Beadle's Dime Novels No. 213: Squatter Dick — page 39: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MARTIN SOLLARS’ TACTICS. 41 CHAPTER VY. (THE RIVAL SUITORS. Tux house of Martin Sollars stood facing the road leading south-east from Dorchester, distant some twenty miles. His plantation extended for miles back from the high- way, and upon either hand of the mansion. The crops were in prime condition, while the house and premises afforded a notable contrast to those of the majority of his neighbors. Every thing was orderly and neat, and a stranger set down here, to judge from this habitation, would little think that a horrible war had waged its desolation over the face of the fair country. Truly, Martin Sollars was fortunate, and greatly to be en- vied. The cause is easily stated. Mr. Sollars remained strictly neutral, and had high and influential friends upon both sides. Both Americans and British found a cordial we'come when- ever they applied for entertainment, and the best the house af forded was placed at their disposal. It is true, that several renconters had Re i place between enemies when they chanced to meet at the house, but these contretemps were few and far between. Night and day scouts and sentinels were on duty, and the approach of any body of soldiers was instantly announced, by a series of _ signals, to those in the house. By these precautions, he had so far ‘pros- pered finely. . | He would often. have stock cattle taken from him, apparently by force, but it waS very seldom that he did not receive par ton em. It was rumored that he had taken the British “ protection papers,” but from him the answer given was ever goyerned by the questioner’s creed. Thus, by a good deal of judicious lying, he had managed.so far to weather the storm, and steer clear of the more serious breakers. We need not describe the house; it was the traditional Southern planter’s residence, familiar to all readers; with a comliclooks.com