The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-08-28
Cure Was Drastic,
but Effective
By CHARLES SLOAN REID
X X X X X X !: !, K X X
90 by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.l
(WNU Service)

| NEVEN men, with mattocks and
y 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 trail that
came in from the Toxiway side.
"Say, fellers," greeted Lunsford, II
think we got another job afore we
start to ditchin' down the valley this
| mornin'."
| "What's thet?" inquired Bob Mauney,
big fellow from back on Fish-back
ridge.
| II jes' learned whar Bull Goggins
is hidin' out" declared Abe; 'an' I've
figgered out scheme as I 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 scamp as ought to have
attention, says l."
"Yuh're dead right, Abel" 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 amt hit lick O. work in mOre'n
year; an the Oh man can't more'n
make tongue an buckle meet, a 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 it from Crazy Mosey
tibet Bulls hidin' in the Oh shaft
tibet Colby sunk down the ridge thar
above the Milk-Sick cove, four years
ago, lookin' for gold as warn't thar 2
whats yuhr idee, Abe?" asked Bob.
"Why, We'll stop on the way down
the ridge, and fill up tibet dinged o.
shaft"
Lord, yuh don't mean to bury the
cuss alive, do yuh?"
"Hit amt likely he'll git buried
much deep; but I opine hitll set him
to thinkin'."
II reckon"
Lets got"
The shaft in which Bull Goggins 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 nearby area,
while others prepared to shovel it in
hA npd
began to talk in loud tone.
"Well, felers," he declared; "yuh
know, we amt got but two hours to
fill up this dinged hole; so reckon
we better git busy. Lead off, Bob,
an we'll sing The Rovin' Gambler
Seems I alters could work faster to
that tune"
Following this speech three or four
shovelfuls of earth, not unmixed with
small stones, went crashing into the
shaft At the same time the voices
of the men swung into the r0using
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:
"Say, fellers; as soon as we've
shoveled in another yard or two. wen
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.
Hits Bull Goggins. What yuh try
in to do-bury me alive?"
Abe turned about. 'Fellers," he
said "Bull Goggins is down thar-le's
hurry an fill up the hole. Hill be
good radiance. He won't work lick,
an he's alters beatin' up the OF
man."
Upon this command there arose
from the depths of the shaft such a
series of pleadings as might have
melted the heart Of gargoyle. Abe
ordered the singing and the shoveling
resumed. An avalanche of soil poured
in upon Bull Gogg!ns 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, fell
lers!" Lunsford shouted.
The earth shower ceased. Bull Cog
gins was now screaming for mercy.
Presently Abe leaned over the shaft.
'Ef we let yuh out" he asked: would
yuh take turn for the bettery
lord, I'll do anything. l swear I'll
go to work, an I'll never do the oil
man another lick o. harm as long as
l live"
Abe turned about chuckling. Hes