Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-10-02
Cure Was Drastic,
but Effective
By CHARLES SLOAN REID
X X X Y

KKKK KKNKNNN
"a by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicatel
tWNU servicel sA
CEVEN men, with mattocks and
~ shOvels, stood waiting for an
eighth man at the crossroads on the
south side of Little Hogback noun
tain. The morning sun was just peep
ing through the tree tops Abe Luns-
ford strobe into view from a trail that
came in from the Toxiway side.
Say, fellers," greeted Lunsford, u
think we got another job afore we
start to ditchin' down the valley this
mornin'."
"What's thet?" inquired Bob Mauney,
a big fellow from back on Fish-back
ridge.
IL jes' learned whar Bull Goggins
Is hidin' out" declared Abe; IAN I've
fggered out scheme as opinell Inn
prove his ways. He Lit out arter beat
In up the OIL man t'other night; an
thar amt nobody as has hyeard any
thing from him till last night. He
mauled the OIL man somethin' turrible
this time. A chap as will beat up his
sick daddy is u scamp as ought to have
attention, says l."
"Yuh're dead right, Abe" agreed
Mauney.
Bull got skeered tibet Of Ben was
goin' to take the law O him this
time; an he's hid out. The lOw-down
cuss ANT hit lick o. work In more'n
M hn oil aontf nnnrQ'n
make tongue an buckle meet, diggin'
yearbs; faint nothin' but right tibet
sOmethin' sh'd be done to Bull"
"Whar is he?" one of the men want
ed to know.
"Dad hyeard 1t from Crazy Mosey
tibet Bulls hldin' In the OIL shaft
tibet Colby sunk down the ridge thar
above the Milk-Sick cove, four years
ago, a lookin' for gold as warn't thar"
whats yuhr idee, Abe% asked Bob.
"Why, well stop on the way down
the ridge, and fill up tibet dlnged O.
shaft" $40
Lord, yuh don't mean to bury the
cuss alive, do yuh?"
"Hit amt likely he'll git buried
much deep; but l opine hit'll set him
to thinkin'."
81 reckon"
LETS GO"
The shaft in which Bull Gogglns was
presumed to have taken shelter was
about twenty feet deep.
The men gathered about the top Of
the shaft Some of them began to
loosen the earth in a nearby area,
while others prepared to shovel it in
upon the man below. Abe Lunsford
began to talk in a loud tone.
"Well, fellers," he declared; "yuh
know, we amt got but two hours to
fill up this dfnged hole; so 1 reckon
we better git busy. Lead off, Bob,
an Wen sing The Rovin' Gambler
Seems I alters could work faster to
that tune"
Following this speech three or four
shovelfuls of earth, not unmlxed with
small stones, went crashing into the
shaft. At the same time the voices
Of the men swung into the rousing
song At the bottom of the hole stood
man in sudden terror, partially
sheltered by jutting rock. He
opened his mouth to scream, but re-
Trained, at the same time flattening
himself more closely against the wall.
Presently his head was pressed
against the rock above. Another foot
Of earth beneath his feet, and he no
longer might enjoy the protection Of
the crag.
Then in the stentOrian tones of Abe
LunsfOrd came the words:
"Sny, fellers; as soon as we've
shOveled In another yard or two, we'll
git together an roll in tibet big rock
| up thar Hill fill In about three
feet, | opine."
A terrified cry now went up from
the bottom of the shaft. Lunsford,
after smile toward some of his fell
lows, looked in over the edge. "WhO's
that?" he asked.
"Hit's Bull Goggins. What yuh try
in to dO-bury me alIve?"
Abe turned about. "Fellers," he
said, Bull GogglNs is down thar-le's
hurry an fill up the hole. Hit'll be a
good radiance He won't work lick,
an he's alters beatin' up the OIL
man."
Upon this command there arose
from the depths OF the shaft such a
series of pleadings as might have
melted the heart OF gargoye. Abe
ordered the singing and the shoveling
resumed. An avalanche OF soil poured
in upon Bull Goggins for the next ten
minutes, without moments abate.
ment. Meanwhile Bull was believing
and begging with all Of his lung
power
"'BOut time to roll In the rock, fel.
lers !" LunsfOrd shouted.
The earth shower ceased. Bull Cog.
gins was now screaming for mercy
Presently Abe leaned over the shaft
"Ef we let yu out" he asked; would
yuh take turn for the hetter?"
lord. I'll do anything. | swear I'll
go to work. an I'll never do the oil
man another HEX o. harm as long az
| lIve!"
Abe turned about chuckling. "He'f
got his lesson. reckon. fellers," he
said.
The following morning, Bull GOgglns
was swinging n heavy ninttOck In the
murklesi part 0f the big valley ditch
Abe Lurs ord gnyc his fellows an oc
casOnal sly wink.
Oidest Greek Date