Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-02

hind you, father" And Father Pip
pin did so, and there he beheld a great
opening as large as the door. to 9
house. Quickly he whispered to his
children and wife to 60 inside the
opening, though they had no idea
where they would land. They might
fall to the bottom Of the tree for all
they knew.
AS soon as his children and wife
had disappeared into the great hole,
Father Pippin followed. And to his
wonderment he found himself inside
a lighted passage which led down
ward. His wife took his hand anc
said: Lead the way, husband And
he led the way down the steep pas
sage which was lighted by pine knots,
abla7e. They had not time now to
marvel at things, for they could hear
the cursing and yelling of the robbers
as they paused under the giant tree.
One struck the tree with his spear,
crying out: we'll cut off the heads
Of the Pippin family-children and
ALL"
You may believe that the Pippins
were frightened, for they reared
they'd be overtaken, thinking that the
light from the opening into which
they had sought hiding might shine
ont and lead the robbers to them.
But it did not prove the case The
robbers soon rode on, and Father Pip
pin continued to lead his family .low1
the lighted and narrow passage. After
some tine they came to a doc" with
a bolt. A little squirrel sat there, his
broad tail over his face. As Dame
Pippin-who was now in the lead
drew near she saw the squirrel. oh,
here is our little friend who has come
in advance Of u.s."
Even as she spoke the little crea-
ture threw down his tall from before
his eyes and spoke in their language.
Eyes, I am the squirrel who opened
the tree for you to enter here. NOW
you are very near to the village and
you many hurry to the towns officers
and tell them to go towards the forest
road and capture the 1obbers, 1"r
they are still long way behind you.
You came over what is called the
short cut. After you have Laced the
robbers in the hands OF the law you
may go home and get the Two robbers
you locked up in your cave.
AS Father Pippin was about to
thank the little squirrel for having
thus befriended them, the great door
swung open and the fresh night air
put out the light, leaving the room IN
total darkness, and nowhere could
any of the Pippins see the little SPUR,
rel.
1T is the squirrels wish that we
20 on about our business" said
young Dan. And as it had been Dan
who had first proposed their hiding
in the holes where squirrels lived. they
thought well of following his further
advice So Father Pippin agreed to go
on and not to delay the business OF
putting the officers OF the law on the
track OF the robbers. "You are right,
son." he said to Dan. Then, taking
Susan, who had fallen asleep, It was
very late at mighty in his arms, he
led the way into the open.
To their surprise there was the VII
lage all about them. They stood in
the very front Of the main magis-
trate's house. A guard was walking
about in armour. Father Pippin
soon told his story, and within few
minutes FIVE well-armed men, all on
horses, were on their way to capture
the robbers. They met the band OF
highwaymen just outside the forest,
and they were about to turn back to-
ward their own desert again when the
officers of the law surrounded them. A
short conflict followed in which one
robber was killed and another wound.
ed. The dead one was left by the
roadside as warning to othet rob.
bers. The wounded and unwounded
were taken to the Jail in the village.
Then the officers of the law went on
to Pippin's home, where the family
had gone In advance. And there the
other two robbers were found-just
as the squirrel said they would be-
fast asleep from overeating and
drinking in the cave. Father Pippin
had a goats skin Of new wine, and
the robbers had drunk to their fill
of it. They were made very Ill from
the new wine and the old cheese and
the honey and the wheaton loaf they
found there. And for one day the
Pippin family went on short rations,
for the robbers had devoured all their
bread and honey and cheese. But they
did not mind about that, for they
were happy to be well rid OF the
thieving band that had robbed them
so often. But never again would they
be so molested.
And in vain did Father Pippin and
his two sons make search for the lit
tie squirrel that had come to their
relief on that night. Every squirrel
they could see on tree they would
call out to, but none ever replied
to them. And in vain did they make
search over the giant tree for the
great hole into which they had gone
on that night. It could not be found.
"It is not for us to insist" said Dan.
"The squirrels know their desire 1t
is not for us to try to make them
come forth and tell US. We owe them
our lives, mayhap."
And Father and Dame Pippin said:
Eyes, we owe the little squirrels our
safety and our home, at least"
And from that day no one ever
intruded himself in the forest where
the giant tree sheltered so many squir-
rels. The tree became known as the
Squirrel Stronghold. And no one ever
t. -, ~