The ledger. [volume] (Gaffney City, S.C.) 1896-1907, March 15, 1907, Image 2
HORSE-SHOE ROBINSON
= A TALE OF THE TORY ASCENDENCY
BY
JOHN P. KENNEDY
CHAPTER XV.
Horse Shoe a "d Butler Resume Their
Journev. Which is Delayed By a
Savacift Incident.
Morninp broke, and with the first
day-streak Robinson turned out of
his bed. leaving Bmler so thorough
ly bo ind in the Rtx'll of sleep, that
he was not even moved by the loud
and heavy tramp of the sergeant, as
that, weighty personage domed his
clothes. Horse Shoes first habit in
the morning was to look after Cap
tain Peter and he accordingly direct-j an observation I have made; and
creetur went with a bridle across
his head, and a pair o’ legs astride
his hack. And whoever held that
bridle in his hand, did it for no good!
Scampering here and scampering
there, and scoring woods in the
night too. when the country is as
full of Tories as a begger's coat
with . it's a dogmatical bad sign,
take it which way you will. Them
three horses had the majorty, and
it is the nature of these beasts al
ways to follow the majority, if that s
in
ed his steps
which
towards the rude shed
served as a stable, at th 1 foot
of the hill. Here, to his surprise, he
discovered that *he fence-rails which,
the nght before, had been set up as
a hairier across the vacant doorway,
had been let down, and that no
horses were to be seen about the
premises. , ,
“What hocus-pocus has been
>, ere .7" said he to himself, as be gaz
ed upon the deserted stable. “Have
these rummaging and thieving Tories
bften out maraudering in the night?
or is it only one of Cptain Peter’s
old-sodger tricks, letting down bars
and leading the young geldings into
mischief 0 That beast can snuff the
scent of a corn field or a nastuio
ground as far as a crow smells gun
powder. He’d dislocate and comipti-
fy anv innocent tsalde °f horses in
Carolina!”
In doubt to which of those causes
this disappearance "f their cavalry,
the sergeant ascended the hill hard-
hv. and directed his eye over the
neighboring fields, hoping to dis-
cover the deserters in some of the)
adjacent pastures. Hut h<-> could got. j
- sight of them. He then returned
to the stable and Ml to examining
the ground about the door, in order
to learn something of the departure
of the animals by their tracks.
Thetse wm-e sufficiently distinct, to
convince him that Captain Peter,
whose shoes had a peculiar mark
well known to the sergeant, had
eloped during ihe night in company
with the major's gelding and two
others, these being all. as Horse
Shoe had observed, that were in the
stahl' 1 at the time h'' 1 had retired to
bed. He forthwith followed the foot
prints which led him into the high
road, and thence along it westward
for about two hundred pact s, where
a set of field bars, now thrown down,
afforded entrance into the cornfield.
At this point the sergeant traced
the deviation of three of the horses
inio the field, whilst t.he fourth, it
w\s evident, had continued upon the
read.
The conclusion which Galbraith
preir- from this phenomenon was ex-
Tvpessed by a wise shake of the head
and a profound fit of abstraction.
Ho took h’ eat upon a. projecting
rail at the angle of the fence, and
began to sum up conjectures in the
following phrase:
“The horse that travelled along
that road, never travelled of his own
frr^ will; that’s as clear as preach
ing. Well. h« wa’n't rode by Wat
nor by Mike Lynch, or else they are
arlier men than I take them to he;
but still. I'll take a hook oath that.
particular, if there’s a cornfield, or
an oatpateh. or a piece of fresh pas
ture to he got into every individual
horse is unanimous on the subject.
Whilst the sergeant was engross-
c ’ with these reflections, “he was
ware.” as the old ballads have it, of
a man trudging past him along the
road. This was no other than Wat.
Adair, who wag striding forward with
a long and rapid step, and with all
the appearance of one intent upon
some pressing business.
“Halloo! who goes there? where
awav so fast. Wat?” was Robinson’s
challenge.
“Horse Sho !” exclaimed Adair,
in a key that bespoke surprise and
even alarm’—“Ha. ha. ha!—By the
old woman’s pine, you frightened me!
I'll swear, • Galbraith Robinson, I
h-ard you snoring as I passed bv
your window three minutes ago.”
“I'll swear that's not the truest
j word you ever spoke in your life.
Wat- though true enough for yofi,
mayhap. Do you so-" 1 how cleverly
yon light’ has broke across the whole
sky? When 1 first turned out this
morning it was a little ribbon of
day; the burning of a block-house
at night, ten miles off, would have
made a broad r streak. It. was your
own snoring you heard. Wat; you
have only forgot under wlv>se win
dow it was.”
“What o'd witch has been pinch
ing you. Horse Shoe, that you are
up so ■ arly?'' asked Adair. “Get
“Yes. you called him Major But
ler?”
“1 had some dream. I think, about
him; or. didn’t you call him so your
self, Horse Shoe?”
“Most ondoubtedly, I did not.” re
plied Robinson seriously.
"Then I dreamt it. Horse Shoe;
these dreams sometimes get into the
head, lik e things we have been told
But, Galbraith, tell me the plain up-
and-down truth, what brings you and
Mr. Butler into these parts? What
are you after in Georgia? It do °
seem strange to find men that are
wan* ’ below, straggling here in
our woods at such a time as this.”
"There are two sorts of men in
this world. Wat,” said the sergeant,
with a smile, “them that axes ques
tions, and them that won’t answer
questions. Now, which, do you
think. [ belong <o? Why, to the last,
you tinker! Where are our horses.
Wat? Tel] me that. Who let them
out of the stable?”
“Perhaps they let
rcpli. fi Adair, “thev
ed."
“You are either
Wat. Como here,
tracks of the.beast
man up this road, who sot loose all
the horses that were in that stable.”
“Mike Lynch, perhaps,” said Adair,
with an assumed expression of ig
norance. "Where can that fellow
have been so early? Oh. I remem
ber. ho told nio last night, that he
wac going this morning to the black
smith’s. H«> ought to
this time.’*
“And you are here
news from him?’’ said
themselves out,”
were not halter-
knave or fool.
There are the
that carried the
be back by
to
He
lam tbo
segcant.
back to the house,
with you presentlv;
to look after. I'll so
"Vou seem to ni
on reasonably hurry,
ing that you have
you. But softly. I’ll
man. I will he
I have mv farm
you presently ”
to bo in a very
Wat. consider-
the day before
walk with you,
if vou have no
“No. no. I'm
going to look after my
rather you’d go hack to
unliking to it.’’
busy, Galbraith;
traps:
I’m
I’d
the house
Go! You
w i' '> briers
and hum break-fast,
would onlv get ed
if you followed me.”
“Ha. ha. ha! Wat! Briers, did
you say? Look here. man. do you
s-- them there l^gs? Ido they lork
as if they couldn't laugh at yonrn in
any sort of scrambling I had a mind
to set them to? Tut. I’ll go with
vou inst to larn you the march drill.”
“Then T’ll not budge a foot after
the traps.”
“You are crusty,
what’s the matter with
“Is Major Butler up
the woodman thoughtfully.
“Who do you say? Major Butler.”
“Major!” cried Adair, wijh affect
ed surprise.
Wat Adair;
you?”
yet?”
asked
eyeing Adair with a suspicious scru-
nity.
“You have just, hit it. Horse Shoe.”
retured Wat. laughing. “1 did want
to know if there were any more
squads of troops foraging about this
distiH-t': for these cursed follows
whin in upon a man and out him no
blade and ear. without, so much as
thanks for their pillage, and so I
told Mike to inquire of the black
smith, for he is more like to know
t han anvbodv else*, whet to r there
was any more of these pestifarious
scrummagers abroad.”
“And vour lisps. Wat?”
"That was only a lie, Galbraith 1
confess it. I was afraid to make
von uneasv by telling you w’nat I
wa s aft r. But still it wasn’t abroad,
stark, daylight lie neither: it was
only a civil fib. for I was going af
ter mv wolf trap before 1 got my
breakfast. Hut here comes Mike.”
At. this juncture Lynch was se n
emerging from the wood, mounted
on a rough, untrimmed pony, which
he was urging forward under re
peated blows with his stick. Th ■
little animal was covered with foam:
and, from his travel-worn plight,
gave evidence of having been taxed
to the utmost of his strength in a
severe journey. At some hundred
paces distant, the rider detected the
presence of Adair and his companion,
and came to a sudden halt. He ap
peared to deliberate a s if with a pur
pose to escape their notice: hut
finding that he was already observ
ed by them, he put his horse again
in motion, advancing only at a slow-
walk. Adair hastily quitted Robin
son' and. walking forward until he
met Lvnch. turned about and ac
companied him along the road, con
versing during this interval in a
j k-ey too low to be heard by the ser-
| gean i.
j “Here’s Horse’ Shoe thrusting his
I head into our affair. Conjure a lie
i quickly about your being at the
I
ty-one Years
/'C'ypf*
TRADE MARK
’.I
REGISTERED
have been the standard
because they are made
•/
from honest materials.
See that the trade mark
is on every bag. None
genuine without it.
F. S. ROYSTER GUANO CO., Norfolk, Va.
For Sale By Carroll & Byers.
LAXATIVE
This man bought a supply of tobacco with
out acquainting himself with the distinctive taste
of SCHNAPPS Tobacco, which has the cheering
qualities that gratify his desire to chew, and at
less expense than cheap tobacco.
SCHNAPPS has been advertised in this
paper so that every chewer has had an
opportunity to get acquainted with the
facts ’and know that drugs are not used
to produce the cheering quality found in
the famous Piedmont country flue-cured
tobaccos, and that SCHNAPPS is what he
ought to chew. Still there are chewers
who accept other and cheaper tobaccos
that do not give the same pleasure.
Some day they’ll get a taste of the real
Schnapps—they’ll realize what enjoyment
they’ve missed by not getting SCHNAPPS
long ago—then they’ll feel like kicking
themselves.
SCHNAPPS is sold everywhere in 5
cent cuts, and 10 and 15 cent plugs. Be
sure you get the genuine.
blacksmith's;
then* In h' ;ii'
“Aye, aye!
“You s;uw i
“Yes. The
post.”
“Hush! Be
have a joke-
suspieious.”
I tuld him you were
the news.”
1 understand."
High?”
;iiig will lie at ile-ir
merry:
Horse Sh
laii::!i
e is
and
very
“You have rild
en tho crop-ear
like a stolen liors' ,” continued Adair.
ii s soon as he found himself within
the sergeant's hearing. “See what a
flitrC you have put the dumb least
in. If it had been your own nag.
Mike Lynch. I warrant you would
have been more tedious with him.”
“The crop-ear is not worth the
devil’s fetching. Wat. He is as
lazy as a land-turtle, and too obsti
nate for any good-tempered man’s
patience. Ijook at that stick i
have split it into a broom on Hie
beast.”
“You look more like a man at tin*
end of the day than at th<* beginning
of it.” said Robinson “How far had
.you to ride. Michael?”
“Only over here to the shop of
Billv Watson, in the Bu/.ard’s nest.''
replied Lynch, “which isn't above
three miles at the farthest. My saw
wanted setting, so I thought I’d
it, but this
1 have been
an hour -inci*
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make an early job
beast is so curs d dul
good three-quart* rs M
I left the smith’s ”
“What news do you brl
quired Adair.
“Oh, none worth telling again.
That cross-grained, contrary, rough-
and-tumble hear gouger, old Hide-
and Seek, went down yesterday with
tko Inst squad of Ferguson’s new
draughts.”
“Wild Tom Eskridge,” said Wat
Adair. “You k-nowed him. Horse
Shoe, a superfluous imp of Satan!”
continued the woodman, laying a
particular accent on the penultimate
of this favorite adjective which he
was accutsomed to use as expressive
of strong reprobation. So ho is
cleared out at last! Well, I’m glad
on’t for he was the only fellow in
these hills I was afeard would Rive
you trouble, Galbraith.”
“Superfluous or not,” replied the
serizeant, prononuncing the word in
the same manner as the woodman,
and equally ignorant of its meaning,
"it will ho a had day for Tom Esk-
ridg *. the rank, obstropolous Tory,
when he moots me, Wat Adair. I
have reason to think that he tried to
clan some of Tarleton’s dragoons on
my back over here at the Waxhaws.
There’s hemp growng for that scape
grace at this very time.”
"You heard of no red cots about
the Tiger?” asked Adair.
"Not one.” replied Lynch: “the
nearest post is Cruger’s, in Ninety-
Six.” ,
“Th * i your way. Mr. Robinson, is
tolerable for today.” added Adair:
“but war is war, and there is al
ways some risk to be run when men
n~<> parading with their rifles in
I their hands. But see! it is hard up-
^on sunrise. Let us go and give some
directions about breakfast. I will
send out some of the boys to hunt
un the horses: thev will he readv by
the time we have had something to
eat.”
Without furthek delay, Adair
strode rapidlv up the hill to the
dwelling-house, the sergeant and
Lynch following as soon as the lat
ter had put his jaded beast in the
stable. By the time these were as-
s iTihled in the Porch the family be
gan to show sign of life, and it was
a little after sunrise when Butler
came forth ready for the prosecution
of his journey. A few words were
exchanged in private between Lynch
and the woodman, and after much
idle talk and contrived delay, two
lazy and loitering negro bovs were
sent off in qu^st of the travellers’
horses. Not long after this the ani
mals were seen coursing from one
part of the distant field to another,
defying all attempts to get them in
to a corner, or to compel them to
pass through the place that had
been opened in order to drive them
towards the stable.
There was an air of concern and
■silent bewilderment visible upon But
ler's features, and an occasional ex-
pivssion of impatience escaped his
r s as he watched from the porch
He* ineffectual efforts of the negroes
!• force the truant steeds towards
the house.
"All in good time,” said Adair, |
answering the thought and looks of |
Butler, rather than his words, “all !
in good time; the\ must, have their j
nlav out. It. is a good sign. sir. to 1
se<> a traveller’s horse so capersome j
of a morning. Wife, make haste j
with vour preparations; Horse Shoe
and his friend here musn’t be kept
hack from th*ir day’s journey. Stir!
yourself, Mary Musgrove!”
“Will the gentlemen stay for
breakfast?” inquired Mary, with a
doubtful look at Butler.
"Will they? To he sure they will!
Would vou turn off friends from the
door with empty stomachs, you
mink, and especially with a whole
day’s starvation ahead of them?” ex-:
claimed the woodman.
“I thought, they had far to ride,"
replied the girl, “and would choose,
rather than wait, to take some cold,
provision to eat upon the road.”
“Tush! Go about >our business,
ni The horses are not caught
' * f. and you may have ’our bacon
Mend befor<> they are at the door.”
"It shall he ready, then, in a mo-
: "tit." n turned Mar* and she be
took herself dlligentlv to her task
of preparation During the interval
that, followed, the maiden several
times attempted to gain a moment's
sneech with Butler hut the ^-esence
of Adair or Lynch as frequently for
bade even a whi nor: and the morn-
inn' meal was at 1 ngth set smoking
on the table without tho arrival of
♦he desired opportunity The repast
was speedilv finished, and the horses
having surrendered to the emissaries
who had 1) *'n despatched to bring
them in. were now in waiting for
their masters. Horse Shoe tut into
the woodman’s hand a small sum of
noney in r euit- ’ for the r *rifertain
mont afforded to his comrade and
!ii:).sel r . ami having arranged their
havgave upon the saddles, announc
ed that they w- re readv to set for
ward on ther journey. Whilst the
travellers were passing the farewells
custom ry* on such occasions. Mary
Musgrove, whose manner during the
whole morning gave many indications
of a painful secret corner, now
threw herself in Butler’s way, and
as she modestly offered him her
hand at parting, and heard the lit
tle effusion of gallantry and compli-
nv nt with which it was natural for
a > well-bred man and a soldier to
speak at such a moment, she took
the opportunity to whisper—“The
tContinued on page three.)
NOTICE OF SALE.
By virtue of a decree of partiti#u
and sale of the Court of Coram»»
Pleas of Cherokee countv in the case
of Pearl Edna Powell, plaintiff vs.
B. F. Camp, et al defendants, I will
sell at Gaffney before the eoert
house, door, during the legal hours
for sale, on salesday, Monday April
1st, 1907, the following described
property, to wit:
All that lot or piece of land in Uie
North Eastern portion of the town
of Gaffney, said State and counts <m
Logan street, and known as lots Nos.
15 and 16 on plat made by R. O.
Sams, surveyor, October 18th. 18*4;
Beginning at stake, corner of lot No.
14, and running thence N. (15 1-2 W.
100 feet to corner of lot No. 17;
thence with said lot No. 17 N. 511-2
W. 200 feet to stake, another corner
of lot No. 17; thence N. 351-2 R.
100 feet to corner of lot No. 14;
thence S. 54 1-2 E. 200 feet to begin
ning corner, containing twenty thous
and (20,000) square feet, more ef
less.
TERMS OF SALE CASH. Pur »
chaser to pay for papers.
J. Eb Jefferies.
Cl’k. C. C. P1V
Pub, Mch. 15-22-29.
NOTICE OF ELECTION.
fn complianev to a recent act of
the legislature aq election is henvby
ordered to held on Tuesday. Ap* .1
9th. 1907 for the purpose of electiag
a Board of Public Works for Ae
town of Gaffney. S. C.. to serve for
a period specified in saifi act. Polls
open at 8 a. m. and close at 4 p. nil.
Th * following citizens are ; ppoint-
efi managers of said electior;
Holt’s store—D. J. HoL, Andy
Moore. M. C. Thompson.
Gallagher’s store—J. J. Gallagher,
S. M. Littlejohn. W. T. Thompson
Carroll & Byers’ store—f. T. Hum
phries. W. A. Peeler. J. Y. Metz.
By order of the town council
Gaffney. S. C.. this 8th t’.av of Maroh,
1907.
J. Q. Little. Mayor.
! W H. Ross. Clerk.
Mar, 15. 22. 29. April ~».
AUDITOR’S CALL.
The Township Board of Assessors
I are hereby requested to be and ap
pear at the Auditor’s office the 4th
Tuesday ip March to organize, pass
upon and equalize the property be
tween the taxpayers of the respect
ive townships. The boards are re
quested to do the work at the court
house whore they can examine the
j old books and return*.
W. D. Camp,
Auditor.
RHEUHATIS
CURED
The Circulation Stimulated : „
■ ' / and the Muscles and Joints f
lubricated b/using
^ SIo&jvs
Li rvi irveiYt
Price 25c 50c G *1.00
Sold by &II Dealers
Sloans Treatise On The Horse "Sent Free
Address Dr. Earl S.SIoan.Boston.Mass.
\