The Holly chieftain., 1919-03-27

started on in pursuit of the two men
at top speed. Before my horse had
taken a dozen jumps 1 heard a horn
blowing behind me and its echo in the
hills. Within a half moment a dozen
horns were sounding in the valleys
around me. What a contrast to the
quiet in which we had been riding was
this pandemOnium which had broken
loose in the countryside. A little ahead
l could see men running out of the
fields. My horse had begun to lather.
for the sun was hot. My companions
were far ahead. 1 could not see the
dust Of their heels now. / gave up try
ing to catch them and checked the
speed of my horse and went on at
walk. The horns were still sounding.
Some of them seemed to be miles
away. About twenty rods ahead saw
three riders In strange costumes come
out of dooryard and take the road
at wild gallop in pursuit of Latour
and Purvis. They had not discovered
me. / kept as calm as I could In the
midst of this excitement.
l passed the house from which the
three riders had just turned into the
road. A number of women and an old
man and three or four children stood
on the porch. They looked at me In
silence as I was passing and then be-
gan to hiss and jeer. 1t gave me a
feeling have never known since that
day. l logged along over the brow Of
the hill when. at white, frame house.
saw the center toward which all the
men Of the countryside were coming.
Suddenly heard the hoof-beats Of
horse behind me. l stopped, and
looking over my shoulder saw rider
approaching me in the costume of an
Indian chief. A red mask covered his
face. A crest of eagle feathers circled
the edge Of his cap. Without word
he rode on at my side. I knew not
then that he was the man Josiah Cur
tis-nor could I at any time have
sworn that it was he.
A crowd had assembled around the
house ahead. could see string of
horsemen coming toward it from the
other side. I wondered what was 60
Ing to happen to me. What a shouting
and jeering in the crowded dooryard /!
I could see the smoke of fire. We
| reached the gate. Men in Indian masks
and costumes gathered around us.
"Order! Sh-sh-sh," was the loud COM
mand of the man beside me in whom
recognized-or thought that did-the
voice Of Josiah Curtis. "What has
happened?"
"One O. them tried to serve a writ
an we have tarred an feathered him."
Just then l heard the voice Of Pur-
Wis shouting back in the crowd this
impnssioned plea:
"Bart, for Gods sake, come here"
turned to Curtis and said:
IF the gentleman tried to serve the
writ he acted without orders and de-
serves what he has got. The other fel-
low is simply hired man who came
along to take care of the horses. He
couldn't tell the difference between q
writ and a hole in the ground"
Men. you have gone far enough"
said Curtis. "This man is all right.
Bring the other men here and put 'em
on their horses an I'll escort 'em out
O. the town."
They brought Latour on a rail
amidst roars of laughter. What bear
like, poultrlfied, be-poodled object he
was-burred and sheathed in rumpled
gray feathers from his hair to his
heels. The sight and smell Of him
scared the horses. There were tufts
of feathers over his ears and on his
chin. They had found great joy in
sIUiling that aristocratic livery in
which he had arrived.
Then came poor Purvis. They had
just begun to apply the tar and feath.
ers to him when Curtis had stopped
the process. He had only shaking
ruff Of long feathers around his neck.
They lifted the runaways into their
saddles. Purvis started off at q gallop,
shouting "Come on, Bart" but they
stopped him.
"Don't be in hurry, young feller."
said one of the Indians, and then there
was another roar Of laughter.
go back to yer work now" Curtis
shouted, and turning to me added:
"You ride along with me and let our
feathered friends follow u.s.
So we started up the road on our
way back to Cobleskill. Our guide left
us at the town line some three miles
beyond.
Latour was busy picking his arms
and shoulders. Presently he took off
his feathered coat and threw 1t away,
saying:
They'll have to pay for this. Every