, 1921-11-03
The Campaign
Document
By MARTHA MACWILLIAMS
9. 1921. by Mcclure NEWSPAPER Syndicate


g. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
Perfect courtesy plus a ~six-shooter
is an effectual combination, sometimes
even a killing one, as was realized by
the Rag, Tag and Bob-Tails, once up
on a time, Notwithstanding the com
bination had merely a woman behind
1t.
The time was 10 o'clock of a 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
II fox, the leader. Red higgins, felt
ready for something out of the or
binary.
There were sever of the Bob-Tails-
two higgins, two Suffers, a lonely Ian
and two Fillpotts. Hill folks all, there
fore holding a c%ongenial 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 o~utclassed 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 a baptism of tongue and
heels to several promising pups If
they kept ever within holler' of
Blue Jupiter, the leader, some Christ
mas they might fetch as much as ten
dollars apiece.
Partly because of this the riders
swung n%ortherly, crossed the big road
and struck straight for the old Ashby
place. They never demean themselves
by calling it Ashwood, "if that stuck
up gal farmin' 1t, 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 tool n stuck u about
every corner O. the lines, and all
along the fence row runnin' to the big
gate"
They had a lively grudge against
her. Hadn't they rode free and shot
as they pleased all over the place till
she took hold last Christmas? Time
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 'uI
no arb 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 than 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 tax one path or tother. And
then Miss Tighty-Tighty's sheep and
goats would git a 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 'fraidl 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, hut instantly recoiled upright,
staring hard at something that had
stepped from behind a big gatepost
and was saying in n flute voice Gen
tlemen, it's Il shame. | hate 10 be n
spoil-sport, especially a night ike this,
but ! had to come and ask You to call
off and 90 somewhere else."'
"Whut for we WHIP" demanded Sur
ly Suter, edging to Reds elbow.
"Ohl Because | ask lt-and be-
cause you know you should. Going
through the place mlghN cost me IA
heap more money han | can spare"
"And Their ye'd have more'n ever
we got ter spare" the tallest Fillpott
broke in. "Wish | could believe So"
countered the apparitlon, which was
slim and 1.-THE, bareheaded. without
even a shawl. But. of course, you're
joking-please turn back. though, be-
fore i catch my DEATH"
I'VE won't" said Red.
But you must" returned Phillippa
Ashby.
"Nobody says must ter us Bob
Tails" Lone Lane rasped out.
mistaken! say ltr from Phil
lippa without a remor "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.
"Thlsi !" said Philllppa, how and
steely, flashing a s~ix-shooter In the
brilliant moonshine. Look, I've o