The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-01-04

bout. Stop tibet blame youlin', you
Roderick, er I'll take t'other end o
this gun ter ye."
lie reioubled his efforts for peace,
finally driving the rebellious beasts
back into one corner, where they sat
upon their launches and eyed us visit
| fully.
Two dogs of black Saint Hubert's
breed. unmatched Tor courage, breath,
and speed" he exclaimed, wiping the
perspiration from his face with the
back OF one hand and staring at US.
specially the breath"
lie was n fierce-looking little fellow.
.tarcely more than a halfgrown boy
in size. with round. red face full Of
strange wrinkles, and head as oddly
peak-shaped as ever looked upon. II
went up exactly like the apex OF n
pear. while the upper portion was
utterly bald. He formed q most re-
markable contrast to the tall. raw.
bonod. angular female who doomed up
like a small mountain Just behind him.
81 reckon as how you uns he'd quite
bit Of u scrap afore ye laid tibet
thar dorg out. stranger" he said, n
halfangry tone lurking in his deep
voice THE fleetest. hound in all the
North. an I'm burned II fist likes
Their way you uns makes yerselyes ct
hum in this yere cabin"
"Shct up. Jed Bungay," cut in his
bettcr-half. sharply, and as she spoke
she caught the little man unceremoni-
ously by one arm, and thrusting him
roughly to one side strobe heavily
forward until she paused In the centre
Of the room facing us with her arms
akimbo.
Now I'd fist like ter know" she
said savagely who you uus be, a
brcakin' into a house. and KILN a
dorg, an eatin' up everything we
uns got without so much as a sayin
by yer leave err nuthIn' reckon as
how you uns don't take this yere
cabin fer no tavern?"
Madam" ! said with n low bow
1T is misfortune, not desire. which
has caused us to trespass upon your
hospitality. We will very gladly pay
you literally for any damage done. /
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 rowing
gangs 81 guerllias The dog attacked
us In the dark, and we killed him in
order to save our lives"
1.-THE deep-nouthed bloodhounds
heavy bay resounded up the rocky
way" calculated Bungay with dan
cling eyes.
"Drat yer potry, Jed Bungay! We
dew make me tired fe- suah." She
turned back to us. and from her first
words It was plainly evident she had
been impressed with br' one sentence
OF my labored explanation,
Did you uns say as how ye'd pay
fe whut ye ct and fer tibet truck ye
busted?" she asked doubtfully.
Certainly. madl /, and took
some money from my pocket as eyi.
dence of good faith. What would you
consider due you9"
The grim. set face relaxed slightly,
while she permitted her husband to
edge his way little more into the
foreground.
Wal. stranger, sorter reckon as
how bout four bits I'll squar' things
dorgs Ia mighty durn cheap hereabout
enyhow. Give me ther four bits,
mister. an reckon - how 1t 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
completed our meal, but imagined wa
saw ghosts"
Ghosts" He danced around ap-
prehensively,- ION Heaven and on
thy lady call. and enter he enchanted
hall!' Wus ther ghosts ye saw over
thar?" And he pointed toward tho
wall opposite.
nodded.
Then ! sorter reckon as how
Marian and me wus them ghosts" he
continued. grinning. I'VE sorter reck'
oned as how we wanted ter see who
wus yere afore we come in. TIL
listen TIL my fancy hears the clang OF
swords, the crash OF spears. These
we're is tough times. stranger in these
parts, an man whut has ter perfect
Il lovely female hes got ter keep his
eye skinned"
Maria shifted contemptuously.
"Ye're no great shakes at perfect
in o. me. Jed Bungay. Now you sit
down thar an begin ter fill UP. !
reckon as how Their Cap an his gal
viii kinder fine with US fer manners"
She seated Jed with such extreme
vigor that 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.
30 woman! In our hours OF ease
uncertain. coy, and hard to please "
he murmured. Come. sit down.
stranger: sit down an share q
soldiers couch, soldiers fare Not
as I'm a sojer," he fastened to ex.
plain, ''but thet's how It Ia in ther
book. Say, old woman. KNIT ye kinder