Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-09-26

was there any hope Of it's being en-
forced.
While the others talked there was
n man who thought. Hiram Perkins
did not recover from having see his
little pet made a cripple. He resolved
that Portley's automobile should never
pass his place again. But how was he
to prevent it? By means Of the law?
Portley's pocketbook was mightier
than the law. Dig a trench across the
road and mask it? That would be
murder. One day Hiram read an adj
~vertisement Of the sale Of government
condemned goods. This gave him an
idea, and his idea grew to a plan.
At a quarter past 10 on the morning
after Farmer Burton had signed an
instrument acknowledging full indem-
nifty for the injury done his daughter
and had received his check MI. Port
ley's automobile came down the road
at its accustomed speed. AS it ap-
preached Hiram Perkins farm Mr..
Portley heard q cracking noise and
saw SMOKE ahead.
whats that1" he asked of his
chauffeur.
Looks as If soldiers were firing
across the road" replied the chauf-
feur, slowing up.
At reduced speed they approached
the firing. 1t was on Hiram Perkins
ground. He had mounted a rapid fire
gun Of an obsolete pattern on a pile Of
stones four feet from the ground, with
Its muzzle pointed at a target set up
across the road. Hiram was lazily
turning the crank.
"Hey, you old fool! Are you crazyr'
yelled Mr.. Portley.
Hiram ceased turning his crank and
looked at the automobiist.
"Why, no; I reckon not" he replied.
I'm only shootin' at q mark"
"Go on, Pete" said Mr.. Portley to
his chauffeur.
The automobile gave q few prelimi-
nary puffs, and Perkins began again
to turn his crank, sending a storm of
shut of In a hurry.
What do you mean," roared Port
ley, "by monopolizing the road in that
fashion?'
who's monopolizin' the road?' ask
ed Hiram, ceasing to turn the crank.
"You; firing that thing across it"
"Pm shoottn' at a mark peaceable.
own twenty acres on this side and
eighty on the other side. Reckon I've
got a right to do what I please on my
own property"
"You haven't a right to obstruct the
road"
II Amt touchin' the road"
Portley was puzzled, but only for a
moment. He was sure Of the farmers
motive.
"How much DO you want to stop
your pract1cing when 1 want to pass
your farm?'
There was a world Of calm intensity
In Hiram's tone and name as he re.
piled:
you hain't got money enough to
stop my practiein' at any time"
Mr.. Portley ~refrained from further
argument. He felt sure that if he
couldn't buy his way from the farmer
he could buy 1t through a lawyer. He
gave orders to his chauffeur to turn
and hurried back In no good humor to
take another road, doubling the dis.
lance to the city. On reaching it he
went straight to his lawyers office,
told how Hiram Perkins was monopo
LIKING the highway and asked how he
should proceed.
"There's no law" said the lawyer,
ITO prevent a mar firing on his OWL
property, ever If the highway runs
through it."
what! No law to keep him from
shooting me as I pass his farm7"
IF he shoots you Intentionally, it's
murder; if unintentionally, you have
an action for damages"
II don't want no damages after Tn
dead" exclaimed Mr.. Portley. in his
irritation dropping into the double
negative Of his earlier years.
1.-THE only way I see out Of it," the
lawyer went on, looking at the ceiling
thOughtfully. sis TO meet what an