Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21

store and started down the sandy
road at a brisk run. Miserable fore
bodings of an impending tragedy leap
ed up within him, and the miles were
many that lay between him and the
Hill.
He'll just naturally bust the face
off the fellow Bladen sends!" thought
Crenshaw, staring after his friend.
That run OF Bob Yancy's was des-
tined to become classic In the an
nails of the neighborho0d. Ordinarily
a man walking briskly might cover
the distance between the Cross Roads
and the Hill in two hours. He &C
complished it in less than an hour, ana
before he reached the branch that
flowed full quarter Of mile from
his cabin he was shouting Hannibaps
name as he ran. Then as he breast
ed the slope he came within sight OF
a little group In his own dooryard
Saving only Uncle Sammy Bellamy,
the group resolved itself into the
women and children of the Hill, but
there was one small figure he missed,
and the color faded from his cheeks
while his heart stood still. The pat
riarch hurried toward him, leaning on
his cane, while his grandson chung 10
the skirts OF his coat, weeping bitter
ly.
They've took your levyy, BOD! n
he cried, in q high thin voice.
who's took him?" asked Yancy
hoarsely. He paused and glanced
from one to another OF the httle
group.
"Hit were Dave Blount, Get your
gun, Bob, and go after him-k1ll the
miserable sneaking cuss! cried
Uncle Sammy, who believed in setting
all difficulties by bloodshed as betiitted
veteran of the first war with Eng
land, he having risen to the respect
able rank of sergeant In company OF
Morgan's riflemen; while at sixty-odd
in '12 when there was recruiting at
the Cross Roads, his son had only
been able to prevent his rendering MS
services to, his country by hiding his
trousers, Fetch his rifle. some OF
you fool women!" cried Uncle sam
my "By the Fayetteville Road. Bob,
not ten minutes ago-you can cut MIN
off at OK Road forks"
Yancy breathed a sigh OF relief. The
situation was not entirely desperate.
for, as Uncle Sammy said, he could
reach the Ok Road forks before Blount
possibly could, by going as the crow
flies through the pine woods.
"Hit wouldn't have happened II
there'd been man on the Hill, but
there was nothing but passed. OF
women about the place. | heard the
boys crying when Dave Rlount lifted
your newly into the buggy" said
Uncle Sammy; ''all l could do was to
cuss him across two fields | hope
you blow his hide full OF holes!' for
rifle had been placed in Yancy's
hands.
THANK you.all kindly" said Yancy,
and turning away he struck off
through the pine woods. A brisk
walk of twenty minutes brought him
to tho OK Road forks, as it was called,
where he could plainly distinguish the
wheel and hoof marks left by the
buggy and team as it went to Scratch
Hill, but there was only the single
track.
This important point being settled, q
sense of sweet peace stole In upon
Yancy's spirit. He stood his rifle
against tree, lit his pipe with flint
and steel, and rested comfortably by
the wayside. He had not long to
wait, for presently the buggy hove in
sight: whereupon he cody Knocked
the ashes from his pipe pocketed it,
and prepared for action. AS the
buggy came nearer he recognized his
ancient enemy in the person of the
man who sat at Hannibal's side, and
stepping nimbly into the road seized
the horses by their bits. At sight OF
him Hannibal shrieked his name in an
ecstasy OF delight.
uncle Bob-Uncle Bob" he cried.
Eyes, it's Uncle Bob. You can light
down, Neyyy. reckon yol'ce rid
far enough said Yancy pleasantly.
"Leggo them horses!" said MI.
Rlount recovering somewhat from
the effect Of Yancy's sudden appear:
ance.
Light down, Nevyv." said Yancy,
still pleasantly. Blount turned to the
boy as If to interfere. Don't you
put the weight of yo' finger on the
boy, Blount!'' warned Yancy. Light
down. Hannibal"
Hannibal instantly availed himself
of the invitation AT the same mo-
ment Blount struck at Yancy with his
whip and his horses reared wildly,
thinking the blow meant for them
Seeing that the boy had reached the
ground in safety, Yancy relaxed his
hold on the team, which instantly
plunged forward. Then as the buggy
swept past him he made dexterous
grab at Blount and dragged him out
over the wheels into the road, where,
for the second time in his life, he pro-
ceeded to fetch Mr.. Blount a smack
in the jaw. This he followed up with
ether smacks variously distributed
| about his countenance.
/ You'll sweat for this Bob Yancy!
cried Blount, as he vafnly sought to
fend off the blows.
I'm sweating noW-scandalous,.
said Mr.. Yancy, taking his unhurried
satisfaction of the other. Then with
: a final skilful kick he sent Mr.. Blount
SPRAYING. Don't let me catch you
around these diggings again, Dave
Blount, or swear to God Ill be the
death Of you!"
Hannibal rode home through the
pine woods in triumph on his Uncle
Bob's mighty shoulders.
did you get yo' ground hog
l. -.