Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-24


there came 4 relieved chorus from the
three in one breath.
why, sure!"
4 eWould my spectacles help you any,
Mr., Darlington? :" asked Uncle sammy,
officiously
"No,. Il guess not.
They air powerful seein' glasses.
and I'm aweer some folks read easier
with spectacles than without en-"
After q moments scrutiny OF the paper
that BALKAN had thrust In his hand,
Darlington began:
ITO the, Sheriff OF the County Of
Cumberland: Greeting
"He means me-" explained BALKAN.
"He always makes 'em out to the sher-
if, but they are returned to me and
/ serve em. Darlington resumed his
reading:
.'Wereas, It is alleged that MUIR
derous assault has been committed on
one David Blount, OF Fayetteville, by
Robert Yancy, Of Scratch Hill, said
Blount sustaining numerous bruises
and Commissions, to his great injury OF
body and mind; and, whereas, it il
further alleged that said murderous
assault was wholly unprovoked and
without cause, you will forthwith take
into custody the person Of said Yancy,
of Scratch Hill, charged with having
inflicted the bruises and Commissions
herein set forth in the complaint OF
said Blount, and instantly bring him
into our presence to answer to these
various and several crimes and mis-
demeanors. You are empoWeder to
seize said Yancy wherever he may be
at; whether on the hillside or in the
valley. eating or sleeping, or at rest.
s'De Lancy Balaam, Magistrate.
Fourth District, County of Cumber-
land. State Of North Carolina. Done
this twenty-fourth day Of May, 1885.
''P. S. Dear Bob: Dave Blount says
he amt able to chew his meat. l
thought you'd be glad to know"
Smilingly Darlington fold ed the war.
rant and handed 1t to Yancy,
We'll. what are you goin' to 40
about hit. Bob?' inquired BALKAN.
Maybe I'd ought to go. I'd like to
obIige the squire" said Yancy.
when does this here cot set?" de-
manded Uncle Sammy.
"Hit don't do much else since he's
took with the lumbago,' answered
Balaam somewhat obscurely
How are the squire, Charley?' ask
ed yancy with grave concern.
,"Only just tolerable, Bob.
What did he tell you to do?" and
Yancy knit his brows.
Seems like he wanted me to ind
out what you'd do. He. recommended
L shouldn't use no violence"
81 wouldn't recommend you did,
either assented Yancy, but without
heat.
I'D get shut OF this here law bust
ness, Bob, advised Uncle Sammy.
Suppose I come to the Cross Roads
this EVENING"?
That's agreeable" said the deputy,
who presently departed iii company
with Darlington.
Some hours later the male popula-
tion of scratch Hill, with gravity
beftting the OCCASION prepared itself
to descend on the Cross Roads and
give its support to Mr.. Yancy in his
hour OF need To this end those re-
pectable householders armed them.
selves, with the idea that it might per.
haps be necessary to correct some
Of Justice. They were
shy enough and timid enough, these
remote dwellers in the pine woods,
but, like all wild things, when they felt
they We're cornered they weree prone
to fight. and in this instance it was
clearly iniqlitcus that Bob Yancy's
right to smack Dave Blount should be
That denied what was left
of human liberty But beyond this
was matter Of even greater import
ance: they felt that Yancy's possession
of the boy was somehow involved.
Yancy had declared himself simply
but specifically on this point. Law or
no law. ne would kill whoever attempt
ed to take the boy from him. and
Scratch Fill believing to man that in
so doing ne would be we'll within his
rights. was prepared to join the fray.
Even Uncle Sammy, who had not been
Off the Hill in years, announced that
no consideration CT fatigue would keep
him away from the scene Of action
and pc ssible danger and Yancy leaned
him his mule and cart for the occasion.
When the patriarch was helped to his
seat in the ancient vehicle he called
loudly for his rifle.
Why. pap, what do you want with q
weapon?'' asked his son indulgently.
IF there air shootin may take a
hand IN it. Now you-all give me fair
hours start with this mule critteT OF
Bob's, and If nothin busts I'll be at the
souire's as soon as the best Of you.
Uncle Sammy was given the time
allowance he asked and then Scratch
Hill wendell its way down the path
to the branch and the highroad, Yancy
led the struggling procession, with the,
boy trotting by his side, his little sun
burned fist clasped in the mans great
hand. lie, too was armed He car
ried the old spo'tin' rifle he had
brought from the Barony. and suspend
ed from his shoulder by a leather
thong was the big horn flack with its
hickory stopper his Uncle Bob had
fashioned for him, while deerskin
pouch held his bullets and an extra
flint or two. He understood that be-
yond those smacks he had seen his
Uncle Bob fetch Mr.. Blount. he him.
self was the real cause Of this excite
ment, that somebody, 1t was not plain
to his mind just who, was seeking to
get him away from Scratch Hill, and
that mysterious power called the
Law would sooner or later be invoked
q Al -