The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1907-10-10
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wds there any hope of its being en-
forced
While the others talked there wa
one man who thought. Hiram Perkln
Gid not recover from having seen hi
little pet made a cripple. He resolved
that Portley's automobile should neve
pass his place again. But how was h,
to prevent it? BY means of the law
POrtley's potketbook was mightie
than the law. Dig trench across thu
road and mask 1t? That would b,
murder. One day Hiram read an ad
vertisement of the sale of government
condemned goods This gave q i'm ar
idea, and his idea grew to plan.
At Il quarter past 10 on the morning
after Farmer Burton had signed ar
instrument acknowledging full indem
nifty for the injury done his daughter
and had received his check Mr.. Port
| ley's automobile came down the road
at its accustomed speed. AS 1t ap.
preached Hiram Perkins farm Mr.
| Portley heard cracking noise and
saw smoke ahead.
whats that?' 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
ne Rring. 1t was on Hiram Perkins
wound. tie had mounted a rapid fire
( 80 II an obsolete pattern on pile Of
So les four feet from the ground, with
its muzzle pointed at target set up
across the road. Hiram was lazily
turning the crank
Hey, you old fool! Are you crazy p"
yelled Mr.. Portley.
Hiram ceased turning his crank and
looked at the automobilist.
"Why, no; l reckon not" he replied.
I'm only shootin' at a mark"
go on, Pete" said Mr.. Portley to
his chauffeur.
The automobile gave a few prelimi-
nary puffs, and Perkins began again
to turn his crank, sending storm Of
bullets across the road. The chauffeur
shut off in hurry.
What do you mean," roared Port
ley, "by monopolizing the road In that
fashion,"
who's mcnopolizin' the road?" ask
ed Hiram, ceasing to turn the crank.
You; firing that thing across it,
I'm shootin' at mark peaceable. I
own twenty acres on this side and
eighty on the other side. Reckon I've
got right to do what please on my
own property"
"You haven't right to Obstruct the
road"
Il 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 practicing when I want to pass
your farm?"
There was a world of calm intensity
in Hiram's tone and manner as he re-
piled:
"You hain't got money enough to
stop my practicin' at any time."S
Mr.. Portley refrained from further
He felt sure that If he
couldn't buy his way from the farmer
he could buy 1t through lawyer. He
gave orders to his chauffeur to turn
and hurried back in no good humor to
take another road. doubling the dis
tance to the city. On reaching it he
went straight to his lawyers office,
told how Hiram Perkins was monopO-
Iizing the highway and asked how he
should proceed.
"There's no law" said the lawyer,
ITO prevent a man firing ON his own
property, even IL the highway runs
through It,"
What. No law to keep him from
shooting me as pass his farm?"
"If he shoots you Intentionally, it's
murder; If unintentionally, you have
IN action for damages"
II don't want no damages after I'm
lead" exclaimed Mr.. Portley, In his
irritation dropping into the double
Negative Of his earlier years.
''The only way / see out of It," the
awyer went on, looking at the ceiling |
sis to meet what I am