The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1921-08-04

sturdy circuit rider stood against 1t
for a second until Abe sprang his bow.
Then the-heels of the former flew up
ward and his body came dswn to the
grass, back first
'sThat ar done popped my wind
bag" said the minister as he got up.
"Call in" said Johr Mcneil and the
others echoed 1t.
"I call in Samson Traylor." said the
minister.
At last the thing which had long
been subject of talk and argument
in the stores and houses Of New Sa-
lem was about. to come to pass-a
trial Of strength and agility between
the two great lions of Sangamon coun-
| ty. Either of them would have given
a months work to avoid 1t.
"Now we shall see which is the son
of Peleus and which the son of Tele-
mon," Kelso shouted.
"How shall we rassle?" Samson
asked.
| VI don't care" said Abe.
Trough and tumble" Ferguson pro-
posed.
Both men agreed. They bent low
intently watching each other, their
great hands outreaching. They stood
braced for second and suddenly both
sprang forward. Their shoulders
came together with thud. 1t was
like two big bison bulls hurting their
weight in the first shock of battle.
For a breath each bore with all his
strength and then closed with his ad-
versary. Each had an under hold
with one arm, the other hooked
around a shoulder. Samson lifted Abe
from his feet but the latter with tre-
mendous efforts loosened the hold of
the Vermonter, and regained. the turf.
They struggled across the dooryard,
the ground trembling beneath their
feet. They went against the side Of
the house, shaking 1t with the force
of their impact. Samson had broken
the grip Of one Of Abe's hands and
now had his feet in the air again but
the young giant chung to hip and
shoulder and wriggled back to his
foothold. Those lesser men were
thrilled and little frightened by the
mighty struggle. Knowing the strength
Of the wrestlers they felt a fear Of
broken bones. Each had torn a rent
In the coat Of the other. II they kept
on there was danger that both would
be stripped. The children had begun
to cry. Sarah begged the struggling
men to stop and they obeyed her.
"If any Of you fellers think that's
fun you can have my place., said Abe
Samson, I declare you elected the
strongest man In this county. You've
got the muscle Of a grizzly bear. I'm
glad to be quit o ye."
ut amt a fair election, Abe" Sam
son laughed. If you were rassline
for the right you could flop me. This
little brush was nothing. Your heart
wasn't in 1t, and by thunder, Abe
when 1t comes to havin' fun I rather
guess we'd both do better to let each
other alone"
"'Tain't exactly COED amusement
not for u.s." Abe agreed.
It was growing dark. Ann Rutledgt
arrived on her pony, and called Abe
aside and told him that the raiders
were in the village and were breaking
the windows of Radford's store be
cause he had refused to sell them liquor
Don't say anything about it." Abe
cautioned her. 'Just go into the house
with Sarah Traylor and sit down ant
have good visit. Well look after
the raiders."l
Then Abe told Samson what was
up. The men concealed themselves ir
some bushes by the roadside while the
minister sat close against an end Of
the house with his bloodhound beside
him. Before they were settled In
their places they heard the regulators
coming. There were eight men in the
party according to Abe's count as
they passed. The men, in conceal
ment, hurried to the cabin and sur
rounded 1t, crouched against the
walls. In moment they could see g
big spot, blacker than the darkness
moving toward them. 1t was the
massed raiders. They came on with
the stealth of cat nearing Its prey
A liOnllke roar broke the silence. The
preachers bloodhound leaped forward
The waiting men sprang to their feet
and charged. The raiders turned and
ran, pell nell, in panic toward their
horses Suddenly the darkness seemed
to fill with moving figures. One OF
the fleeing men, whose coat tails the
dog had seized, was yelling for help
The minister rescued him and the dog
went on roaring after the others
When the New SaIemites got to the
edge Of the grove they could hear a
| number of regulators climbing into
the treetops. Samson had a. man in
each hand; Abe had another, while
Harry Needles and Alexander Fergu-
son were in possession Of the man
whom the dog had captured. The
minister was out in the grove with
his bloodhound that was barking and
| growing under q tree. Jack Kelso
arrived with lantern. One Of Sam.
sons captives began swearing and