Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-03-08
CHAPTER TX.

to Harrodsburg. He had proceeded
about two miles, when hs was loudly
hailed as follows:
Stop there, you Joel Logston; wan
few words with you"
"Hullo! Who are your exclaimed
Joel. refining up his horse.
A man with high cheek bones anc
downcast eyes, dressed In Indian style
emerged from the bushes and stood be-
fore Logston.
| I'm glad I've met you," said th'
man: lit may be the means OF saving
much trouble, you know. I'm Sila.
Girty."
and mean-lookin' scamp you are,
observed Logston, with perfect self
composure.
ugh" exclaimed Girty, with a scowl
Get out with your Internal Ingin non
sense" responded Joel. "You amt an
Ingin, nor amt fit to be one."
"Be careful, my fiery lad, because
you'd better bear in mind that you're
in a rather ticklish position about now"
Il amt afeared."
Hear what I've got to say, and It'll
be better for you In the long rum"
81 never rum" said Joel.
i've come agin' Boonesborough with
| a great army, and mean to take it;
| nothin this side t'other world can save
| 1t; but I'd rather they'd give in and
| knock under without fightin', for you
know Ingns can't be restrained when
| they get a taste of human blood; they
have naters hankerin' for blood" re-
/ sumed Girty.
"What terms do you offer, providin'
they'll give in without comm to hard
knocks?" asked Joel.
"Why, I'll let em all, big and little,
young and cd, march out Of the coun-
try unmoested. Amt that ar merciful,
ma agnanimous-like?
"Uncommon! But what are you goin'
to do with Harrodsburg?"
"Sarve it the same; cruelty's no part
of my natur'."
I'm beginnin' to like you." observed
Joel, with a curious expression.
You're game chicken, Logston.
I've often heerd on ye, and you'll
join US, I'll give you thousand acres
of prime land as soon as we've druv
out Boone and his fellers, and all the
rest on EN-"
Now, that's what I call ginerous"
exclaimed Joel.
80 it is, Logston; 1t Is the ginerous
policy that tells in all military leaders,
and I've lately added it to my other var.
tues. But there's one thing I e'enamost
forgot to mention. The fact is, I'm not
a married man, and to come right to the
pint, and to speak out manful-like,
there's a gal up there to the fort that
has made monstrous effect on me-"
whats her name, Captain Girty"
Eliza Ballard"
"WhoW asked Logston, with a start.
ELIZA Ballard" repeated Girty.
bright gal, captain, bright gall" ex-
claimed Joel, with forced composure.
Il know she is. I've watched her
when she went down to the spring for
water. But I've got two strings to my
bow, my boy; if shouldn't succeed with
Eliza ther's Fleming's darter, as pretty
a cre'ture as ever the sun shone on. SO
between the two | expect my heart Won't
get entirely broke down."
when the Ballard gals married, l
hope l shall be present at the weddin',"
remarked Joel, sentimentally.
''I'll make sure ont by askin' We now.
And bark. jine me in this affair, and
III say fifteen hundred acres instead Of
thousand"
Say two thousand Captain Girty,
and I'm your man"
well, | don't care; it won't make no
great odds: so two thousand it is.'
Give me that bread hook o. yOurn."
said Joel. cordially extending his hand.
Here 'tis,' responded Girty; Il shall
live to see you a rich land owner yet"
"A lot about six feet by two, per
haps," muttered Joel. "Tll carry your
terms up to the fort and do the best l
can; and I'll speak a good word to Miss
Ballard, for she's a beauty, Captain,
without varnish or whitewash."
Il shall depend on you, Logston.
knew you was my man, if l could only
see you face to face and really. it seems
as though Providence brought US to-
gether."
ut does So" returned Joel; 81 reckon
I'll ride down to Harordsburg first, come
to think it over" he added.
II wouldn't advise you to do that.
The woods amt quite safe in that d.
Iection. at this time" said Girty.
Hold here-jest another word about
Eliza Ballard" said Joel, leaning toward
Girty, and making a gesture for him to
present his ear.
There's the place l hear with" said
Girty. thrustng his head toward Joel.
Take that, you sneakin' renegade"
cried Logston, planting a stunning blow
exactly into Girty's hearing place"
that fairly lifted him from the ground.
and landed him head foremost in a heap
of brushwood beside the path, where he
lay motionless. with his heels in the
air. Joel cooked his rifle and pointed 1t
at him, but dropped the muzzle. saying:
''It won't do; the report would perhaps |
stir up a million redskins. Jay there, |
you internal good-for-nothin', while | |
give you my blessin'v' he adde1, looking |
at the motionless figure |
Of Girty. You amt nobody to speak |
on: you're a vile critter; you're a de- |
spisable turncoat; | don't know nothing |
bad enough to call you. If l had a |
knife I'd scalp ye. hang me if wouldn't.
so your own mother wouldn't know you!
Talk about Eliza Ballard, will ye? Give
me two thousand acres of land! o, you
snipe. you mud turtle. you unmerciful
coward. you double distilled villain!
That's my blessin'. Come away, Vesu-
vius; don't touch the dirty critter; dog
s known by the company he keeps"
The woodsman galloped briskly to-
ward Harrodsburg, his Indignation
mounting higher at every step Several