The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-11-12
The Campaign
Document
By MARTHA MACWILLlAMS


A~~~~~~~~ ~>>~~~>>i
e.. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
Perfect courtesy plus siX-shootel
is an effectual combination, sometimes
even Il killing one, as was realized by
the Rag, Tag and BOb-Tails, once up
On time, Notwithstanding the com
binatiOn had merely woman behind
IL.
The time was 10 o'clock of moon
lit October night, just cool enough to
set horses and dogs on edge, just mild
enough TO make the huntsmen rejoice
as the wind of their progress sang
past their ears. First time out after
IA fox. the leader, Red higgins, felt
ready for something out of the or
binary.
There were seven of the BOb-Tails-
two higgins, two Suffers, Il lonely Lane
and two FillpOtts. Hill folks ALL there
fore holding cOngenial grudge
against them 'ristOcrats up yam side
the big road" whose breadths of open
land cut into bigger fields gave better
room for chasing than the flats or
quilted hillsides round about their own
ruOf-trees.
They were reasonably well mounted,
but their dogs outclassed their horses.
Big blue-mottled fellows, with ears
TO sweep away the morning dew" or
lusty, lathy black-and-tans of the ia
nous "four-eyed" strain. Thrifty
they were bred, fed and hardened for
sale to better sportsmen. This night
was to be baptism of tongue and
heels 10 several promising pups. If
| they kept even within holler" of
Blue Jupiter, the leader, some Christ
mas they might fetch as much us ten
dollars apiece.
Partly because of this the riders
swung nOrtherly, crossed the big road
and struck straight for the old Ashby
place. They never demean themselves
| by calling it AshwoOd, eff that stuck
up gal farmin' it, now the old colonel
could hardly go high-low, did have
the word printed outside of her let
tiers, and on the No Trespass' boards
she had took n stuck round about
every corner o the lines, and all
along the fence row runnin' to the big
gate"
They had lively grudge against
her. Hadn't they rode free and shot
as they pleased all over the place till
~ yhrfc
to show her just where she got off,
and no time like the right-now pres
ent. Thus Red higgins to Babe Suter
as they rode in front. Babe allowed
that was plumb so, adding that the
Ashby gal had put a power of sheep
In them creek woods parsters, and
billy goats till We couldn't rest out in
the old fields. But she hadn't got up
no barb wire yet; and who'd let post
and rail stop him with the dogs In
cry? Nobody a-tall, Red in turn al
lowed. And thar was a regular fox
path right spang through the middle
of the old field; mother one erlong the
bluff aidge till it drapped down to the
creek. First red un jumped would
shore take one path or tother. And
then Miss Tighty-Tighty's sheep and
goats would git skeer-but no hurt
not onless they hadn't sense enough
ter keep from under horses and away
from dawgs. Right spang through the
big gate, on a-past the house. That
was the ticket, and who's 'fraid! Rear
ranks whOoped: Nobody Then,
horns sounding, whooping all together,
they sent horses cantering, never check
ing till the big gate was FIVE yards
ahead. Lineup" ordered Red. As
he was clumsily Obeyed he urged his
horse forward and bent to unlatch the
gate. but instantly recoiled upright.
staring hard at something that had
stepped from behind a big gatepost
and was saying in flute voice: Gen
tlemen, it's shame. / hate TO be a
spoil-sport, especially night like this,
but l had to come and ask you to call
off and go somewhere else"
"Whut for we willT" demanded Sur
ly Suter, edgihg to Reds elbow.
"Oh! Because / ask it-and be- |
cause you know you should. Going |
through the place might cost me n /
heap more money than / can spare"
And then ye'd have more'n ever
We got ter spare" the tallest Fillpott
broke in. wish / could believe So"
countered the apparition, which was
slim and 1.-the, bareheaded, without
even a shawl. But. of course, you're
joking-please turn back, though, be-
fore l catch my DEATH"
"We won't" said Red.
"But you must!" returned Phillippa
Ashby.
Nobody says must ter us Bob
Tails" Lone Lane rasped out.
Mistaken! l say itr from Phil
lippa without tremor. "The law"
pointing to the no trespass sign, SAYS
you must not. I'm here to see that
you don't"
Whats ter hinder us?" from Toad
higgins.
"This!" said PhiIlippa, how and