Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-04-05

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saIu. "Ueclueuly.'
"AIit a revolver and keep dot hous'
dose men outT
"Yes."
"vell. put you in dot house today"
Sunday"
"Shoost so. 1t is goot day. On
der Suntay drce men will out go to
walk nit demsellutfs. Two" holding
up two gigantic fingers, apparently
only Il shade or two smaller than his
destined victims. "bleiben dar. Dose
If! d" fence over"
FASTENED to inform him that any
violence attempted against the parties
while in possession. although that pos.
session WAS illegal. would, by fatuity
of the law, land him in the county Jail.
| said | would not hear Of it.
But suppose dcre vos no tiolence.
Suppose dose men vos villin. eh? How
vos dot for high!"
81 don't understand"
so. You shall not understand. Dot
is better. Go away now and dell your
men to COON dot house arOunt at halluf
past drce But you COON NIT your
seluff alone. shoost as if you vos for
walk. by dat fence at dree. Ven
you shall dot front door vide open see,
go in, and dere you vos. You will der
rest leef to me-"
1t was in vain that begged Ruetli
to divulge his plan and pointed out
again the danger of his technically
breaking the law. but he was firm, as
suring me that myself would be a
witness that no assault would be made.
looked into his clear, good humored
eyes and assented. had burning de-
sire to right my wrongs, but | think ]
also had considerable curiosity.
passed miserable quarter Of an
hour after | had warned my partisans
and then walked alone slowly down the
broad. leafy street toward the scene Of
contest. have very vivid recolec-
tion of my conflicting emotions. did
not believe that | should be killed. !
had no distinct intention of killing any
of my adversaries. But had some
considerable concern for my loyal
friend Ruetli. who, ] foreSaw, might
be in some peril from the revolver In
my unpra eiccd hand. If | could only
avoid shooting him | would be salts
fed. | remember that the bells were
ringing for church-a church Of which
my enemy. the chief squatter. was a
deacon in good standing-and felt
guilty conscious of my revolver in my
hin pocket us two or three churchgoers
passed me with their hymn books In
their hands. | walked leisurely so as
not to attract attention and to appear
at the exact time, not very easy task
in my youthful excitement. At last !
reached the front gate with beating
heart. There was no one on the high
veranda. which occupied three sides of
the low one storied house. or in the
garden before it. But the front door
was open. softly passed through the
into the house. \ single glance around
the hall and bare deserted rooms, still
smelling OF paint. showed me II was
empty ana with my pistol in one hand
and the other OH the lock of the door |
stood inside ready to bolt it against
any one but Ruetli. But where was he!
The sound of laughter and noise
like skylarking came from the rear OF
the house and the back yard. Then |
suddenly heard Ruetli's heavy tread on
the veranda. but ii was slow, deliber-
ate and SO exaggerated in its weight
that the whole house seemed to shake
with it. Then from the window be-
held an extraordinary sight. 1t was
Ruetli. swaying from side to side, but
steadily carrying with outstretched
arms two of the squatter party. his
hands tightly grasping their collars.
Yet | believe his touch was as gentle
as with the violcts. His face was pre-
ternaturally grave. Theirs. to my in
tense astOnishment. while they hung
passive from his arms. wore that fatu-
Gus. imbecile smile seen on the faces OF
those who lend themselves to tricks or
acrObatS and strong men in the arena.
He slowly traversed the whole length
of one side of the house. walked down
the steps to the gate and then gravely
deposited them outside. | heard him
say. dot wins der pet. amt it?" and
Immediately after the sharp click of
the gate latch.
Without understanding thing that
rad happened. rightly conceived this
vas the cue for my appearance with
nv revolver at the front door. AS !
opened ii | still heard the sound OF
laughter. which, however, instantly
stopped at Il sentence from Ruetli which
could not hear. There was an oath.
the momantary apparition Of two furi-
Gus and indignant faces over the fence.
but these. however. seemed to be in
stantly extinguished and put down by
the enormous palms Of Ruetli clapped
upon their heads. There was pause.
and then Ruetli turned around and
quietly joined me in the doorway. But
the gate was not again opened until
the arrival of my partisans. when the
house was clearly in my possession.
Safe inside with the door bolted.
turned eagerly to Ruetli for an eXpla-
nation.
1t then appeared that during his oc-
casional visits to the garden he had
often been an object of amusement ana
criticism to the men on account OF ~
size, which seemed to them ridiculous
ly inconsistent with his great good hu
NOR. gentleness and delicacy OF touch
They had doubted his strength ana
challenged his powers. He had re-
sponded once or twice before. lifting
weights or even carrying one of his
critics at arms length for Few
steps. but he had reserved his final feat
for this day and this purpose. 1t was
| for bet, which they had eagerly ac
cepted. secure in their belief in his
| simplicity. the sincerity OF his motives
| In coming there and glad Of the oppor
tunity of little Sunday diversion
In their security they had not locked
| the door when they came out and haC
not noticed that he had opened it. This
was his simple story. his only com
ment: II haf von der pet. but dlnk'
| shall nod COLLECT der money. Th'
| two mon did not return that afternoon