Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-05-08

Please write your stories on but one
side of the paper, and write neatly and
carefully, place your name, age and adj
dress at the end.
Select your prizes from among the
following articles: A string of beads,
thimble, knife, ball and book.
THE THREsHlkG OF BILLY TURN.
Had SUCH an incident come into
your life as boy would you, do you
think, have emembered it for twenty
years? Billy Turner did. Twenty
years Of hardship, twenty years Of
stress, twent years that brought to
him at last golden success. And al
was, IN the mountains prospecting, in
the placer diggings OF the canons, in
the desert-Billy Turner remembered.
And then, one day he came back
His fathers only brother had died,
leaving him little property, insignifi-
cant IN comparison to the wealth that
ne had wrested from the Hills; but
his presence was necessary as heir,
and he had come.
one afternoon stranger entered
GaoE , Griswolds store at the county
seat OF Harrison county. He was q
superb figure Of man, big, broad
shouldered, and with a face much tan
ned from long exposure. He laughed
bo1sterously when Griswold failed to
recognize him, but when he told his
name their hands gripped across the
counter. For an hour they sat to-
gether at the back Of the store talking
of the old days.
ooh, yes" Turner said, in the course
OF the conversation, "and there used
to be a teacher up in Number Nine
bennington; what's become of him? 2"
Mark Leamington?" Griswold re-
Piled
Turner nodded.
He's a lawyer now; been practis-
ing here good many years. He's
always around the Commercial House.
Why don't you look him up?"
Well Billy drawfed, don't know
but what l will. Think I'd find him
there now?"
Pretty apt to-" was the reply.
Presently he arose. "By the way,
George" he said. lis there harness
store round her handy?"
1.-TWO doors below, Billy" the other
told him.
Much obliged. See you again"
And he went out into the street.
He entered the harness store forth
with, and to the clerk said:
i want a whip"
"Driving?" he said.
mo, something shorter" He ran
his eye along the rack above the
counter. "Lemme see, that one. I'm
used to that kind"
1t was a short, mule whip, of the
sort known as "black-snake." Turner
gripped it firmly by the short stock
and drew the lash slowly through his
other hand.
II guess this'll do" he said, mo,
you needn't wrap it up. I want to use
it right away" He paid SO for 1t,
Topped it, thrust 1t under his coat, and
left the store.
Five minutes later he lounged up to
the desk of the Commercial House.
The young clerk offered him the pen
and reversed the dog-eared register
but Turner shook his head. II just
want to see Mark bennington" he
said, as he around anywhere?"
L AS ClOih SldACCu 1DOuI IlS OulCG.
yes" he replied, there he is;
through the arch there; by the win
dow"
Sure" Turner rejoined, funny l
didn't see him." Then to one Of the
bell-boys he said: "Just tell Mr.. Lean
ington over there, will you, there's a
gentleman out in front here wants to
see him. I'll be right outside" And
he awaited his mans coming on the
stone steps.
"You wanted to see me?" asked a
voice at his elbow.
Turner looked down into the face
uptufned to his, and curious cloud
crossed his eyes.
"Yes," he said. cts little private
matter. Got time to walk little way
down the street,"
bennington was quite agreeable and
they fell into step.
What they talked about is incense
quential, but they turned at the sec
ond corner. There the Canal barred
i1eir further way. Turner stopped.
Don't you know who am YETI" he
sked
bennington looked his puzzlement
He shook his head
well, my names Turner" he said.
bennington pursed his lips, squint-
ed, and shook his head again with a
smile.
"Billy Turner; the boy you thrashed.
Remember what / said to you after
you'd done it? l told you never to for
get" He thrust his hand beneath. his
coat and pulled out the whip. Then
Mark bennington remembered. He
went ashy. His trembling hands
clutched Turner's great forearm.
ave come three thousand miles"
Turner said. His jaw was square and
his black eyes flashed.
BILLY, Billy you amt going to do it.
You amt, really, are you Billy?"
Turner's hand gripped the stock Of
the whip. Ihs looked down into the
upt,Hned face of the man be-
fore him; Ace that wore the marks
of time and n struggle, face with
perhaps an elhnent Of the pathetic in
it, apart fronI Mhe terror that showed
upon it now. g
"Billy, you Lint are you? Don't
Billy" @