Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1870-10-22
THE ACCOMMODATING JUDGE.

lhaviag pcGuliarizcd those living mid
way between savage audciyilized life
! and, though their fearless rcncomtcra
| with death must rank it under the
name Of chiyalry, there is oft a mix
|ture which, in polite soriety,we would
term fclonious, or mayh9p something
Iharshcr.
The incongruou- compound may
|bctlorbc cxpiaied by the following
Imccdotc, in which ! shall consider
Imvself in the place otadcccascd lllend
from whom heard it,
While Oh the frontier of Texas, sew
cral years since, | stopped at small
town and put up at a tavern where the
luxury of the table more than COM
Ipensated for tic smallness of the
house. My supper was prepared and
seated mysclftopartakc oft. J had
Hardly done so, when the door opened
land huge mass of q man entered.
His head was bound by check hand
kcrchief Of cotton, tied in a boWknot
in front, and from beneath its edge
behind stuck rough and brist!y mass
of iet.black hair. His body was pro-
tccted from the weather by a tlght-ilt-
ting buckskin hunting-shirt; while
leggins and moccasins Of the same
material euvcloped his legs and feet:
belt of undrcssed dcer-hidc bucklcd
about his waist supported two pistols
of huge Dimensions, and from it was
SUSPENDED leather sCabbard contain
lmga knife the handle of which was
Va fearful token Of its length. lie
placed his rifle in a corner and took
] off the belts which hung over his
brawny shoulders suspendmg his
shot.pouch and powder which
were curiously wrought and told OF a
Mexican artist. Having thus partly
unburdcnad himself, be pulled a stool
Dca, the fire, for the night was damp
and chilly, and, slapping his muscular
hands OH his thighs, seemed to peer
with his keen eyes into the cracking
fire which roarcd up the wide chin
ncy,
Naturally unobtrusiyc, | noticed
him no farther, and was fully engaged
in my meal when the knife and torb
fell from my hand as neard his thun
der voice fall upon my ear and, in spite
of myself tremour stole through my
body as I heard the awful tone will
which he spoke the last word,
@ Landlord, gi' me some liquor
/ have money!"
1t The landlord glanced at his gucs
n and hc,ilated a moment, but th'
q stranger raised his eyes the effect wa
Ic magical in an instant the wcll'iillc(
s, whisky-bottlc and tin tulnbler wer
'e at his elbow. -,
" "Taudlord, hang that on the rifle
n, hd Stop. ii me lhc knife first, and h
2s handed the waist-bclt pistols, am
L. scgbbard to the host, whilst he thrus
ID The knife into the bosom of his hunt
s. inr-shirt As the inn-keeper wa
r oboving the bidding of his strange Vi,
re tier the latter poured the tumbIer fu
II Of whisky and tossed it of at q swa'
I'd lew.
"Landlord,' he cried again, | wal
H. something to cat-l'yC none! for thj
ne TOO" There was deep tone in II
| voice that disturbed me mysterious,
Is The additional plate was placed o
at the table, and the stranger scatc
I'd himself opposite to me. llehad a lil
an facc.-a careless independence on i
ld but the courteous manner in WhiC
N he asked. i hope | amt one too m
A. ny here. stranger excited my su
ed prise. assured him that | w
all pleased rather than otherwise, as
'r- di.liked eating alone. ,
ry Enough said answered h
"therc's my fist and we shook ham
,Iy over the table. His appetite was
."t proportion to his bulk, and we di
lie 1ourscd but little until after suppC
IpS when he commenced Il conYelsali'
ne in which he evinced a sound MN
hd although his language was rough Al
full of proyincialism'
ng, Daring our talk | ingratated mys'
nd in his favour, and in return for I
poieness, he recounted many de-
t; wolf, and bear hunts, with such pow
.ar' that / was delighted, The conyer'
es ton, however, Jagged, as | fell into
NJ train of musing on the very lmpt
tont business which had bought
Wn to that country, A gloom gradua
we settled on the face of the strang
he from which tried in vain to roI
to; him. He answered me courteous
the TO be sure, but very short; and eve
cW now and then had recourse to
All bottle, till it was emptlcd
Landlord, fetch me some liqno
the he called authorilatively, and he era
en- more and more till finally he fell tr'
me his stool. and, as | retired to bel
vc- another corner Of the room, | hei
last his snoring ring through the cabin
un- B,inc much iatigued, having II,
ON clled forty miles on horseback duri
tie day, i slept till | fcll a hand gr'
ted nv arm--opening my eyes, | 6ch
no. Tho sun shining through the wind
sir and the stranger awaking me,
his Stranger" said lie, excuse
hli ! NIN ltkNN ilt1'' NN'','
lm- whole-soulcd fellow, and want J
III to 90 with me"
or 7Whcre to-" asked.
be THE magistrate" he replied
'cs- "Whqt for?"
Nth "Tcc cot something on my miIl'
an must out--I tried liquor last n!!g
the but couldn't keep it down | am
!, TO drinking man no how, and fccl liz
The dog. Come along with me and be
par friend"
There was bold frankness IN
the manner that | could not withsta
the / accordingly arose and equipped i
'rds self and we walked to the house
rm- the magistrate, who sent word that
ght would be up in a couple Of hours
0 of "Rut tell him. said my compan
'liS- 10 the servant, al want TO sec him
the matter of life and death"