Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-05-17
The Sharper's Peril,
A TALE OF BORDER LIFE.

Az I'LL CO N"l0 oholI hCCp ~ do 4ObS
as | live.
Three years ago I was living by
my wits in the city of St. Paul. Per-
haps l gambled some; perhaps you
would call it swindIing. At all events
there was chap out there, a rich,
young scapegrace, who loved to be
tleeced, and no one loved to fleece him
better than Dick. One day he came
to me looking very miserable.
Dick, said he, I've lost my watch
"a poor old turnip; but the old wo-
man gave it to me just before she
died, and | wouldn't lost it for a farm
| made some inquiries and soon
found out that the watch had gone in.
to the Virginia Dackwoods settlement.
How | found out is nothing to you
told Tom about it.
well, he said, as tickled as a child,
all we've got to do is to put an officer
on the track
You must be a sweet gabo,' | inter
rupted. why, up there they shoot an
officer at sight
i would give five hundred dollars,
said Tom, passionately, rather than
lose that watch
Done, l said, aud the next morning
| started for lake Howard, II miles
in the dreary woods, dressed like a
backwoodsman. with a couple Of Der
ringers in my pockets, and mounted an
animal that was once q horse, which
we bought for S25. 4 dreary ride it
was. To say nothing Of the awful
roads, the backbone Of my noble steed
was a source Of constant misery, for
had no saddle; that would have ex-
cited suspicion at once. So | was
glad, at the end Of the second dav,
when five miles from the lake, to stop
at log hOvel by the roadside. The
family were Just preparing their even
ing making it into mush-whcn
| entered, and was about to take nv
seat at the table, when the old man
looked at me sadly.
Young mau, said be, 4 see by your
looks that you don't know the Lord.
You're right, there, old man, said
|. He's stranger to me-.
/ At that the old fellow groaned, and
imne iiateIy produced the identical
bible You see before you.
Hear the word Of wrath he said,
beginning to read, and queer work he
made of it, kicking his metal shins
against all the big words. paid lit.
tie attention to him, but got some
how vague impression that his mind
was not on his reading. Still | did
not set him down as a hypocrite, as
ldinstantly had he been anywhere
else but there, where hypocricy seem
/ ed so superhuous Wicked as | was,
| was rather pleased than otherwise
to find symptoms Of piety in that God
forsaken place. The reading and the
supper over the old man said inquir.
ingly;
Maybe yer going into the Virginia
settlemcnt?'
That's just where I'm going re-
piled.
Then if YOU take that ring with
you, violence will be done you. Them
people don't know tie Lord
Sure enough, like a confounded fool
as the wiscst Of US may be at times
had worn my emerald ring all the
way.
Young man, said the old fellow
again, what are you driving at ? New
er be a hypocrite: you are deceiving
people; You are 10 Iaboring man
The Lord be merciful TO You
Right again, old stick in the mud,
said, i am no laboring man; | never
did work for living, and never will.
don't mind telling you, On account
of your remarkable piety. that I'm
up here on a little business for a
friend. Perhaps you can help me, in
which case you can earn a dollar OF
two. Perhaps you don't know such
fellow as Merriman-Austin Merri
; man q
"A desperate man, said the old fel
low with q Shu1dpr sWhO knows not
the Lord.
Perhaps | said, hes a sportiye,
a festive sort Of wood chopper
Maybe he trades little, once in {
while in jewelry,'
He has been a-trying to trade {
watch for a pair Of steers, and a.
this Of course, was what l wanted t
know, l pulled out my wallet anC
gave the old man two dollars. How
, sharp he looked at the other bills!
The lord does provide he said
turning to his wife; why, sir, wouIC
, you believe. we haven't a morsei OF
pork in the house.
Little did l think how that old DO,
with his piety, had pumped me. / an
ashamed to this day, to think how b
came it over me. 4 hope the Lore
; will bless you,' he said, as l startet
next morning. BE sure and sto]
: here when you come back
, T'told him l would rather like
his mush and milk for a change.
had hardly got out of sight of tn
J hovel, when a deer started across th
: road | fred one of my pistols at il
!. and neglected to load it again. Yer
: foolish, but | was a little reckless.
; suppose | was about five mile
: from the old mans place, when all a
: once | came in sight of the very ma
/. | was after; he was splitting rails b
: the roadside. | knew he was the ma
G | was after, because, dangling tror
t the pocket of his old plush vest wa
/ Tom Vincent's watch chain but wha
e was my astonishmeDt to find, on
n second look that | knew him. VIII,
Y sir, he was one of the cussedest hors
/ thieves that infested the big woods
j. Bill Strahl, the name | knew him b,
r He knew me at once.
y 'Halloo, said he, what do you d
y here And as he said this he pickle
r up his rifle; he and | were neve
n friends.
; what do you think ? said | putin
n my hand in my pocket.
y No good he said, you inferni
g beat and with that he made a motto
J to level his rifle.
:, In an instant whipped out n
II Derrincer. and gave him an excellel