The Jasper news., 1921-08-25

came ocfhmDlnB uOWn lOE uhONhet
pull at the jug. They were out for a
spree and Abe know II and knew furth-
er that they had reached the limit
Of discretion.
"Boys. there are ladies' here aud
we've got to be careful" he said.
LES stick to the Job till four O'Clock.
Then weIl knock OF for refresh
ments."
The young revelers gathered In a
group and began to whisper together.
Samson writes that 1t became evident
then they were going to make trouble
and says:
ave had left the children at Rut-
ledge's In the care Of Ann. went to
Sarah md told her she had better 60
on and see II they were all right.
"Don't you get In any 6ght,' she
said, which shows that the women
knew what was In the air.
Sarah led the way and the others
followed her."
Those big, brawny fellows from the
Grove when they got merry were look
ing always for q chance to get mad
at some man and turn him into a
plaything. A chance had come to get
mad and they were going to make the
most Of 1t. They began to growl with
resentment. Some were wiggIng their
leader. Jack Armstrong, to fight Abe.
One OF them ran to his horse and
brought bottle from his saddle bag.
1t began passing from mouth to mouth.
Jack Armstrong got the bottle before
1t was half emptled. drained 1t and
flung II high IN the air. Another
called him a hog and grappled him
around the waist and there was q des-
perate struggle which ended quickly.
Armstrong got hold on the neck OF
his assallant and choked him until he
let go. This was not enough for the
sturdy bully Of Clary's = Grove. He
seized his follower and flung him SO
roughly on the ground that the latter
lay for moment stunned. Armstrong
had got his blood warm and was now
ready for action. With a Wild whoop
he threw off his coat, unbuttoned his
right shlrtsleeve and rolled It to the
as he swung his arm In the air, that
he could "Out jump, out hop, out run.
throw down, drag out an lick any man
In New Salem"
In a letter to his father Samson
writes:
"Abe was working at my elbow. ]
saw him drop his hammer and get up
and make for the ladder. knew
something was going to happen and
l followed him. In minute everyone
was Off the roof and out Of the build
ing. l guess they knew what was
coming. The big lad stood there
swinging his.arm and yelling like an
Injun. II was q big arm and muscled
and corded up some, but l guess II I'd
showed the calico Off mine and held It
up he'd pulled down his sleeve. !
didn't know just how good a man
Abe was and / was kind O. scalrt for
minute. / never found It so hard
work to do nothin' as did then. Hon.
est, my hands kind o. ached. / wanted
to go an cuff that feller's ears an
grab hold o. him an toss him over the
ridge pole. Abe went right up to him
an said:
"tJack. you amt half so bad or half
so cordy as ye think ye are. You say
you chn throw down any man here.
reckon I'll have to show We that
you're mistaken. I'll rassle with ye.
We're friends an we won't talk about
lIckln' each other. Les have a friend
ly rassle.'
'In q second the two men were
locked together. Armstrong had
lunged at Abe with yell. There was
no friendship In the way he took hold.
He was going to do all the damage
he could in any way he could. Half
drunk. Jack is a man who would bite
your ear OF. II was no rassle; II was
fight. Abe moved like lightning.
| He acted awful timber an well
creased. In a second he had got hold
of the feller's neck with his big right
hand and hooked his left into the cloth
on his hip. In that way he held him
of and shook him as you've seen our
dog shake woodcEuck. Abe's blood
was hot. II the whole crowd had
piled on him ! guess he would have
come out all right, for when he's
reused there's something In Abe more
than bones and muscles. suppose
It's what ! feel when he speaks O
piece. It's kind of lightning. / guess
It's what our minister used to call the
power OF the spirit.
"A friend Of the bully jumped in
and tried TO trip Abe. Harry Needles