Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-04-22
THF LIGHT
IN THE RIFARIN6
A TALE OF THE NORTH COUNTRY
IN THE TINE OF SILAS WRIGHT
H
IRVINE HAEHFIIER
bsN HOLDEN DR

tssN HOLDEN, DR AND l. DARRl OF TIE BLESSED EeS
KEEPING UP WITH LIZZIE ETC. ETC


then that he was the man Josiah Cur
tis-nor could l at any time have
sworn that it was he.
A crowd had assembled around the
house ahead. 1 could see string of
horsemen coming toward 1t from the
other side. 1 wondered what was GO
ing to happen to me. What a shouting
and jeering In the crowded dooryard |!
could see the smoke of a 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 I
recognized-or thought that 1 did-the
voice of Josiah Curtis. "What has
happenedY'
One o. them tried to serve writ
an we have tarred an feathered him."
Just then l heard the voice of Pur-
Wis shouting back In the crowd this
impassioned plea:
Bart, for Gods sake, come here"
l 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 fell
low Is simply hired man who came
along to take care of the horses. He
couldn't tell the difference between a
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, poultrified, be-poodled object he
Has-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
spelling 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 a shaking
ruff of long feathers around his neck.
They lifted the runaways into their
saddles. Purvis started off at a gallop,
shouting "Come on, Bart" but they
stopped him.
Don't be in a hurry, young feller,'
said one of the Indians, and then there
was another roar of laughter.
$50 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 it away,
saying:
They'll have to pay for this. Every
one O. those jackrabbits will have to
settle with me-"
you brought 1t on yourself" 1 said.
you ran away from me and got us all
into trouble by being too smart. You
tried to be g. fool and succeeded be-
yond your expectation"
1t was dark when I left my COM
panions in CObleskill. l changed my
clothes and had my supper and found
Judge Westbrook In his home and re-
ported the talk with Curtis and our
adventure and my view of the situa-
ton back in the hills. / observed that
he gave the latter a cold welcome.
81 shall send the sheriff and a
posse" he said with troubled look.
Pardon me, but think it will make
bad matter worse" l answered.
1--WE must not forget that the pa
troons are our clients" he remarked.
yielded and went on with my work.
In the next week or so satisfied my
self of the rectitude of my opinions.
Then came the most critical point In
my history-a conflict with Thrift and
Fear on one side and Conscience on
the other.
The judge raised my salary. l want
ed the money, but every day 1 would
have to lend my help. directly or indi-
rectly, to the prosecution of claims
which could not believe to be just.
My heart went out of my work. be-
gan to fear myself. For weeks I had
not the courage to take issue with the
learned Judge.
One evening went to his home de-
termined to put an end to my unhap-
piness. After little talk 1 told him
frankly that / thought the PATRONS
should seek friendly settlement with
their tenants.
"Why7" he asked.
Because their position Is unjust,
un-American and untenable," was my
answer.
He rose and gave me his hand and
a smile of forbearanco IN considera-
ton of my youth. as 1 took 1t.
1 left much irritated aud spent a
sleepless night in the course of which
1 decided to cling to the ideals of Da-
vid Hoffman and Silas Wright.
In the morning resigned my place
and asked to be relieved as soon as
the convenience of the judge would
allow 1t. He tried to keep me with
gentle persuasion and higher pay. but
1 was firm. Then wrote long letter
to my friend the senator.
Again had chosen my way and with