The Press., 1922-03-23
The Campaign
 Document
By MARTHA MACwlLLlAMs

binalioli had merely a woman behind 1t.
 The time was 10 o'clock of a mn0n- 1u 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 fox, the leader, Red BigSms, felt ready for something out of the or dinary.
 There were seven of the BOb-TailS--, two Biggins, two Suters, lonely Lane and two FiIlpOtts. Hill folks all, there fore holding q cOngenial grudge against them 'ristocratS up van side the big r0ad," whose breadths of open land cut into bigger fields gave better room for chasing than the flats or gullied hillSIdes round about their own rOOf-trees.
 They were reasonably well mounted, but their dogs outclaSsed their horses. Big blue-mOttled fellOwSs with ears to sweep away the morning dew" or Iusty, lathy black-and-tanS of the fa- nous "four-eyed" strain. Thriftily they were bred, fed and hardened for sale to better sportsmen. This night was to be baptism of tongue and heels to several promising pups. If they kept even 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 nOrtherly, 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' it, now the old colonel could hardly go high-lOw, did have the word printed outside Of her let ters, and on the No TTeSpasE' boards she had took n stuck round about every corner O the lines, and all along the fence row ruRuin' to the big gate"
 They had 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 8 power of sheep in them creek woods parsterS, and billy goats till ye couldn't rest out in the old fields. But she hadn't got up no barb wire yet; and who'd let post and Fail stop him with the dogs in cry? Nobody A-tall, Red fin turn al- lowed. And thar was a regular fox path right sp&ng through the middle of the old field; mother one erlong the bluff aidge till it trapped down to the creek. First red un jumped would shore take one path or tOther. And then Miss Tighty-Cighty'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. ThaI was the ticket, and who's 'fraid 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, but instantly recoiled upright, staring hard at something that had stepped from behind & big gatepost and was saying in a flute voice: "Gen. tlemen, it's a shame. I hate to be spoil-sport especially a night like this. but had to come and ask you to call off and go somewhere else"
 "Nhut for we will?" demanded Sur.' ly Suter, edging to Reds elbow.
 "Oh! Because I ask it-and be- cause you know you should. Going through the place might cost me 6 heap more money than ] can spare"
 And then ye'd have mOre'n ever we got ter spare," the tallest FillpOtt broke in. Wish I could believe SO," cOuntered the appaTitiOn, which was slim and 1.-the, bareheRded, without even shawl. "But, of course, you're joking-please turn back, though, be- fore catch my death."-
 we won't" said Red. +.
 But you must :" returned Phillippa Ashby.
 Nobody says must ter us Fob. Tails" Lone Lane rasped out.
 Mistaken! I say itv from Phil lippa without . tremor. "The taw,h pointing to the no trespass sign. says you must not. Pm here to see that you don't" :.
 What's ter hinder .us?" from Toad Biggins.
 "This!" said Phi1lirna. how 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 through the rim of Little F'illp0tt's hat. ''I want to live in peace and good neighborhood with all people," she went on. But depend on this the first man to ride through that gate will never ride through another. Likewise the second, the third-all of you to the end of the chapter I'm here, one girl against seven men, but I'm fighting to save a home for my dear old father I'd rather kill the lot of you than that he should have a frlght-hut I do hope you won't force me to do It."
 ''Y"S'n! I-T-recllon we w0n4 said Red, backing away from the gate.
 ",Fhank you for being so nice and reasonable" Phillippa cooed. But just then came g sound that struck panic to the Bob-Tails-hoOfs on the dead run, with 8 rider swearing great oaths urging to greater speed 5 Git! All of ye! That's Bobby TaIbOt-I know his cussin' a mile off," shouted Lone Lane, sinking in his spurs and lifting his horse over big fallen tree bounding the outer woods. Sound had misled them-Bobby Talbot 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:
 U ''Phiuippa! Go straight home 1 Leave me to settle this dirty pot of ihash."