Part 29 (1/2)
”What property or pre man's; and nobody has set foot on your land”
”That dog was on my land”
”And so was the horse,” put in Jack
”Take him off, pa! he's smotherin' on me!” shouted Zeph
”Your boy is abusin' mine I'll take care o' _him_!” And Peakslow set a foot over the ter rails left in the gap
”You'd better stay where you are,--accept a friend's disinterested advice,” reht side of the fence,his own business,--you will bear with me if I am quite plain in my speech,--my boy would have had no occasion to soil his hands with him”
Peakslow appeared quite cowed by this unexpected show of deterhbor He stood astride the rails, just where Betterson had arrested his advance, and contented hi Dud to the rescue of his brother
”Why do ye stan' there and see Zeph treated that way? Why don't ye pitch in?”
”That's a game two can play at,” said Jack ”Hands off, Dud, my boy”
And he stood by to see fair play
”My boy had a right on that land; it's by good rights mine to-day!”
exclaimed Peakslow
”We won't discuss that question; it has been settled once, neighbor,”
replied Betterson ”Rufus, I think you've done enough for that boy; his face is blacker than I ever saw it, which is saying a good deal Let hiracious condescension over the frayed stock,--”you are welcome to as much of this disputed territory as you can shake out of that youngster's clothes,--not any hing to see Zeph scra soil fro it desperately froht you,” said Rufe, as he let hio ”I'll pay you some other ti
”No more, Rufus,” said Betterson ”Come and put up this fence”
”I'll do that,” said Jack ”I'm bound to leave it as I found it; if Mr
Peaksloill please step either forward or back”
Peakslow concluded to step back; and Jack and Rufe laid up the corner, rail by rail
”Don't you think you've playedat Jack
”You are hardly the race of _anybody's_ shabby tricks,” Jack replied, putting up the top rail before the hooked nose
”I didn't think it of you!” And Peakslow cast longing eyes after the horse
”You ht,” said Jack ”You didn't dare turn the horse out till Zeph told you I'd gone home; and it seems you kept pretty close watch of him then”
Peakslow choked back his wrath, and i'n ly, if you had acted decently”