Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1919-06-06
He ran toward his house. which was I


blowing behind me and it's echo in the
hills. Within a half moment dozen
horns were sounding in the valleys
around me. What contrast to the
quiet in which we had been riding was
this pandemonium which had broken
loose in the countryside. A little ahead
/ could see men running out of the
fields. My horse had begun to lather,
for the sun was hot. My companions
were far ahead I could not see the
dust of their heels now. l 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 1 saw
three riders in strange costumes come
out Of a dOoryard and take the road
at wild gallop in pursuit of Latour
end Purvis. They had not discovered
me. l kept as calm as l could in the
midst of this excitement.
/ passed the house from which the
three riders had just turned into the
road. A number of women and an old
on the porch They looked at me in
silence as | was passing and then be-
gan to hiss and jeer 1t gave me a
feeling l have never known since that
day. | logged along over the brow of
the hill when, at a white, frame house.
| saw the center toward which all the
men of the countryside were coming.
Of
horse behind me. | 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. | 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. l could see string of
| horsemen coming toward it from the
other side. l wondered what was 60
| ing to happen to me. What a shouting
| 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 |
| recOgniZed--Or thought that I did-the
voice of Josiah Curtis. "What has
happened?'
zone O. them tried to serve a writ
an we have tarred an feathered him."
Just then I 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 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 rail
amidst roars of laughter. What a bear
like, poultrified, 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
|
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 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.
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.
| 90 we SldIleu up IOdu OA Jul
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 of
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 it on yourself" l said.
you ran away from me and got US all
into trouble by being too smart. You
| tried to be q fool and succeeded be-
yond your expectation"
| 1t was dark when / 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. l observed that
he gave the latter a cold welcome.
81 shall send the sheriff and
| posse" he said with troubled look.
Pardon me. but think it will make