The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-06-14
Copyright, 1917. Wheeler Syndicate. lnc.)
By BOOTH HARRINGTON


1AAu6 tAV udS huuFS VI nSfSfu
autumn Saturdays there had been Sc
we're outbreaks of cavalry In the Soho
Held neighborhood. The sabers were
of wood; the steeds were Imaginary
and both were employed in game
called bonded pris'ner" by its in.
ventors, Masters Penrod Schofield and
Samuel Williams. The pastime was
not intricate. When two enemies met,
they fenced spectacularly until the
person of one or the other was touched
by the opposing weapon; then, when
the ensuing claims Of foul play had
been disallowed and the subsequent
argument settled, the combatant
touched was considered to be a pris.
oner until such time as he might be
touched by the hilt of sword belong
Ing to one of his own party, which af-
fectcd his release and restored to him
the full enjoyment of hostile activity.
Pending such rescue, however, he was
Obliged to accompany the forces of his
captor whithersoever their strategical
necessities led them, which included
many strange places. For the game
was exciting, ard, at its highest
pitch, would sweep out of an alley
into stable, out OF that stable and
Into yard, out Of that yard and into
Il house, and through that house with
thu sound (and effect upon furniture)
of trampling herds. In fact, this very
similarity must have been in the mind
Of tho distressed colored woman In
Mrs. Williams kitchen, when she de-
clared that she might les as well try
to cook right spang in the middle O.
The stock yards"
All up and down the neIghborhood
the campaigns were waged, accom-.
panied by the martial clashing of
wood and by many clamorous argu.
ments.
You're pris'ner, Roddy Bitts!"
81 am not"
you are, too! / touched you"
"Where, I'd like 20 know!"
''On the sleeve"
"You did not! I never felt 1t. Il
guess I'd "a felt 1t, wouldn't II"
What If you dfdn't2 touched you,
and you're bonded. 1 leave 1t to Sam
Williams"
yah! Course you would! He's on
your side! leave 1t to Herman"
mo, you won't! If you can't show
any sense about it, we'll do 1t over,
anG l guess you'll see whether you
feel it or not! There! Now, guess
you---"
"hw. squash |"
Strangely enough. the undoubted
champion proved to be the youngest
and darkest of all the combatants,
one Fcrman, cOlored. brother to Her
man, and substantially under the size |
TO which his nine years entitled him. |
Ntrman was unfortunately tongue
tied. but he was valiant beyond all
others, and, in spite of every handl.
cap, he became at once the chief sup.
port OF his own party and the despair
OF the opposition.
On the third Saturday this opposi-
tion had been worn down by the sue
ceSsive captures of Maurice Levy and
George Bassett until 1t consisted of
only Sam Williams and Penrod
Hence, 1t behooved these two to he
wary, lest they be wiped out altogeth-
er; and Sam was dismayed, indeed,
upon cautiously scouting round cor
ner of his own stable, to find himself
face TO face with the valorous and
slillful Verman, who was acting as
an outpost, or picket, Of the enemy.
Verman Immediately fell upon Sam,
horse and foot, and Sam would have
fled but dared not, for fear he might
be touched from the rear. Therefore,
he defended himself as best he could,
and there followed lusty whacking,
in the course Of which vermaD's hat,
a relic and too large, fell from his
head, touching Sans weapon in fall
ing.
'"rhere!" painted Sam, desisting i'm
mediately. "That counts! You're
bonded. yerman." |
"Aim meewer!" Verman protested.
Interpreting this as "Ain't neither"
Sam invented law to suit the occa-
sion. ayes, you are; that's the rule.
Verman. touched your hat with my
sword, and your hats just the same
as you"
"Imm mopw verman insisted.
Eyes, 1t is" said Sam, already
warmly convinced tby HIS own state
ment) that he was In the right. Lis
ten here! If / hit you on the shoe,
it would be the same as hitting you,
wouldn't It? l guess It'd count IL l
hit you on the shoe, wouldn't It? Well,
a hats just the same as shoes. Hon.
est, that's the rule. verman. and you're I
d pris'ner." !,
Now, In the arguing part Of the )
game, verman's impeachment co-operat. !
ed with a native amiability to render
him far less effective than In the II
actual combat. He chuckled, and
eeded the point. /
Jaw wi" he said, and cheerfully /
followed his captor to hidden place [
among some bushes in the front yard, |
where Penrod lurked. s
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