The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-18
EDening Story
A Campaign Document.
--- . - = .
BY MARTHA Nee. WILLIAMS.

lied by the hags rag and BOD-IalIS,
once upon a time, Notwithstanding the
combination had merely woman be-
hind it.
| 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
the leader, Red higgins, felt ready for
| som ething out of the common.
| There were seven of the Bob-Tails-
! two Biggins two Suffers, lonely Lane
I and two Fillpots. Hill folk all, there
| fore holding a congenital grudge
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
rooftrees.
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-ey 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
even within holler'' of Blue Jupiter,
the leader, come Christmas they might
fetch as much as 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 60 high-low, did have
the word printed outside of her letters,
and on the No Trespass' boards she
had TOXIN stuck round about every
cornder 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 present.
Thus said Red Biggins to Babe Suter
as they rode in front. Babe allowed
that was plumb so, adding that the
Ashby gal had put 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 regular 1ox
path right sprang thru 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
not onless they hadn't sense enough
ter keep from under horses and away
from dawgs. Right spang thru 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 togeth-
err, they sent horses cantering, never
checking till the big gate was five
yards ahead. Lime upp ordered
Red. AS he was clumsily obeyed he
J,3e oTsd Td han n
unlatch the gate, but instantly re-
coi1ed upright. staring hard at some
thing that had stepped from behind
big gatepost and was saying in a flute
! voice: Gentlemen, it's a shame. I
hate to be a spoil-sport, especially
night like this but I had to come and
ask you to call off and go somewhere
else.''
'whut for will WEI" demanded
Surly Suter. edging to Reds elbow.
"Ohl Because I ask it-and be-
cause you know you should. Going
thru the place might cost me a heap
more money than can spare"
"And then ye'd have more'n ever we
got to spare" the tallest Fillpott broke
in wish I could believe So" coun-
tered the apparition, which was slim
and 1.-THE, bareheaded, without even a
shawl; 'but, of course. you're Joking
please turn back, tho, before I catch
my death"
we won I, SAID Red.
but you must!" returned Phillippa
Ashby.
Nobody says must ter us Bob
tails" Lone Lane raped out.
Mistaken! say It'll" from Philippe
without a tremor. 1.-The law" point
ing to thu no trespass sign, "says you
must not. I'm here to see that you
don't"
whats ter hinder us2" from Toad
higgins.
"This!" said Phillippa, low and
steely, flashing a six-shooter in the
brilliant moonshine- Look. I've a
spare bullet--and cartridges besides"
AS she spoke she sent a bullet neatly
thru the rim of Little Pillpott's hat
II want to live in peace and good
neighborhood with all people," she
went on; But depend on this-the
first man to ride thru that gate will
never ride thru another. Likewise the
second, the third-all of you to the end
of the chapter. I'm here, one girl
again seven men, but I'm fighting to
save home for my dear old father.
I'd rather kill the lot of you than that
he should have a fright-but do hope
you WORT force me to do it."
'Yes'm! 1-I-reckon. we won't,
said Red, backing away from the gate.
| Thank you for being so nice and rea-
sonable," Philippe cooed. But just
then came a sound that struck panic
10 lne BODIalIS-nO0IS on the dead
run with rider swearing great oaths
urging to greater speed.
"Giti All of We! That's Bobby Tai
bot know his cussin' a mile off"
shouted Lone Lane, sinking in his
spurs and lifting his horse over a big
fallen tree bounding the outer woods.
AS he disappeared in moon-checkered
darkness the others tried to wheel
Sound had mlsled them-Bobby Tai
bot was coming behind them along
their way OF retreat. AS he came upon
them he checked his horse, rose in his
stirrups. and said sternly "PhiIlippa!
Go straight homel Leave me to settle
this dirty pot of hash"
IT'S all settled-beautifully - Bob
by" Philippe cooed again: you don't
know how persuasive I can be. when
give my whole mind to it. But tell
me how you happened in right now?
sent you home nearly an hour ago"
/, And I let you-like the fool I N. ;,