishod composuro.
'Jusso What's up, JakcS'
Jake carefully laid his revolver on the
table. Old man Bangs realized that his
visitor meant business and had him at n
disadvantage
Some folks at the Four Corners allow
cz this ycrc paper of yourn amt high
toned, said Jake carclessly. You don't
put on frills enough"
Old Man Bangs looked longingly at the
table drawer Guess l could put more
tone into the conversation if I'd the usual
seat, he said significantly and went on
smoking.
"Mebbe said Jake, "motbe." He laid
the papers he had brought with him on
the table Some of the folks at the Cor
ners was wishful of little native talent
in this one boss paper of yourn. They al
lowed, mcbbc, you ortcr take more stock
in poetry and native produce, such ez strad-
die bugs and chipmunks and things"
"All the fools at Corners amt dead
yet, " said old man Bangs savagcly.
Mcbbe" said Jake Il lowed ez they
was wrong Yer don't give old man
Bangs 1 chance, SCI to em. He's well
mcani11s old man Bangs, but yer don't
give him a chance. Now, if was to sort
er drop in on him pcrmskuslike and ask
him to give native talent n show, | SEE,
why, old man Bangs would be right
thar. so they lowed I'd better try"
Old man Bangs, with studied compo-
]
the papers on the table. He recognized n
note in his own spidcry writing which
Jake had pinned ON the top.
Il kinder told 'cm, said Jake, speak
ing with slow insistcnce, Il kinder told
'em ez I'd only to- take old man Bangs
down some native produce and he'd rear
up on end and print it straight Off.
Old man Bangs rose without a word,
walked to the composing case and rapidly
began to set up" the verses which Jake
had brought, his fingers flying with all
the precision Of machinery. After half an
hours hard work he screwed up the type
in form, took pull" and brought
it to Jake, who laboriously spelled through
the words, still keeping one hand on his
revolver and criticising the spelling with
n sublime disregard for conventional meth
DDS
Twill that do?" growled old man Bangs,
with sullen resentment at his enforced la
Dor
Jake gazcd admiringly at the poem so
rapidly called into being. 'Sorter pretty,
amt it? I'll tell the folks at the Corners
you amt no SLOUGH when you get Il chance
at native produce" he added atlmiringly.
He tucked the printed paper carefully
away into his vest pocket and sprang for
the door Old man Bangs rushed for his
revolver in the drawer of the distant table,
and, with deXtcIity acquired by long
practice, took flying shot at Jake as he
disappeared, then blew out the light and
waited for rcpriSals, but none came.
The brown mare scented her master as
he crawlcd slowly through the darkness
and hauled himself with difficulty into the
saddle. Gently, Winny. gently" he said.
Guess you d better crawl sortcr kcerful.
Old mans planted a bullet in my arm.
He alters shoots straight when he's blind
drunk.
The mare walked with her burden as it
swayed from side to side. Something
warm ran down her flank and made her
start. For three hours she paced slowly
along the narrow path, hating every now
and then when her rider chung to the sad
die and groancd for he was faint from loss
of blood. The wind fell as suddenly as it
had risen. Through the straight trunks
of the pines the swollen river glimmercd
here and there with faint streaks Of light.
A rift in the sullen sky betokcned the
coming dawn. With careful steps the
mare ploddcd onward, halting now and
again to look round at her master, who