Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-10-22
The Sharper's Peril.


The Sharper's Peril.
No wonder you are astonished, said Dick, to
see such an article MS that in my possession but
if it's strange thing for me to have bible, the
way came 10y it is stranger. | have had it
three years, and shall keep it as long as live.
Three yeats ago was living by my wits in the
city of ST. Paul. Perhaps gnmbed some; per-
hnps you would call it swindling At all events,
there was n chap out there--a rich young scape-
grace-who loved 60 be ilecced, and no one
loved to fleece him better than Dick One day,
he came to me looking very miserable
"Dick, said he, g I've lost my watch, poor
old ,urnip; but the old woman gave it to me
just before she died, and wouldn't lose it for a
farm
made some inquiries, and soon found out
that the watch had gone into the Virginia back
woods settlement. How | found out is nothing
to You. told Tom about it,
"Wel, he said, as tickled as u child, call
that we have got to do is to put an officer on the
track"
@ You must be n sweet gaby," | interrupted.
Why, up there they shoot an officer at sight"
"I would give $500 said Tom passiouateIy,
"rathcr than lose that watch"
Done, said, and the next morning started
for Luke Howard, forty-seven miles in the dreary
woods dressed like backwoodsman, with II
couple of derringers in my pockets, and mounted
on I'm animal that was once n horse, which we
bought for S25. dreory ride it was. To say
nothing Of the awful roads the backbone Of my
noble steed was n source of constant misery, for
had no saddle that would have excited sus-
picion at once. So was glad at the end Of the
second day. when five miles from the lake, to
stop at n log cabin by the roadside. The family
were just preparing their evening matchmaking
it into mush-when | entered and was about
TO take my seat at the table, when the old man
looked at me sadly.
"Young man. said he, ''I see by your looks,
that You don't know the Lord"
you are right there, old man, " | said, " He's
a stranger to me
At that the old fellow groancd, and immedi-
atcly produced the indentcal Bible you SEQ be-
fore you.
{" Hear the words of wrath" he said, begin
ming TO read, and queer work he made Of it,
kicking his mental shins against all the big
words. paid little attention to him, but got
somehow nn impression that his mind was not
on the reading Sill did not set him down ms
hypocfite, as ! should instantly, had he been
anywhere else but there, where hypocrisy seemed
so supcrlnous. Wicked as | was, was rather
pleased than otherwise to find symptoms Of piety
In that od-forsaken place. The reading and
the supper over, the old man said inquiringly;
Maybe you are going into the virginia set
tlemcntY'
- / mt Just Whclc am pOlHEi ] fcpIIcu,
Then if you take that ring with you, yio-
lcnce will be done you. Them people don't
know The Lord "
Sure enough, like n confoundcd fool, the
wisest Of us may he at times had worn my en-
erald ring all the way.
Young man." said the old feer again,
"what are driving at2 Never be hyprocrit
you are deceyng people you are no loborin'
man. The Lord be mcrcful 10 yon."
DfasIt IL, oI1 efi int nd | ai1
g | am no laboring man; | never did work for II
living and never will don't mind telling
you, on account Of your remarkable pety, that
IN up here on little business for friend.
Perhaps you can help me, in which case you can
earn dollar or two. Perhaps you don't know
such a man as Merriman-Austin Merrimon p
" desperate man, said the old fellow with
n shudder, "who knows not the Lord.
"Perhaps," said, he's SPORT gay and
festive wood-chopper. Maybe he trades little
once in while, in jewelry"
=" He hes been a-trying to trade n watch for
pair of steers !" and as this, of course, was what
wanted to know, pulled out my wallet, and
gave the old man two dollars. How sharp he
looked at the other billsP
"The Lord does provide" he said turning to
his wife "why sir, would you believe it, we
haven't another morsel of pork in the house p
Little did think how that old boy with his
piety, had pumped me. | am ashamed to this
day, to think how he came it over me.
I" hope the Lord will bless you, he said MS
started next morning. " BE sure and stop
here when you come back"
told him would-I rather liked his mush
and milk for a change. had hardly got out Of
sight Of the hovel, when a deer started across
the road fred one Of my pistols at it, and
neglected TO load it again. Very foolish, but
was a little reckless.
| suppose | was about five miles from the old
man place, when all at once came in sight Of
the man | was after he was splitting rails by
the roadside. knew he was the'man was af-
ter, because dangling from the pocket of his old
plush vest was Tom Vincents watch chain but
what was my astoushment to find, on a second
look, that knew him. Why, sir, he was one
of the cussedest horse thieves that infested the
{ big woods" Bill Strahl, the name | knew
him by He knew me at once.
"Hallo,' said he, "what do you do here p
And as he said this he picked up his rifle he
and were never friends.
"Wbat do you think" said I, putting my
hand in my pocket
'No good " he said, "you Internal beat" and
with that he made motion to level his rife.
Ia an instant whipped out my derringer, and