The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-06-18

on my Ianfagain want you to throw
him off,"
"Yes'm, I'll do it." replied the sturdy
Josh.
1t wasn't fortnight before CHS
holm came. He was on his way to the
house when Josh beaded him OF and
ordered him back. He refused to go,
and Josh laid hold ofs>him to do the
throwing act, but found himself lick
ed man in about three minutes. While
he sat on the ground with handful of
grass to his bleeding nose the victor
passed on to the woman, who had wit
messed the fracas from the front steps.
Lifting his hat, he said
Madam, those hogs Of yours have
been at it again-this time in my corn
field-and I've had to kill another"
"Have you dared to kill another of
my hogs?" she demanded as her cheeks
famed and her eyes flashed.
81 have. Shall 1 bury him?"
"Sir, you are scoundrelw
"And you are charming widow"
She drove to town at once to see her
lawyer. There was $40 in the case for
him, win or lose, and he advised her to
sue. She sued and got beaten again.
The defendant referred to her in the
highest terms, but he also proved that
her fences were out OF repair. The
lawyer saw $40 more in it, win or lose.
and advised Josh to prosecute for as
sa.ult and battery. Josh brought his
swollen nose and black eye into court
and was beaten by several lengths. He
had provoked the encounter, and II he
had got the worst Of it the law couldn't
help him.
1t was a month before anything fur
Their happened. The fences around the
hog lot were thoroughly repaired. and
for four weeks the porkers had to
make the best of their sad lot. Then
Josh left the bars down one night, and
as the widow was getting breakfast
she heard the crack of rife. Half an
hour later Mr. Chisholm appeared to
say:
"Good morning, Mrs. Jason Those
wretched hogs of yours rooted up my
garden last night and this morning l
killed another of them. If you want
another lawsuit, I'll drive you to town
In my own buggy"
"And you-you've shot another?" she
!, gasped.
81 have"
"Then I'd like to shoot you! You are
the meanest man in the state of Ohio!'
"Yes'm," he replied with bow as
he turned away.
!, Widow Jason drove to town to con
suit her lawyer again. There was SIC
In it for him, win or lose, but this time
Mr.. Chisholm was arrested for mali
+ ciOus persecution In his testimony ht
referred to the plaintiff as 'that lady
and exhibited no animus whatever, bu
he also proved that he was the one per
n secuted. The widows hogs would no
let him alone. She was beaten again
and this time a stout pen was built
and the hogs were shut up. The farm
ers had Of course taken sides. Som
contended that Chisholm had exhibite,
a mean and unneighborly spirit am
others that the widow had been dere
lict In not mending her fences, an
there was much talk and discussion
1t occurred now and then that the tw
principals met on the highway or
the crossroads meeting house, bu
while Chisholm lifted his hat and bow
ed as if there was nothing on his min
the widow, except for her blazing eye
seemed carved Of stone.
That pen held the hogs for a Ion
six weeks, but hogpens have the
weak points, and patience and pers
verance will seek them out. The h
sun warped board and made an opel
ing, and the industrious swine enlarge
it until one night they all passed OF
and headed straight for the next farr
They fetched up among the cabbage
pumpkins, squashes, melons and ca
rots, and during the long hours
darkness they ran riot. They we
missed from the pen early next NOR
! ing, and the widow sat down ON Il
| doorstep and cried. She cried becau
| she was vexed, and she cried becau
j she was woman. Every minute S
expected to hear the crack of On
bolms rifle, and she fully realized tn
er any further appeal to the law won
to be wasted She was vexed at t
of hogs, at Josh and at Chisholm. II
in tears were still falling when the ne
Ike neighbor stood before her and bow
en- and said:
it, "Mrs. Jason, those blamed hogs
yours damaged me hundred dolla
es worth last night"