Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-08-12


moral support to Tom, who entered
last and alone. The minutes went by,
but no sound was heard from within.
81 tell We, boys" gloated Jack,
Toms the one fer Miss Merry. He'll
give her jest that. mixcher O. firmness
an blarney thatll cam even red
headed woman. Why amt we thought
O. this afore? While he's courtin' her,
we boys kin hev some liberties when
we come to town"
The door opened with explosive sud-
denness. Tom, with petriied face,
came hastily down the steps, and Miss
Nervy appeared so quickly behind him
as to almost tread on his spurs.
eff any of you men want to buy
goods here, come On! If not, get away
from my premises!" Her square jaws
fairly snapped shut. "And if your bust
ness is done, get back u work! Towns
no place for you'll
And Toms spirit was broken. He
took his share of the work in dull,
dogged manner that hurt his fellows.
Whatever Miss Nervy had said OF
done had been as an acid that bites
deeply. A smothered aversion to the
woman came to life. and among those
who frequerted Waxhaw, and loitercd
to trade with Miss Nervy and listen to
her vinegary speeches, the Flying
Flag" men were conspicuously absent.
One usually transacted business for
the outfit, and even his visit was brief.
At first, Miss Nervy ignored the alb
sence of the Flying Flag" contingent,
but finally curosity-a failing common
even to goddesses-mastered her She
was handing shcaf of mail across the
counter to Timber Jack.
"The Flying Flag seems to be CIV
ing lis 4 needed rest" she observed,
sarcastically. "IIas the foreman really
got them to work at last?"
They're mostly takin' turns at nurs-
in Tom Ketchum in their spare time
answered Jack, nonchalantly, as he
slowed away the mail.
What ails Ketchum?" she queried,
shade of interest crossing her face.
Seems to hev been breakin' down
fer the las three months" replied
Jack. "Acts jest like man l knew
at got clawed up with wil'-cat, an
los his sperrit. Sos when cayuse at
Tom was breakin' fell on him two
weeks ago, an smashed some ribs, he
kind o. give up an got fever. We
boys don't know much to do; but Bob
Vermillion, ats been hoss doctor,
he fixes up some mashes now an then.
We're all sorry"
"a horse doctor! What a pack of
fools!" scoldei Miss Merry. You'll
kill him amongst you"
Jack was at the door, but he turned,
and drawled, gently, "Oh, no, Miss
Merry; mis- death won't be at our
door. We all knows what's killed
Tom. He allays had more backbone
an life than any man on the range,
and no man er gang O men could do
him up hathaway"
who's that?" asked Sam, later in
the day, pointing across the prairie.
"A DuChUOSlu uldWu IL Wy q ioh5J SOii SA
was approaching
rig b'lcngs to the eatin'-house at
Waxhaw," said Jack, "but I can't see
who's drivin'.'
Just then turn Of the road brought
the slanting sun direct on the figure
on the drivers seat. It was woman,
and even at that distance they could
see the CLINT of FURNISHED copper.
Miss Nervy," calculated Bob. "Now
we're in fer it,"
81 don't see it hathaway" answered
Jack, eyeing the approaching figure
sternly. We'll meet her in body, an
calmly ask her to go back to Wax
haw, whar her talents'll be more ap-
preciated. Toms he'd 'nough O. female
wil'cats."
AS Miss Merry jumped nimbly to the
ground in front of the group, Jack ad-
vanced a trifie.
1--WE boys think ye'd better go back,
Miss Nervy-meaniE' no disrespec'
They amt nothin fer We TO do here"
For a brief moment only Miss Nervy
looked at Jack, but it was long enough
TO shrivel him into nothingness
"You boys think!" The repetition
was snarled with telling effect. Turn
ing, she drew a bulky package from
under the seat of the blackboard. you
boys have been thinking a good while,
and now suppose you do something.
Mister Jack, go to the cook-shanty and
bring me kettle of hot water-hot,
mind you-for herb-tea. Samuel Smith,
you take me in to Tom Ketchum, and
lot me see how near you've all come
to killing him. Bob Vermillion, you've
been a doctor long enough; you'd bet
ter go back to hosses, and you can be-
gin by taking care of mine. The rest
of you clear out. When want you
I'll let you know"
1t was after supper. The men
lounged on the crisp buffalo-grass that
sloped away from the houses. A hush
fell over the group as woman came
walking briskly over the grass toward
them. Miss Narvy1 stood before them,
stem as ever, but with no trace of
venom in her glance, and looked at the
men, who rose to their feet at her com,
ing.
"Tomorrow's Sunday" she an
nounced, land the circuit rider preach
es at Hoovers Ford. That's twenty
mile. Can one of you get him here by
tomorrow night?"
Great Caesar!" calculated Sam,
TON amt that bad, is he, Miss
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