Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-02-09

roughly to one side strobe heaVlly
forward until she paused in the centre
of the room facing US with her'arms
akimbo.
Now I'd list like ter know she
said savagely, who you uns be, a
breakin' into a house, and a KILN a
Iorg, an a eatin' up everything we
uns got without so much as a sayln
by yer leave er nuthin'. reckon as
how you uns don't take this yere
cabin fer no tavern?
Madam" l said with a low bow.
at is misfortune, not desire. when
has caused us to trespass upon your
hospitality. We will very gladly pay
you literally for any damage done. l
am an officer In the Confederate SER
vice, and the breaking down OF our
horses compelled us to take refuge
here in order that this lady might
not be exposed to LANCER from rcvlns
gangs of guerillas. The dog attacked
us in the dark, and we killed MIN III
order to ave our lives.
THE deep-mouthed b~loodhounds
heavy bay resounded up the rocky
way" calculated Bungay with dan
cling eyes.
"Drat yer potry. Jed Bungay! We
I dew make me tired fe~ suah. she
turned back to us, and from her first
words it was plainl, evident she had
been impressed with brt one sentence
OF my labored explanation.
Did you uns say as how yed pay
fe whut We ct ant fer tibet truck We
busted?" she asked doubtfully.
Certainly. mada- l., and l took
some money from my pocket as evil
dence of good faith. What would you
consider due you?"
The grim, set face relaxed slightly.
d while she permitted her husband to
edge his way a little more into the
foreground.
wal, stranger, l sorter reckon as
how bout four bits Ill squar' things
dorgs ia mighty durn cheap h%ereabout
enyhow. Give me Their four bits,
mister. an l reckon j how it II
be all right"
glazed at Mrs. Brennan. and the
amused twinkle in her eyes led me
to say heartily. I'VE had not entirely
F, completed our meal. but imagined we
saw ghosts"
"Ghosts!" He glanced around ap-
prehensively,- ION Heaven and on
thy lady call. and enter he enchanted
hall!' Wus ther ghosts We saw over
thar" And he pointed toward the
wall opposite.
nodded.
Then l sorter reckon as how
80 - -,c than ohNcfo /" ha
continued, grinning. w sorter reck-
oned az how we wanted ter see who
wus yere afore we come in. I'll
listen TIN my fancy hears the clang Of
swords, the crash of spears. These
yere is tough times, stranger. In these
parts, an a man whut has ter perfect
a lovely female hes got ter keep his
eye skinned"
Maria shifted contemptuously.
"Ye're no great shakes at a perfect
in O. me, Jed Bungay. Now you sit
down thar an begin ter fill up. l
reckon as how Their Cap an his gal
will kinder jine with US fer manners"
She seated Jed with such extreme
vigor that l looked for the chair o
collapse beneath him as he came
down. but the little man, not in the
/ least daunted. picked up his knife and
fork with a sigh Of relief.
80 woman! in our hours of ease
uncertain, coy, and hard to please"
he murmured. Come. sit down.
stranger; sit down an share a
soldiers couch, a soldiers fare Not
as I'm a sojer," he fastened to ex-
plain. but thet's how it is in Their
book. Say. old woman. kint ye kinder
skier up some coffee fer we uns-
leastwise whut us Confeds call cof-
| fee?"
Without much difficulty ] induced
Mrs. Brennan to draw her chair once
more to the table. and I sat down
beside her.
You are Confederate. then? !
asked, curious to know upon which
side his %sympathies were enlisted in
the struggle.
He glanced warily at my gray
jacket, then his shrewd, shifty eyes
>w .ndered to the blue n yellow cav
airy cloak lying on the floor.
wal, I jist don't know. Cap ne
said cautiously, continuing to eat as
he talked, "as I'm much o. enything
in this yere row. First Their burned
gray-backs they come sroopin up
yere, an run off all my horgs; then
ther blame blue-bellies come long
ar cut down every lick o. my corn
fodder. so thet I'll be cussed If ! amt
bout ready ter fight either side. Any
how l amt did no fightin' VT worth
talkin' bout, fer Marian is powful
feared I'd get hurt"
Maria regarded him scornfully.
Hiding out, l s%uppose?"
wal t amt very healthful Eel
us ter be stayin' ct hum much o
Their time. long with that thar Rec
Lowrie, an Jim Hale. an the rest o
tibet cattle round yers
"Guerillas pretty thick now In the
mountains?"
Wal. 4 dunno: 4 heerd as they wus
dom somethin' down by ther brick
church, but thar's no great shakes ol
EN- fist round yere. l reckon rs how
they knows 'nough ter keep way from
Jed Bungay-Td pitch EN- far al
ever peasant pitched a bar"
"You he-- no fear Of them. thenT
.Whut, met" The little man sa,
bolt upright, and glared 'ercely across
the table as though he would resen,
an insult. II fist tell &c Cap.
reckon thar amt no guerilla 4 goin
----A ~