THE SQUATTER WRESTLER.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4745, 22 March 1884, Page 4

THE SQUATTER WRESTLER.

An old fellow with grizzly beard, and lips indelibly dyed with tobacco juice, sat on a log near a rude bouse in Arkansas. A " stranger," well dressed, and muscled in no delicate way, rode up, dismounted!, tied his horse to a young sapling, apiproached the old man, and said, " I am lost." "Wall, did I say you wasn't ?'i' The stranger took off bis coat and rolled up his sleeves, " I know all' about you,'' he said.' " You are an Arkansas squatter, and have been living here since '4§. Hundreds of benighted beings, lost in these infernal woods, have begged for information concerning the road they desired to follow, and you have give t&em all kinds of evasive replies. I am a' priiefighter, and have, been sent here by be Eastern syndicate to thump you into civilised submission. Now, I don't like to pummel an old man, and I propose to give you a chance. .How would you advise me to get out of this community ?" " I'd advise yer to ride.", " Come, now, none of your foolishness. Which wotild yon advise me to ride ?">' "As fast as yer "can." " I see that I'll have to Sischarge my duty. I thought at first tfeat I'd scare you by saying that I was a prize-fighter. I am only an unpretentious citizen, and have come a long way to look for the house of Emanuel Peters/ " Wall, why don't yer look ?" " I ha*e looked." " Look again." ''• But which way must I look ?" " Outen yer eyes, I reckon." " Old man, I'll hate to fight you." " All right," and turning round he yelled: " Tom, tell your mur an' the Chilian ter come out here, for we're gwine to have some fun. Fetch the gun an' dog with yer." "I don't want to hurt you, 'old man." "Don't be skeered. Tou won?t hurt me." " But 1 don't want you to hurt me." " Then mosey." " I won't mosey. For the last two days I have been looking for the^ house [of Emanuel Peters, and have been put off by such fellows as yo«, and I have decided not to stand it any longer, Koir, I am going to jump on you," and without giving the old maa time to reply, he seized him. The old fellow exhibited remarkable activity, and in an instant had thrown the young man against the ground with such a fore* that made his teeth chatter. ;He was up again in an instant. This time he secured '* better hold. He danced around in a way of which the old man could hardly keep track. Tom and the old woman came out, but did not bring the dog and qua. " Watch his capers, pap," said th» old lady. "Hug him,' for he's mighty peart." Finally the,young man downed the old fellow, sac on him, and asked: ".Now, will you tell me. where I can find Emanuel Peters?" "I ain't * never objected ter tellin whar the ole man is." "Yes, you did," and he held the old fellow in a manner not to be mistaken for

gentleness. " Ter never axed me'where the old man was. Yer axed whar was his house. The old man aint got no house. The high water washed it over on another feller's land, an' since that he has been rentin' it." "Well, where's, the old man?" "I'miiimj" " Great goodness I" said the young fellow, arisingi. " I'm your.son, and haven't seen you since I was a child." " Well, I'll 'be bio wed!" exclaimed the old fellow, grasping his son's hand. "I thought something strange when I felt yer grip. I mouter knowed then that yer belonged ter the family. Mur, s'lute yer son. Tom, fetch the bottle an' my yaller coat. This is a occasion for.puttin' on style."