The Snowflake herald., 1921-11-25


ed and tied his mare. Don't be
skeered O. this ere dog. He were tied
when | left home but he chawed his
rope an come alter me. | reckon if
nobody feeds him he'll patter back to-
night. Any plug tObacco?'
"A backload of it," said Berry, go
ing into the store to wait on the min
lister.
When they came out the latter
carved off a corner of the plug with
his jack-knife, put it into his mouth
and sat down on the doorstep.
"Where do Samson Traylor live?
Abe took him to the road and point
ed the way
'There be gOin' to be raid" said
Nuckles. Il reckon. by all I've heard,
it'll come on tonight"
"a raid Who's going to be raid
ed?" Abe asked.
"Them Traylor folks. Thar be
st. Louis man, name o. BiggS, done
stirred up the folks from Missourey
and Tennessee on the south road bout
the Yankee who holps the niggers out
O. bondage. They be goin' to do some
regulatin' tonight. OIL Satan'll break
loose. Eff you don't wa'ch out they'll
come over an burn his house sartin."
Wen watch out" said Abe. They
don't know Traylor. He's one of the
best men in this county"
I've heered he were he man an
a right powerful, God-fearin' man,
said the minister.
He's one of the best men that ever
came to this country and any one
that wants TO try his strength is wei
come to; l don't" said Abe. Are you
going over there?"
81 were gOn' TO warn em an help
'em eff l cain"
"Well, go on, but don't stir 'em up"
Abe cautioned him. Don't say word
about the raid. I'll be over there with
some other fellers soon after sun
down. Wen just tell 'em it's he
party come over for a story-tellin' an
a rassle. l reckon weIl have some
fun. Ride on over and take supper
with 'em. They're worth knowing"
In few minutes the minister
mounted his horse and rode away fol-
lowed by his big dog
'If l was you l wouldn't CO. said
Berry.
"Why not?'
It'll hurt trade. Let the rest of
TraylOr's friends go over. There's
enough of 'em"
"We must all stand as one man for
law and ORDER" said Abe. IF we
don't there won't be any"
AS soon as Abe had had his supper
he went from house to house and
asked the men to come to his store
for a piece of important business.
When they had come he told them
what was in the wind. Soon after that
hour Abe and Philemon Morris. and
Alexander Ferguson and Martin Wad-
dell and Robert Johnson and Joshua
Miller and Jack Kelso and Samuel
Hill and John Mcneil set out for the
Traylor cabin. Samson greeted the
party with a look of surprise.
"Have you come out to hang me?"
he asked.
mo just to hang around ye,' said
Abe.
''This time it's q heart warmin',"
Jack KelSO averred. 1--WE left our
wives at home so that we could pay
our compliments to Mrs. Traylor
without reserve, knowing you to be a
man above jealousy"
"Its what we call he party, on
the prairies," said Ferguson. For
one thing l wanted to see Abe and
the minister have a rassle"
The Reverend Stephen Nuckles
stood in front of the door with Sarah
and Harry and the children. He was
a famous wrestler.
81 CANT rasse like l used to could.
but be willin' to give We a try, Abe"
said the minister.
you'd better save your strength
for OF Satan," said Abe.
$50 on, Abe" the others urged.
''Give him try"
Abe modestly stepped forward. In
the last year he had grown less in
clined to that kind of fun. The men
took hold of each other, collar and
elbow. They parried with their feet
for an instant. Suddenly Abe's long
right leg caught itself behind the left
knee of the minister. 1t was the hip
lock as they called it those days. Once
secured the stronger man was almost
sure to prevail and quickly. The
sturdy circuit rider stood against it
for a second until Abe sprang his bow.
Then the heels of the former flew up
ward and his body came down to the
grass, back first.
"That ar done popped my wind
bag" said the minister as he got up.
"Calt in." said John Mcneil and the
others echoed It.
81 call In Samson Traylor." said the
minister.
At last the thing which had long