The sun., 1909-02-28
IN THE COURT :
OF GREENHUT
He Reeoneiles Two Old Friends
Who Had Quasreilsd apd
Gets His Reward.

Squire Hapgood rode into Arkansas
CITY on his powerful roam saddle horse
aeon after noon, with a look OF anxiety
on his face and a large bundle Of papers
n kis pocket. He was seen not far from
the levee by Jake winterbottom, who
greeted him heartily. and turned back
almost Immediately after the encounter.
having observed that the Squire was
riding in the direction OF old man Green
hut's saloon.
NJ. Winterbottom. however, was con-
siderably surprised whom he arrived at
the saloon some twenty minutes later
10 find that the Squire was not there and
that he had not communicated recently in
any way with Greenhut
sPears like there must be somepin'
wrong said old man Greenhut when he
heard what Winterbottom had TO tell.
i never knowed the Squire to go nowheres
n town but here. not 'thouten he came
here first Oh anyway. Mebbe he mought
30 sick an goin' fra doctor
- Didn't look sick, said Winterbottom.
but come 70 think OF it he 'psared to be
oonsid sble madder'n Q wet hen. Mebbe
he's gunnin' fr somebody
Al this suggestion joe Bsssett reused
himself and started for the door. feeling
of his right hip pocks. A. he went. Being
sheriff OF the county lie was always par
ticCiar shout being present whenever
q snooting soraIss seemed imminent.
The others In the room, not having his
professional interest, sat still.
Before long the door opened and Tom
Babcock entered the saloon. His first
question, after he had invited the crowd
TO drink, was whether anybody had seen
squire Hapgood, and as he was Hap
goods next door neighbor, the two
living within a mile and half OF each
other, his question was a surprise.
Il seen him up the road piece said
Winterbottom. -an' was just sayin how
he 'peared TO be some het up
-Well,' said Babcock. that amt RELY
no great surprise. I'm some het up my
own self. long O. him, an more'n likely
he knows about it
What aus done come tween you uns?'
asked old man Greenhut. you was
slays thicker'n thieves, I'm the way folks
talked
well, we been friends fr good many
years. said Baboock, as IL begrudging
the admission, but there's things no white
man II put up with. an pears like one
thing follered another till We took to
shootin' at one another whenever we'd
meet, an somehow relations has been
strained ever since"
That sure Ia onneig hborly.' said Green
hut. How come you got so biggityy'
well, 1t begin over a brood o. hawgs
what strayed of n my place with tn old
SOW. Pears some O. tn niggers onto
Hapgood's place killed EN- an ct EN-,
an the Squire wouldn't make good
On'y laughed when rid over to see about
'em an told me I'D oughter keep my
hawgs penned up.
Then there was chickens missin I'm
his place, an he laid it TO me, an bimeby
there was three or four likely mule colts
went astray, an hell to pay gently.
Last time ! shot at him put a hole
in his hat. an he sent word he'd have the
law on me. reckon that's what he's
done come 10 town for, now
What was you reck min to do'' asked
Gresnhut. who seemed really concerned at
the story OF such a quarrel between men
he counted among his friends.
Well replied Babcock. Il amt hank
erin alter no lawsuit long e got a gun.
but pears like Hapgood q plumb dis
gusted long o. not bein able to shoot as
straight as he ulster an he reckons on
fstchin' me into cot
This impression OF the warlike Baboock
seemed to be justified when Joe Bassett
returned, and seeing Baboock said;
tom, / kind o. hate to do it, but I'm
kind O. 'bleeged for 10 rest you about six
times, bein' as Squire Hapgood s done
swore out half dozen warrants agin you
well OF all the dodgasted, blingtwsted,
measly, lowdown tricks I ever a white
man done'-began Babcock in a sudden
fury. and then paused. as il half choke ed
with his own emotions.
Hold on there. Tom" exclaimed old
man Greenhut soothingly. "Mebbe this
thing en- be fixed up somehow Bein'
arrested amt gettin' hung an 'tain't no
such hell roarin' serious matter neither
IL you has friends 7 knows what to do.
You can't arrest no respectable white man,
Joe. 'thouten you've got the warrants. Is
you got 'em?'
Sure said Bassett. and he displayed a
bunch Of papers which Greenhut took and
examined carefully.
They pears to be all right he said at
length, but why Hapgood done went to
another cot Std o coming TO me pears
to be some Of mystery. Just you 60
ahead, Joe, Arrest your man an arrange
him afore me Std o goin' to that there
other Judge an Ill f1 it up pleasant. |
! don't p'pose TO see two good citizens
stirrih up strife into the community. not
while theirs more peaceable ways O. set
lin trouble
Accordingly Babcock was forthwith |
arrAigned before the nearest Justice Of
the Peace-old man Greenhut, namely
and hearing was set for the next day. |
the prisoner being allowed to 60 free on |
his solemn assurance that he would ap- |
pear at the time fixed. This being en- |
tirely satisfactory to Babcook. as far as It !
went. that gentleman proposed a round !
of drinks. which were Immediately served. |
Then he declared his intention Of taking
a walk around town on the chance Of meet
ing Squire Hapgood and having friendly
discussion web him concerning the merits
of the case.
Old man Greenhut interposed with q
proposition that the house should stand |
a round Of drinks and found the oppor-
runity to tip a wink to the Sheriff which
that Official understood. so that another
round was presently called for and a