The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-16

bridge built over the Pemmican. The peo-
pie around there were puzzled to know
it meant, for nobody but me an him
an the widder knew anything about the
terms OF his contract. The wilder sot In
her house on the hill and watched the men
work, just like a mother watches her chill
dren at play on the grass. In just fifty
eight days the bridge was finished. The
time was gettin' uncomfortably close, but
Champ was cheerful as a cricket and
showed no encouragement.
Zone more day was spent in preparin'
for the boldest part OF Champs contract
the stealth of the county courthouse.
That night two hundred men, armed with
Winchesters, rode out toward Penner-ile,
an follerin' them was fifty teams OF horses,
an a lot of trucks. ropes an jackscrews.
1t was past midnight when we stole into
the town and surrounded the courthouse,
which, fortunately. was a light two-story
frame building. with the courtroom below
and the offices overhead. Before the cit
liens of the town were aware of it, we had
the courthouse raised with the jackscrews.
an the trucks rolled under 1t, ready to
start. Then somebody discovered us. an
raised an alarm. The men with Winches-
tiers fired a volley of blanks, an scattered
the residents to their homes. At daybreak
the courthouse was well out of town.
crawlin' slowly over the prairie toward
Weepin' Willer. The citizens OF Penner-ile.
headed by the sheriff an Judge Winslow.
now charged us, but the men with Win
chesters held them back for a time. They
fought us all that day, an they kept re-
inforcin' their men until it looked as if
they'd round US up in spite of everything.
But Champ kept whistlin' an iokin' 70
cheer us fellers on. At sunset we got in
sight Of the bridge over which Champ pro-
posed to roll the courthouse. Winslow's
crowd got thicker an madden every min
ute, an kept up a steady fire. Our men
an horses were nearly played out. an
some OF us were carryin' bullets from the
enemy. Champ showed signs of eakne
but when he caught sight of a figure
standing on the porch of Nancy Newby's
house. he seemed to take fresh energy.
Nancy was wavin' at him.
while we were advancin' stem bv stem
Judge Winslow wasn't idle. He rode over
to Weepin' Willer and hired some men to
lay dynamite under the bridge: an hang
me if they didn't blow the north end of
'ANO SBiAiAtClcs WHtu we were
only a hundred yards away. This hap
pened about dark, and Champ mighty nigh
collapsed at this unexpected disaster. He
called his men around him for council. 1t
was impossible to go any further until the
bridge was repaired. To do that would
require a weeks time, and his contract
with Nancy was up at II o'clock that night.
l tell you, stranger, it looked bilious for
my pard. He sent the teams an drivers
home, an a few of the men with VIM
chesters were hired to guard the court
house until mornin'. Champ determined to
save the courthouse even if he lost the
wilder. After supper me an him lay down
in the clerks Office to rest for the night.
Now, stranger, the most unusual thing
l ever saw happened before midnight.
Along about 10 o'clock a big, black, roar
in cloud come UP from the southwest. 1
saw we were in for a storm, for the wealth
er was right for a big blow. Before we
were aware of it a cyclone was comm
straight toward us. The earth shook. and
the courthouse on wheels rocked like a
cradle. AS the storm struck us, the build
ing raised in the air, Champ an me
a-holdin' on to whatever we could. Then
came an awful crash, something fell on me,
an 1 was knocked senseless.
1.-THE next mornin', stranger, when
opened my eyes, the sun was shinin' in
my face. 1 was still in the clerks office,
lying on a table. Things were torn UP all
around us, but Champ was feelin' jolly as
a robin. He was standin' by the winder
talkin' to Nancy. who was standing by her
winder. You see the cyclone had picked UP
the courthouse, carried it across the
Pemmican, an sot it down right alongside
o'lNancy's house."
"What became of Winslow?" / asked.
why, Nancy settled him. He COM
menced to raise a rumpus, an Nancy
says: John Winslow, where did you get
all your wealth. He hung his head for q
minute, an then lookin' up appealin' like
to Nancy, he says: Nancy, if you'll never
mention that agin, I'll move Penner-ile
over to Weepin' Willer, an be one of your
honorable citizens An he did. Good day.
stranger ALPHA cox.