Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-09-21
CHAPTER XII.

ii ERE were boys Ill CAlrO, Oi
course, and equally Of course
some Of them were bad. The
a bad ones used to do things to
annoy Roberts Little Missile" Robert
proceeded to thrash them upon every
proper occasion, and he did 1t with q
thOrOughness that left nothing to be
desired thereafter. When Robert had
.hrashed boy that boy went to bed
for repairs. And he was apt to be ret
icent as to where and how he had re-
ce.yed his bruises. That was because
Robert always ended fist encounter
with a warning.
"Ef you don't want double dose O
dis here you'll perhaps obstain rum
mentionin' de name O. de culled gen.
tleman wOt glib it ter YOU"
And the victim usually "Obsta!ned.
If he didn't it was presently the worse
for him.
Robert had been born in the south.
He had lived there till his fourteenth
wear. He had there imbibed certain
doctrines of pugnaciOus chivalry. There
had been bred in his bone the convic-
ton that 1t was every strong mans
duty to protect every woman and to
punish any disrespect shown to her.
1t was through one of Roberts bat
ties that Guilford Duncan became ac-
uuninted with his hostess, Barbara
Verne. That young woman very rare
" appeared in the dining room, and
so the young Virginian had scarcely
more than met her when one morning
on his way to breakfast he came upon
a battle between Robert-"free man OF
color" as he loved to call himself
and three Cairo boys who had waylaid
him In order to avenge the punishment
he had given few days before to one
of them who had playfully hurled half
n brick through Barbara's kitchen win
dow.
When Duncan came upon the battle
field Robert was backed up against
dead wall. Two of his adversarles had
gone to grass, and the third was hesi-
tating to prosecute the attack alone.
Seeing his hesitation, Bob-great STRAIT
ecist that he was-instantly decided to
convert his successful defense into q
successful offense without delay. Quit
ting his defensive position against the
wall. he rushed upon his remaining ad-
versary, who promptly retreated with
out waiting to reckon upon the casual
ties.
Then Bob jumped upon his other and
slowly rising antagonists, knocked
them down again and hurrledly exact
ed of each "wish may die promise
to let little Missile" alone from that
day forth.
Good for you, Bob" exclaimed
Young Duncan. "But we'll make that
promise more binding. Help me, and
I'll take these young ruftians before
Judge Gross and compel them to give
bonds for good behavior"
1t didn't take long to arraign the cul-
prits. prove that they had thrown
brickbat through Barbara's window
and secure an order Of the court re-
curing them to give considerable
bonds for good behavior in future.
This brought their parents into court
and subjected them to good deal OF
ANNOYANCE and trouble. They had to
give bonds, and, more troublesome
still. they had to control their boys.
Then again the newspapers published
the facts.
In this way Guilford Duncan multi
piled his enemies in Cairo. But he had
deep seated conviction that 1t IS
worth q mans while to make enemies
by doing right In this matter he had
done only right He had invoked the
law for the protection of q woman, and
he had completely accomplished MS
purpose. He cared nothing for the re-
vikings that ensued, but ODER, the man
of brains and character whs edited the
principal newspaper of the town, took
the matter up and made much OF 1t.
This town is barbaric," he wrote In
his editorial columns. 1T owes sincere
thanks to Mr.. Guilford Duncan for
teaching it that law Is supreme; that 1t
is to the law we should appeal in every
case of wrOngdoing. The parents OF
the young hoOdlums who have been
bound over to keep the peace have long
needed this lesson. This newspaper
rejoices that the lesson has been given
In SO emphatic and conspicuous a man