Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-04-03
CHAPTER II.
A day or Two went BY.

4
out for long time 10 come. even if
nothing more of.the kind which had
aroused it were to happen, for the recoI-
| lection OF horse stealing transaction
was to the early settlers what our late
war is to those who took part in it,
something to be talked over and won
dered about every time two or three in
terested neighbors get together.
Monday morning Dick happened to be
wanting an iron of some sort to make a
repair on his plow. Not finding one about
Mr.. Boone's house or barn, he went over
to Mr.. Porter's to see if he could find
what he wanted there.
Samanthy was in the front yard, giving
little vicious dabs at n coat which was
hanging on the clothes line. She had
basin OF soapsuds on block of wood be-
side her, and with this solution, applied
with O rag, she was endeavoring to ac-
| complish something with the garment be-
fore her.
"Have you taken to cleaning old
cIothes?" asked Dick, coming up behind
her, unohserved.
Samanthy gave little piping cry, that
was first cousin to a fashionable young
lady's shrek, and nearly jumped cut of
| her Shoes she was so startled.
Land o. goodness, bow you scairt me-
she cried. Il didn't know as there was
/ man anywheres round the diggn's."
Il don't believe you're as much afraid
of the men as you'd like to make me
think you are" laughed Dick. I'D like
/ to know what you're doing"
I'm cleanin' up that feller's coat" an
swered Samanthy, with vicious empha-
sis on that Teller" and an accompany
ing vicious twitch Of the garment be-
longing to him.
Cant he clean his own clothesT ask
cd Dick, eying the coat closely. us he
so busy he can't find time TO do it him.
self"
Il s'pose So" answered Samanthy,
spitcfully. EFF he had couple more
gals to make fools of, we'd hcv TO wait
on him the whole endurin' tine"
Meaning Mamie aud"
An Rhody," said Samauthy. finish
ing the sentence for Dick. "Oh, amt
blind by no means! Bless ye, I've seen
how things was a-goiu' fer good spell
/ back, an jest keep a-puttin' in my say
whenever ! sit chance, am you jest
mark my words an see if that Teller
don't have a fallin'-out with both O them
gals afore long. I've talked TO Nancy,
an I've talked to Rhody, an 'twont be
SIGH great while afore ! cit 'em work
ed up soft they'll give Mr.. Singin' Teach
er TO understand that he can't palaver
round 'em both in the way he's dom
now Ye see. the way it's now, he's
a maxim Rhody bleeve she's payin' fuSt
fiddle when he's with her, an when he's
with Nancy, why. she's the one. Gals
don't put up with the idee o playin sec
ond fiddle for nobody, so there's a-goiu'
to be the biggest kind of rumpus afore
great spell. an / amt mite ashamed
to own up that I'm a-doin' all | can to
help it along. Consarn his picter, don't
like him. an never did. He was assay.
in suthin' he thought awful sharp about
oil maids, t'other day. but | didn't let on
| heerd him. though knew he was assay
in it fer my special benefit, but, thinks
l, jest you wait an see il there hain't
one oil maid that's enough fer ye, when
she gifts chance to do suthin'."
Il have beea considerably worried on
Rhoda's account" said Dick. Having
no mother to advise her. he has greater
chance TO influence her than Mamie. And
think, too. that Rhoda cares more for
him than Mamie does"
Il guess you're right about that re-
sponded Samanthy, but Sc needn't wor-
ry Rhody's smart enough TO look out
fer herself, / reckon. though she's kind
o soft about some things like most alt
gals"
well, l hope so" said Dick. rather
skeptically. however. But it seems TO
, ne that th&t coat must be uncommonly
, dirty. judging from the amount OF labor
you are laying out on it"
"Tain't exactly dirt" explained So
manthy. Its pitch. He's danbed one
sleeve clear up to the elbow"
I'D like to know where he's been to
, set pitch on his clethesr' wondered Dick.
There isn't pine tree anywhere about
! the neighhoFhood. though there may be
some small ones near the Big swamp"
Il dunno where he got il from. but it's
there. sure enough" responded Saman-
/ thy. HE come a-fetchin' out the coat
little spell ago as pomp'us as a kurRel
, o m'lishy. trainin day, an sex he: !
want this cleaned as ef was obieegei
, to trot round when he told me 10. III
5 give you quarter ef yon7l clean il.
: says he. a-seein' that was goin' 10 git
huffy bout helm ordered round. That
} made difference. / couldn't arm quar-
: ter any quicker, so l said I'd do il. an
! that's what I'm up 70 now"
"Samanehy," said Dick. in low and
. mysterious whisper, Il believe could
; tell where that pitch came from"
, 'Why-what dye meany' asked Sa-
F; mahthy. her weman's curiosity all arous-
r ed in an instant by the air OF mystery
abont Dicks words and manner
Il mean Just this: That | believe
) Wayne's a rascal" answered Dick. II
believe he could tell us who stole those
horses If he saw fit to-"
Good land o deliyeEaucer' cried Sa-