Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-01-04
SOWERBY'S SQUIRTING


home" but the stove was glowing red
through its inch thickness of iron, and he
knew that the wind was against him on the
Hacketville road. The storekeeper was un-
wrapping a grateful of lamp cnimneys and
ranging them on the shelf when tae creak
of wagon wheels on the crusted snow was
heard outside and "Old Man" Sowerby en-
tered the store.
"Old Man" Sowerby was long and lean,
with long, serious face, brush of white
hair and twinkling eyes. Hancock greeted
him almost with effusion, Frightening per-
ceptibly ~ Mr.. Sowerby drew Of his clumsy
yellow leather gloves, with the red wool
wrist attachments, kicked of his arctics
and pushed his fur cap lightly 70 the back
Of his he'd.
Have seegsr On M, Unels Jake" he
aid, cordially, = the old gentleman
fumblsd in his pocket and drew out corn
cob pipe. II guess you can stand one. Rufs
hates to have EN- smoked around the store,
but he dassent say so. You asst him an he'll
tell you they smell good. Give W three
with the red collars on, Rufe. II anythin'
happens I'll tell the coroner you hain't to
blame"
I'm seasoned" remarked "Old Man"
Sowerby, biting of the end Of cigar and
striking a match. II tor you how come
got seasoned, didn't L"
"You started To-" Ah Hancock, 'sbut
Mis- Sowerby headed you of. never seen
you shet up so meek. You said that was
in refrunce to your lickin' her pap"
"Old Man" Sowerby chuckled, $50 Il
was he said. "I1l tell you about it, seein'
she hain't around now. 1t was when was
sparkin' her. Her pa had the reputation
Of being one Of the toughest old nuts in the
deestrick. An Sarah wus the only gal he
had. Mis- Walker died when she wus jest
a little runt, so JEFF, the old man, allowed
he'd keep her home indefinite Some of the
young bucks kind OF objected, but JEFF had
a mighty effectual way Of discouragn' 'em.
Lafe Blevins allowed at he'd make Sarah
visit one night, an come back with his face
all raveled out. Jim Allen, him that KEEP
the grocery at Hacketville. undertook the
same thing, with the same result"
Mighty good lookin' woman now, Uncls
Jake" said Wash, politely.
"She hain't a. young a. che was, en-
neither am l." said Sowerby. II wus q
tol'able husky boy then and hadn't seen
the man l was s'skeersd ter tackle. So
one evenin' spruced up in my best clo'es
an put some scented lie on my hair an
hopped in my single-footer an lit out for
the Walker residence.
Seemed like was % luck, for Sarah
wus in an JEFF wus out. wasn't nachally
hashful, an made the xnost of my time.
! don't know how late il wac when We
walked down TO the gate together, but il
was toPable late. The fret thing we knew
we heard a horse comm down the road an
my horse began 70 whinny. Sarah started
for the house, but she hadn't got there an
! hadn't got my horss united before old
JEFF come ridin' up.
"'Who y this? he says.
"'lt's me- l says, handin' the Aick'ry
clubs cut on the way down kind O keer.
less. I thought I'd come down an ~ how
you was. Some Of the boys said you was
ack an l allowed ia BE- nsghborly 70
CALL
"Why, howdy, JaksH Ae says, just's
ticiled a. he could be sssmed like. I had
60 go down to Beder's 70 zee them hogs Of
his an l couldn't get away. Tie up your
hoss again an come in. II amt 20 late
but what you can stay awhile longer
Il wuE leetle sort O. suspicious, but l
follered him into the house an he got out
some 48-hour-old corn whisky an couple
O. pipes an twiSt O. terbacker as longs
your arm. l had 70 take sociable smoke
with him. l reckon he knew I'd never
smoked before. took half dozen whiffs
an my head began to swell. 1t got bigger
an bigger-as big a. bucket-as big as
barrel--as big as a barn-an' everything else
grew in proportion. l could see old JEFF
loomin' through the smoke with a smile
yard wide, an his voice sounded far away
like. Then ! broke out into cold sweat
an my hair began TO brstle an my innards
TO crawl an drooled like two-months-old
baby. Finally couldn't stand it no longer,
an got up an said l b'lieved I'd mosey
along hime.
81 hoped the old rip would have give me
q chance outside, but he never let ON he
seen there wus anythin' wrong an stood
at the door with light. Before got half
way to the gate JEFF commences to whoop
an laff an holler, an then blamed il he
didn't loose his dog on me. At first con-
cluded | wanted to die, an bein' eaten raw
was as good death as any, but l changed
my mind as l kicked against my hick'ry
clubs, an as the dog come up nit him a
belt. Then crawled on old Roany an rode
off until got out o sight O. the house.
Then got down an held close communion
with nature for spell.
81 met o. JEFF four days after in town an
] walked up to him an says, says L. JEFF
Walker, you're an internal, no-account
onery old limb an can whip you
THAT was all he wanted. We come to-
gether tight there, an | want to y-he wus
about all care to handle When did get
him down he held on like bull pup. Final
ly | pushed him off an pounded him until
he holered 'Nuf!' reckon it was week
after that | met him at housewarmin' at
Perry Spencer's Sarah wus along, but she
seemed to be tryin' to keep away from me.
Finerly | got her cornered an ! asst her
what wus the matter an what she wus mad
about.
What did you lick pa for? she says.
Because it wus strictly ness'ry,
says. If I've got to lick your pap seven
days in the week, hand runnin', to see you
I'm goin' to do it,
"She sorter looked tickled an then all Of
student she looked skeered / didn't
know why until Of JEFF teched me on the
arm.
HsVou ~uon't ,aad N J.La ~ cav. Iv.