St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-05-02
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
4 GALLOPING DICK TALE
By H. B. MARRIoTT-WATsoN

There was many an adventure be.
fell me in pretty broad circuit of life
that tickled my ribs to proper tune;
and have cackled over some es-
capades with wider mouth than ever
l sat out the most roaring comedy of
the playhouse. But of all the chances
that / encountered, what most rarely
served my palate was this unexpected
meeting in the west country, which, |
admit at the outset, and ere / saw
clearly the shape Of the predicament,
set my heart a-bobbing fast enough.
1t fell in this way:
Twas on Monday in the late sum-
mer of that year of grace 1885 that
rode up from the valleys of the north
in the company of Tony FIack, and we
came to a pause upon the hind quar-
tiers OF Exeter town. Tony himself
was for caution, and would have us
turn away to little roadside tavern
that we both knew for safe resting
place, with a staunch innkeeper to
boot. But I was for Exeter itself, for
to say the truth, my stomach was sour
with those rank swipes Of the country
side, and twas some days since
champed my teeth about a town The
facts argued with Tony, chicken
hearted as he was, and l will not deny
it; for there right before us lay the
argument, in the shape of rambling,
muddy, parti-colored chaise that was
creeping up the hill. Now it had SO
fallen out, more by way of jest than
by any material design, that we had
sacrificed the occupant of this same
carriage some ten miles back in the
thick of waste moorland that after
noon. Twas mere idle freak, taken
out Of wantonness and upon a merry
dinner, and by no means for the sake
OF the guinea or two that we found in
his pockets. Tony gives the nag a
slap Of his sword and off she goes a.
spinning down the highway for dear
life, with the coachman all a-sweat
with terror and the melancholy visage
Of gentleman in his red periwig
hanging out of the window; while
there we stood, the two Of us, laugh
ing broadside. The nag had a pie.
bald front to her, and the chaise, as
have said, was In several colors; and.
thus it happened that, the lights fall
ing suddenly on 'em in that tail of
the day, as we came out upon the back
of Exeter, Tony drew up and showed
his paw forward with mighty blank
face.
See there, Dick!" says he. "And
what dye think of that?"
Twas plain enough what I made of
it, but l only laughed.
Il mako chaise and the half" says
/, and / warrant to make two by the
time we reach Exeter" for, to be sure,
sWipes or no swipes, we had, each of
us, a good warm lining to the
stomach.
Tony cast me surly glance. "Rot
you'll" said he, IAN if the liquor spoil
your wits, I'll be d-n If it shall mine.
Nor | won't run my neck into the
moose for you nor any like you"
You're white-livered sort of cur.
you are, Tony" said I with another
laugh. "And suppose the traps will
be waiting for us in posse outside
the White Hart. And / shouldn't
wonder if the topsman himself was
to snatch of his hat to us as We
passed by"
"Sink mel" growled Tony, you for
get twas broad daylight when we
took EN-"
WELL" says I. st have a pe:i0n to
sleep in Exeter. and mind me of |
very dainty belly under my belt"
But Tony was still in sour mood,
and though he logged his horse to my |
summons, he spoke no word as we |
went up the hill. The chaise had |
vanished, but for all that could see |
his thoughts were twittering about it.