Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-14
This question nettled Crenshaw

GUAR AFFAIR or mlne, ne said. NOW,
Mr.. Crenshaw, though an excellent
man of business, with an unblinking
eye on number one, was kindly, on the
whole, but there was Mrs. Crenshaw,
to whom he rendered strict account
Of all his deeds, and that scared insti-
tuition, the home, was only tolerable
haven when these deeds were nicely
calculated to fit with the lady's ex.
actions. Especially was he aware that
Mrs. Crenshaw was averse to children
as being inimical to cleanliness and
order, oppressive virtues that drove
Crenshaw himself In his hours OF lei
sure to the woodshed, where he might
spit freely.
II reckon you'd rather drop a word
with yo' missus before you toted him
homer" suggested Yancy. who knew
something of the nature of his friend s
domestic thraldom.
"A woman ought to be boss in her
own house." said Crenshaw.
"Feelin' the truth of that, I've never
married, Mr.. John; do as please and
don't have to listen to a passed. Of
opinion. But was going to say, what's
to hinder me from toting that boy to
my home? There are no calico petit
coats hanging up in my closets"
"And no closets to hang 'em in, III
be bounds" rejolned Crenshaw. But
if you'll take the boy, Bob you shan't
lose by it,
Yancy rested big knotted band on
the boys shoulder.
Come. wake up, sonny! Yo' Uncle
Bob is ready TO to strike out home
he said. The child reused with a
start and stared into the strange
bearded face that was bent toward
him. 'It's yo' Uncle Bob" continued
Yancy in a wheedling tone. Are you
the little newly what will help him to
hook up that old blind mule of his?
Here, give us the spo'tin rifle to tote!"
please, sir, where is Aunt Alsidia?"
asked the child.
Yancy balanced the rifle on his great
palm and his eyes assumed specu-
lative cast.
81 wonder what's to hinder us from
loading this old gun, and firing this old
gun, and hearing this old gun go
bang! Eh?"
The child's blue eyes grew wide.
"Like the guns off in the woods?"
he asked, in breathless whisper.
Like the guns body hears off in
the woods, only louder-heaps louder"
said Yancy. "You fetch out his
plumber, Mr.. john he added in a
lower tone.
"Do it now, please" the child cried,
slipping off the bench.
II was expectin' To- to hear you
Ia Dnh q
nevvies get almost anything they went
out of me when they call me that-a-
ways"
please, Uncle Bob, make it go
bang!
"You come along, then" and Mr..
Yancy moved off in the direction Of
his mule, the child following. Pow
ders what we want TO- to make thiS'
old spo'tin rifle talk up, and | reckon
we'll find some in horn flask in the
bottom of my cart" His expectations
in this particular were realized, and he
loaded the rifle with small blank
charge. "Now," he said, shaking the
powder into the pan by succession
of smart taps on the breech, "some-
times these old pieces go off and some
times they don't; it depends on the
flint, but you stand back of your Uncle
Bob sonny, and keep yo' fingers out
of yo' ears, and when you say---bang!
off she goes"
There was, q moment OF delightful
expectancy. and then
Bang" cried the child, and on the
instant the rifle cracked. do it
again. Please. Uncle Bob" he cried,
wild with delight.
s'Now if you was to help yo' Uncle
Bob hook up that old mule or hisn and
ride home with him, TO- he's going
pretty shortly, you and Uncle Bob
could do right much shootin with this
old rifle" Mr. Crenshaw had appeared
with bundle, which he tossed into the
cart Yancy turned to him. IF you
meet any inquiring friends. Mr.. John,
reckon you may say that my nevvy's
gone fo' to pay me visit. Most of
his time will be agreeably spent
shootin' with this rifle at mark, and
me holdin' him so he won't get kick
ed clean off his feet"
Thereafter beguiling speech flowed
steadily from Mr.. Yancy's bearded lips,
in the midst of which relations were
between the mule and cart,
and the boy quilted the Barony for a
new world.
DO you reckon If Uncle Bob was to
let you, YOU could drive, sonnv?'
"Can she gallop?" asked the boy.
Mr.. Yancy gave him hurt glance.
shes too much Of lady to do
that he said "No I low this amt
SO fast rs running or walking, but it's
a heap quicker than standing stock
still"
The afternoon sun waned as they
went deeper and deeper into the pine
woods, but at last they came to their
journeys end, a widely scattered set
Element on q hill above a branch.
This, said Mr.. Yancy, "are
Scratch Hill, sonny. Why Scratch
Hill? Some say it's the fieas; others
agin hold it's the eternal bother of
making q living here. but whether
feas or living you scratch TO BOTH
CHAPTER H.
In the deep peace that rested like
.nediction on the pine-clad slopes of
Scratch Hill the boy Hannibal followed
at Yancy's heels as that gentleman