Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-01-07

that his neighbor had expressed delight
over the damage. The more Smith and
Brown became infamed the larger the
amounts of stuff Snooks borrowed. for
be had discovered that all that was
necessary to open Smiths granary was
to tell some particularly bloody threat
which Brown had made, and to get the
key to Browns storeroom he needed on
ly to repeat some imaginary boast of
Smith.
Thus the quarrel grew and grew. and
the dark cloud of discord hung lower
and lower over the once peaceful val
ley. One day Bill Snooks so enraged
Farmer Brown against Farmer Smith
that he resolved he could stand the
strain no longer, and when his willy
informant had borrowed a greater
amount of stuff than usual and taken
his departure. he concluded to go over
to Smiths and have it out with him.
Mrs. Smith was astonished, and a
little alarmed. when MIR. Brown almost
knocked the front door down, and when
she responded, demanded to know
where Smith was. Being told he was
out at the barn, the irate visitor march
ed thither, with savage tread. But as
he was about to lift the door latch to
enter, he heard Bill Snooks' small, pip
ing voice, mention his name. Now,
Brown despised an eavesdropper, yet
some strange impulse impeiled him to
stop a moment to hear what was being
said.
$50 Mr.. Brown accused me of pois-
oning his dog, did he?"
"Yes," he heard Snooks answer,
sand he said you ought to keep your
dog buttons for your own sheep killing
cur. and he intimated that you had put
poison in the spring down in his lower
meadow, to poison his cows, and may
be kill the whole family"
ssThe old scoundrel!''
s'Yes, and he said he was confident
you pulled down the dividing fence so
your hogs could get into his clover.
And, say. | would look out if was you.
He might give ,em something to kill 'ep
wouldn't put it past HIM"
| ''I1l watch him. But, l can't tel
how them hogs got over into his field.
I'm sure l looked the fence over care.
fully"
"Why," chimed IN Bill, ''I'll bet he
pulled out the chinks himself, SOS the
hogs could get in. SOS he could have
the fun of doggin' them. It's just like
him to do it. 1 tell you I've thought
him none too good to do it, ever since
he accused you of whippin' your wife.
"What! He didn't dare do that, die
her"
'sWell, he insinuated as much. Bu
that's nothin' for him to say. o.
course none of your neighbors would
believe such stuff. Say, Mr.. Smith
was you ever arrested for stealing
sheep?"
"Did he say that, too?''
Well, of course, didn't believe any
such thing, but it beats all what storie:
irresponsible people will tell"
"Oh cannot stand this much longer
I'll make him smoke, that will
''Yes, he ought to smoke, and know
you would make him if you knew al
the things he has said bout you. Bu
I don't like to repeat gossip, you know
and wouldn't have said so much al
ready. only wanted to put you on your
guard. By the way, Mr.. Smith. could
/ get another side of that bacon? l ex
pect to go to work cutting hoop-poIes
over on the ridge, next week, and II
pay
But he never finished the sentence
/ The barn door suddenly flew open
and in twinkling the little. squint eyet
Bill Snooks found himself being hurrie,
|; hence, with but bare time to catch hi
breath between the sturdy kicks plant
ed where kicks seem to do the mos
good. When he had been landed wel
, outside, Mr.. Brown came back, an
coming up to the astonished Smith