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Show Mm - " "'" lnts Lii,i-ii auiM. im. w. ammm H i I I A Man for J s're'3 jj I I A- IC r.yw9 IRVING BACHELLER B ---- Copyright, InrtM DtctwWf H ! K ADR, THE FIGHTER. LK Bynopgts. Rnrtuon ana Barnh K. Traylor. with their two cMldren, H Jostnh end Betsey, travel hy wagon H In tlio lUtnintr of 1831 from their V homo In Vcnienncs, Vt.. to the K: "West, ths land of plenty. Their Wmm destination Is tho Country of tlio V Sangamon, In Illinois. At Nlngnru R) I' alls they meet n party ot lnnnl- H grants, nraong them a youth named iTUi John McNoil, who also derides toga & to tha Hniifjnmon country. All ot Um " party suffer from rover ami t nirue. Earah'n mlnlstrnllonn save H'.' the "' r a yUtli, Harry Needles, li In thn last stages of fever, and ho Hk accompanies tho Traylors. They K renrL New Salem, Illinois, and are H welcomed by young Abe Lincoln. H Tha Traylors aro Introduced to H; everyone and decide to settlo at B Now flnlcm. Among their first nc- K qualntanccs are Jack Kelso and his B pretty slxteen-ycur-old daughter B 131m. Samson and Aha cut timber I for the Traylor cabin, John McNoll H, II Brrlve- H CHAPTER IV Continued. mM 5 B Tlio logs for tlio now houso wore ft, ready two dnys after tho cutting bo- H- gnn. Mnrtlti Wnddoll mul Sntmicl IIIII H Kent tenma to lintil tlicm. Joint Cnm- B eron ntul I'oter Luklns hnd brought R tlio window sash nnd soma clapboards 1 from Iieurdstown In n Binnll tlntbout. B Then ennic tho dny of tho raising n B dear, wnrm day curly In September. B All tho men from the vlllngo nnd the H nenr fnrmu gathered to help tnnko n homo for the newcomers. Samson B and Jack Kelso went out for n hunt QH After tho cutting nnd brought In n B fnt buck nnd ninny grouso for tho beo dinner, to which every womnn of tho B neighborhood mnito n contribution of H cako or plo or cookies or doughnuts. B "Whnt wilt bo my purtl" Stimaon H nnd Inquired of Kelso. HH "Nothing but n Jug of whisky nnd n H kind word nnd n houso warming," K ' Kelso bnd answered. H They notched nnd bored tho logs Hl end mntlo pins to bind them nnd cut H tlio.o tlnit were to go around tho fire- Hf phico nnd window spaces. Strong, Hf willing und Mell-tmlncd hnnds hewed Kf nd fitted the logs together, Alexnn- Y- iter Ferguson lined tho llreplnco with a H curious mortar mndo ot clay In which K- ho mixed xraRt for a binder. This tnor- ftd tar he rolled Into layers cnlled "cats," B each eight inches long und three Inches BV thick. Then he laid them ngalnst tlio BE VH lop and held them In pluco with a BE BJ troven network of stocks. Tho first H flra slow one baked tho cluy Into H ' rrgtd stouc-llko sheath Inside tho H log and presently tho sticks woro BBT burned nwny. Tho women hnd cooked BaBr the meats by an open lire and spread Bj tho dinner on a tablr of rough bourds H rent'ng on poles set In crotches. At B noon ono of them founded a couch ; BaBJr shell. Then with shouts of Joy tho BaBs' jmvn hurried to tho rtrfsldo and for a B-Bfl' , oment there was t great spluttering ' B., MTvr tho wnsh basins, lleforo they BaBJ' tto, every man except Abo and Sam BB ion "took n pull at tho Jug long or ; B-Bj ' ,ihort" to quoto a phrase of tho time. BbBJ It was a cheerful compnny tliut snt B ! down upon tho grass around tho tnblo : BM irtth loaded plates. Their food had BbyS j -.Us oxtra seasoning of merry Jests nnd H '( ltd laughter. Sarah wits n llttlo H allocked at the forthright directness H ef their eating, no knives or forks or BBH napkins being needed In that process. HF Having eaten, washed and packed ' away their dishes tho women went B , homo nt two, Iloforo they hnd gono BsBr . damson's cars caught a thunder of B-f hotrcs' feet in tho dlstnnco. IiOoklng BsB; tn Its dlroctton ho saw n cloud of dust BsBJ.li in thu road and a band of horsemen Bf riding toward them at full speed. Aba BBF enmo to him and said: B "I ace tho boys from Clary's Grove KBflH aro coming. If they got mean, let mo H ideal with 'em. It's my responsibility BbwM 'I wouldn't wonder If they had some BBy of Offut's whisky wltji them." J U hu l)o j a arrived In a cloud of VABaBTy dust ttud a chorus of Indian whoops WJHVW'Y'4"1 dismounted and hobbled their BFv1 'Its. They came toward tho work-BswN work-BswN ' ' 1el by burly Jack Annslrong, u BsBJHRV 'trt, bnrd-fuccd blacksmith of B&B&BM . ctweuty-two with broad, henvy BB"AB)Btk;8, whoso nnmo has gone Into SBSHBfclLrhoy had been drinking somo w4jBJPB3ErJBJS of (hem nns In tho least HnSLaf J8r-?0 orthls balnncf. Thoy scullled ttflBjBgrfrarpround tho Jug tor a moment In per- mBBH' 1 feet good nature and then Abe und WHBS Mrs. AVuddell provided them with the HHBHpi best rcmnnnts of tho dinner. They ByB ' vcro rather noisy. Soon they went HrwBK&iL up " tno roof t0 nu,I) n111' l,ie raftcra BSHBHvtid tho clapbonrtilng. Thoy worked HgBjwcH a few minutes nnd suddenly they JHRXriinie scrambling down for nnothcr HbWWB?""11 nt "io iut;- Thy woro out for n jBBwMR ' Tspree and Abo knew it nnd knew furtlt-nBllwf furtlt-nBllwf ,yr that they had reached tho limit BnfiL ''"of discretion. BHkCp "Hoys, there are Indies hero and BflKlM we'v0 cot to bo careful," ho said. RHPll -r'0'3 s,lc,c to "10 0 till four o'clock WsUfvl Tlie" w0" knock n tor rcfresn PBiife'' ,n(,nt"'" MBdjP;-' Tlio young revelers gatliored lp n BBlfK group and begun to whisper together. BHi-i Bnmson writes that It became evident BBS''' then ttay were golug to uinke trouble fflmi and fcuys; iBjfM "V had left the children nt Hut- vi&FiW ledge's In th r of Ann. I went to BBLWBMB1 b'nrnh nnd told her sho hnd better go on nnd seo If they wero all right. "Don't you get In any fight,' she snld, which shows that tho women know whnt wns In tlio nlr. "Sarah led tho way and tlio others followed her." Thobo big, brawny fellows from tho Grove when they got merry were looking look-ing nlways for u chance to get mad nt some man and turn him Into n plnythtng. A chancu had come to get mnd nnd they were going to uinke the most of It. They begnn to growl with resentment. Some wero wigging their lender, Jack Armstrong, to light Abe. Ono of them ran to his horso and brought a bottle from Ills saddle bug. It begun pnsslng from mouth to mouth. Jack Armstrong got tho bottle before It wns half emptied, drained It nnd flung It high in tho nlr. Another called him u hog and grappled him around tho waist nnd there was n desperate des-perate struggle which ended quickly, Armstrong got n hold on the neck of his nssnllnnt nnd choked him until he let go. This was not enough for tho sturdy bully of Clary's Grove. He seized his follower nnd flung him so roughly on tho ground thnt tho littler Iny for n moment stunned. Armstrong had got his blood wnrm and was now ready for action. With n wild whoop ho threw off his coat, unbuttoned his right shirtsleeve and rolled It to the shoulder und declared In a loud voice, as ho swung his nrm In tho nlr, that ho could "out Jump, out hop, out run, throw down, drag out an' Uck any man In New Snlem." In a letter to his father Samson writes: . "Abo was working nt my elbow. I saw him drop his hammer and get up and make for tho Inddcr. I knew something wns going to happen nnd I followed him. Ih it minute everyone was' off the roof nnd out of tho build-Ing. build-Ing. I guess they knew what was coming. Tho big lad stood theru swinging his arm and yelling like nu Injun. It wns a big nrm and muscled nnd corded up some, but I guess If I'd shoved tho calico off mlno nnd held it up hu'd n pulled down his sleeve. I didn't know Just how good n man Abo wns nnd I wns kind o' scalrt for a minute, I never found it so hard work to do nothln' as I did then. Honest, Hon-est, my hnnds kind o' ached. I wanted to go an' cuff thnt feller's ears an' grab hold o' him an' toss him over tho ridge pole. Abo went right up to htm nn' said: " 'Jack, you nln't half so bad or half so cordy as yo think yo are. You sny you can throw down nny mnn here. I reckon I'll havo to show yo that you're mlstuken. I'll rnssle with ye. TVa'ro friends an' we won't talk ubout llckln' each othor. Lo's have u friendly friend-ly rnssle.' "In a second the two men wero locked together. Armstrong had lunged nt Abo with n yell. Tlicro was no friendship In tho way ho took hold. Ho was going to do nil tho damage ho could In any way ho could. Hnlf "When He'a Routed There's Something Some-thing In Abe." drunk, Jnck is a man who would bite your ear off. It was no russlo ; It was a light. Abe moved UUo lightning Ho ncted nwful limber nn' well groused. In n second ho hnd got hold of tho feller's neck with Ids big right bund and hooked his loft Into the cloth on his hip. In thnt way ho held him off and shook him us you've seen our dog shako a woodcl.uck. Abo's blood was hot. If tho wlmlo crowd had piled on him I guess he would hnve coma out all right, for when ho's roused there's something In Abo moro than bones and muscles, I suppose It's what I feel when ho spenks a piece. It's a kind of lightning. I guess It's what our minister used to call the power of tho spirit. "A friend of the bully Jumped In nnd tried to trip Abe. Harry Needles stood beside me. Ilefore I could move ho dashed forward nnd hit that feller In tho middle of his forehead nnd knocked him lint. Harry hud hit Hup McNoll, the cock tighter. I got up next to the kettle then nnd took the scum off It. Fetched one of them devils a ship with the side of my hand thnt took the skin off tils fnco and rolled him over nnd over. When I looked ngal.i Armstrong wns going limp. His mouth wns open nnd his tongue out. With one hand fastened to his right leg and tlio other on the nnpo of his neck Alio lifted him nt arm's length anil gave him n toss In tho nlr. Armstrong fell about ten feet from whero Abo stood nnd Iny there for a minute. The light wns nil out of him und he wns kind of dazed nnd sick. Abe stood up like a glnnt nnd his face looked nwful solemn. "Uoys, If there's nny moro o' you that want troublo you enn Imvo some oft the same plcco,' ho snld. "They bung their heads nnd not one of them made n move or said a word. Abe went to Armstrong and helped him up. " 'Jnck, I'm sorry thnt I hnd to hurt you,' he wild. 'You get on to your horse nnd go home.' " 'Abe, you're a better mnn than me,' said tho bully, as he offered his hand to Abe. 'I'll do anything you suy.' " So tho Clnry's Grovo gnng wns conquered. con-quered. They wero to malts more trouble but not again wero they to Imperil the foundations of Inw nnd order In the llttlo comtuuulty of New Snlem. As they wero stinting nwny Hap McNoll turned to Hnrry Needles and shouted: "I'll git even with you yet you slnb-slded son of n dog." Thut Is not exactly what ho said but it is near enough. CHAPTER V. In Which the Character of Dim Kelso Flashes Out In a Strange Adventure That Begins the Weaving of a Long Thread of Romance. The shell of tho cabin wns finished Ihnt day. Its puncheon floor wns In place but Its upper lloor wns to be laid when tho boards were rendy. Its two doors were yet to bo made anil hung, Its five windows to ho IK ted und made fast, its walls to be chinked with clay mortar. Simmon nnd Hnrry stayed that evening after tho rest wero gone, smoothing tho puncheon lloor. They mnde a few nails at the forge after supper nnd went over to Abe's store about nine. Two of the Clnry's Grove gang who hnd tarried In the village sat In the gloom of Its little vcrnndn apparently asleep. Doctor Doc-tor Allen. Jnck Kelso, Alexander Ferguson Fer-guson and Murtln Wad del I were sitting sit-ting by Its fireside while Abe snt on the counter with his legs banging off. "I'm sorry wo bud to hnve trouble," Samson remnrked. "It's the only spot on tho dny. I'll never forget the kindness kind-ness of thu people of New Snlem.' "The raising bee is a most significant signifi-cant thing." snld Kelso. "Democracy tends to universal friendship each works for tho crowd and the crowd for each, and there are no favorites. Kv-cry Kv-cry community Is like the' thousand frUnds of Thebes. Most of Its units stand together for the common good for Justice, law nnd honor. The schools are spinning strands of democracy de-mocracy out of all this ICiiropcan wool. Railroads are to pick them up nnd wenve them Into-ono great fabric, lly and by we shall see the ton million friends of Amerlcn standing together ns did the thousand friends of Thebes." "It's a great thought," snld Abe. "No mnn can estimate the size of that mighty phalanx of friendship till trained In ono school," Kelso went on. "Two yenrs ago the Hncyclopedln Ilrl-tanulcn Ilrl-tanulcn figured that the papulation of the United Status lu 100T would bo 103.000,000 people-, nnd In 100(1, 072,. 000,000. Wealth, power, science, literature, lit-erature, ull follow In the train of light and numbers. The- causes which moved the sceptro of civilization from the Euphrates to western Huropo will carry car-ry It from the latter to tho new world." "They sny that electricity and the development or tbo steum engine nre golug to make all men think alike," said Abe. "If that's so democracy nnd liberty will spread over the eurth. I reckon we nre near the greatest years In history. It U a privilege to be alive." "And young." Doctor Allen ndded. "Young! Whnt a God's blessed thing Is thnt!" snld Kelso, "Abe. have ye lenrned The Cotter's Snturduy NlRht'V "Not yet. It's a heavy hog to hold, hut I'll got n grip on an ear und it hind leg nnd lift It out o' thu pen he-fore he-fore long. You bee." "Don't fnll to do thnt. It will bo n help and Joy to yo." "Old Klrkham Io n bnrd uuister," snld At?. "I hoar his bell ringing every ev-ery time- I got n minute's leisure. I'm nigh through with him. Now I want to study rhetoric." "Only schoolmasters study rhetoric." h"lso declared. "A real poet or n real orator Is born with all tho metoru he needs. Itlieioile Is n steed for n Wit loud under the saddle, but tie's too wnrm blooded for the harness, fie wii( for tlio dny of the plumed knight not for these times. No man of sense would use n prancing horse on n plow or o stone bout. A good plow liorho Is n beautiful thing. The piny of Ids muscles, the power of his stride nre poetry to me, but wncn he trie to put on style he Is ridiculous. That suggests what rhetoric Is apt to do to the untrained Intellect. If you've anything to say or write, head straight across the field nnd keep your eye on the furrow." In the last diary of Samson Henry Traylor Is this entry: "I went to Gettysburg with tho President Pres-ident today und sat near him when he spoke. Mr. Everett nddressed tho crowd for nn hour or so. As Kelso would sny 'He rode the prancing steed of Rhetoric.' My old friend went straight across the field. When ho finished, the Held, plowed nnd bar-rowed bar-rowed and fertilized by war, had been sowed for all time. The spring's work wns done nnd well done." At n quarter of ten the doctor rose nnd snld: "We're keeping Abo from his sleep nnd wearing the night nwny with phi" losophy. I'm going home." "I enme over to see If you could find n mnn to help me tomorrow," Samson said to Abe. "Harry Is going over o do the chinking nlone. I wnnt n man to help me on the whlpsaw whllo I cut some boards for the tipper flooring." "I'll help you myself," Abe proposed. "I reckon I'll close the storo tomorrow tomor-row unless Jnck will tend It." "You can count on me," snld Jnck. "I'm short ot sleep nnyhow und n duy of rest will do mo good." Abe went with Ids friends to tho door beyond which the two boys from Clnry's Grove snt ns It sound asleep. It Is probable, however, that they had heard what Samson had said' to- Abe. Next morning Abe nnd Snmson set out for the woods soon nfter daylight. "I like that boy Harry," said Abe. "I reckon he's got good stuff In him. The wny he Innded on Unp McNoll was a caution. I like to seo a' feller come right up to the scratch, without nn Invitation Just in the nick n' time, ns he did. That boy Is a likely young colt strong nnd limber nnd well put together and hrond between the eyes." "An' gentle ns a kitten," Snmson ndded. "Theru never wns n better fnce on n hoy or n better henrt behind It. Wo like him." "Yes, sir. lie's n well topped young tret straight nnd sound nnd good timber. Looks as If that llttlo girl o' Jack's was terribly took up with him. I don't wonder." "What kind of a girl Is slier' Snmson Snm-son asked. "Awful shy since the nrrow hit her. Sim don't know whnt tt mentis yet. She'll get tiKcd to thnt. I reckon. She's a good girl and smnrt ns n steel trap." Harry Needles went whistling up tho road toward tho new hnuso with sickle, hoe and trowel. As ho pnssed the Kelso cabin ho whistled the tune of "Sweet Nightingale." It had haunted his mind since lie had henrd It lu tho woods. He whistled as loudly as ever he could and looked nt the windows. Ilefore he hnd passed, Rim's fnco looked out nt him with n smile and her bund flickered buck of the panes nnd ho wnved Ids to her. His heart bent fast ns he hurried nlong. "I'm not so very young," he snld to himself. "I wish I hadn't put on theso old clothes. Mrs. Traylor Is nn nwful nlco womnn but she's determined to make me look like n plow horse. I don't see why sho couldn't let me wear decent dollies." Sarah had enjoyed mothering the boy. His health hnd returned. His cheeks wero ruddy, Ids dark eyes clear and bright, bis tall form erect nnd sturdy. He hnd helped Alexander Ferguson with the making of the fireplace nnd knew how to mix tlio mortnr. He worked with n ulll. for his henrt wns In tho new homo. It was a fine Sep-temher Sep-temher morning. The far reaches of the great, grassy plain were dimmed with hnze. It was n vnst, flowery wll-tlerness. wll-tlerness. waving and murmuring in the brrero like nn ocean. How long- tho acres, sown by tlio winds of henven, had wnlted for the plowmnn now ar rived ! "You go 'way fron bera or I'll kill you dead." TO UK CONTINUED. |