The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-01-22
AZ aCCo7smOpATsNG SUDGE.

The following is one of the latest. 1t Will
do:
throughout the western and south
western portions of the United States the
inhabitants possess certain peculiar char
acteristics. which in all ages and in almost
every country have marked those living
midway between savage and civilized liie.
This Is more particularly the case with the
hunters and trappers who follow their
calling in tie far west, as IL Is termed, and
whose virtues anl whose vices alike are
not those Of jewellers in cities" In them
personal courage and endurance, fidelity
TO their word and certain rude simplicity
of character are found in conjunction with
a total disregard for those laws by which
society in more settled communities pro-
vdes for its own security. Their code OF
-norality is, in fact, their own; and occa-
sionally, as will be seen BY the following
narrative, may lead a man, who obeys lis
dictates, into the perpetrating OF great
crime for the purpose of avoiding the com
mission of what; in comparison, might be
termed venial error.
About eight years ago | had occasion to
travel through several Of tie Southern
States for tie purpose Of collecting various
debts due large Boston dry goods firm,
of which | was one Of the clerks. While
in Texa stopped one evening at small
town called Jackson, near the Mexican
frontier, and put up at The only hotel the
place could boast. had just seated my
self at supper, when The door oqened, aad
tall strongly built man entered the room.
He was clothed in The usual hunters cos
tune. VIII a tight iilling buckskin hunting
shirt with leegins and moccasiDs of the
same material. a belt OF undressed deer
skin, buckled round his waist, supported a
heavy Colts revolver on one side, while
on the other was suspended a leather
heath, couiainng bowie knife OF iormid-
able dimcn>ions. lie placed the rifle he
carried in hand against The wall and then
he proceeded 20 take Off the belts which
hung over his brawney shoulders, sustain
ng lis shot pouch and powder horn,
which were curiousy wrought and evi-
tl,n " cfc
Having thus delivered himelf. the s,ran-
ger drew a stool Up to Tie iire and placing
his ,:.uscniar hands on his thighs, seemed
70 peer with his keen eyes Into the crack
ling fire which roared ~ the >mutty chin
ney.
As lie had not saluted me when he en-
tered, as /, usual in that section of The
country. took no notice OF him; for pre-
sumed his want of success i'll hunting had
put him in an i'll hunor, and it was not
improbable that il he discovered my gaze
fixed pertinaciously upon him he might be
disposed To iasen quarrel upon me-
therefore directed my attention exclusively
To tie meal before ME, but the knife and
fork almost fell from my hands as his
stentorian voice struck my ear; and in
spite Of myself slight tremor stole
through me aS | heard the awful tone il
which he spoke the last word.
| Landlord. give me some liqa,r; l have
money!
| The landlord glanced at his guest and
! hesitated for a moment, bat the stranger
raised his eyes; the effect was magical; in
an instant well filed whiskey bottle ano
tin lumber were placed on the table be
fore him.
Landlord, hang HAT OH the rifle; bu
stop, give me the knife fin st"
Aud he handed the waist bell, pisto
and scabbard To the host, while he lhrus
his kuife into the bosom of his huntin.
shirt. As the innkeeper was obeying tn
bidding Of his strange visitor, the latte
poured the tumbler full of whiskev an,
tossed il OFF at a draught.
"Landlord,' said he again, Il wan
somthing to eat--l've money to pay 70
that, loo.'
There was deep tone in his voice a
he uttered these last words that disturbe
me strangely.
An additional plate was placed on tn
table and the stranger seated himself oppe
site me. He had fine face-a carelcs
independence in it which liked; but tn
courteous manner in which he said:
al hope | amt one too many here stran
ger. excited my surprise. assured hir
that his company was agreeable to m
r rather than otherwise as | disliked eatin
: alone.
Enough said,' answered he, "there'
my fist" and We shook hands across tb
) table.
His appetite was is proportion to hi
hull apI