The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-11-09
NO.NOSED BILL.
mot by any means by Bret IIartc, butt
by SAMUEL BLOTTER.

BY SAMUEL BLOrTER.
The sun rose on Pcrsimmon's Cor
ncr. 1t was o'clock, A. M, in the
month of May, and the sun common.
ly rose at that hour, at that season OF
the year. The sun was the only visi-
tor at the Corner who had any rcgu-
larity of habits, and even that lumi-
nary had on this occasion very rcd
face.
Two men sat playing cards in the
single rough-walled room of q log
house, and third looked slcepily
on, occasionally snuiling candle,
now well burned down. Mr.. Will
liam Runin, commonly called No.
Noscd Sill at the settlement from n
Disagreement to his face brought on
by violent alteration some years
before, with an individual known as
the Arkansas Stamper, sat on box
resting on a small keg. Furniture
was scarce in 1850 at the Corner.
Bill shufled the cards skillfully and
dealt them slowly to his opponent, Il
dark. faced young man with great
black beard and II small forehead.
elbow out that light Stumpy,"
said Bill; eve shant need it no
Logger Now, then, stranger, it's
your play"
No sound was heard but the slam
of the cards OH the table. The man
called, Stumpy walked up, and, lean.
ing forward on both elbows, watch.
cd the game. A bead of perspiration
started from the strangers forehead
mcandercd slowly to thr extremity OF
his nose and hung thGrc, glistening
like diamond in the morning light.
The game ended and No.noscd Bill
calmly scraped the stakes into a
leather bag, now quite full, which
he drew from the bosom of his red
shirt. Suddenly the stranger sprang
to his feet and remarked
lis language is ommittcd by the
| author on account of 10 unpleasant
| vchcmcnce.
Easy, stranger said Bill, calmly,
leaning back and crossing his leg
over his knee. "Easy, now. II you
want to bile over and you think 1t
would make you feel more comfOrt-
able like, why bile. But there amt
40 occasion for you to 90 and say
them caf,,c we're stocked. cause they
was played fair, anl Stumpy herc'll
tell YOU so, and so would any ether
man, if there had been any other
man lookin' on, which they wasn't.
Now you jest keep calm, stranger,
and don't you 90 and get riled, cause
it won't do you no good"
The Strangers language Is again
suppressed by reason of It's unwaP-
ranted violence.
"Now, look here stranger" said
Bill. "You'rc the unreasonablest
man. most that ever SEQ.
There amt no man at the Corner, as
can say bu, / 'vc acted sqIar'. May be
ii did cut up a little fuHGa with
French Freddy night aforo last, but
what of it? 1t wasn't my fault.
lie mado s01.e sich remarks as
them you've been iotlin' out and
then nc drorcd his shooter on mo.
Was goin' to stun there and be
drorcd on by man as wasn't hall
NV s;>c2 [ ouess not. So went for
him, kind o prurn!.co!ls like, ana
when | got through, there WgshI "G
more Freddy. Some of 'cm blamed
mo, but there wosn,t no 'casiOn for
any body to say but what | dth the
gcntlemany thing"
fThc strangers language Is agnin
omitted on account OF its torclblt
inclcgancc.
"Now, see here, stranger, thef,
amt nothin' mean about me- snil
! nill. still without excitement. "l'i
ieil ysn what m do, you seem to b'
goodish sort of CHAP, though yot
don't know so mnch abOnt keerd
pcrhaps, as some folks. I've pulled
| in since We -ct down yesterday noon
p'raps scyen hundred dollars, besides
some gold dust and some GhaDYD
Now y0u may have the god dus
and the change and well call i
, sGuar'." :,
The strangers language is mad
, missiblc. He pulled out formida
; ble bowic-knife and stuck it quivcr
ing in the table. :.
Il will see that, and 90 you on
=, lh,itpr." remarked Bill, quietly draw
;ng q knin twice as large, with
I hIsde Lad al both ends. Ths eirfnSc
= Jrew a derringer and Gourished ]
!, w,IJIy No-Noscd Bill whipped OIL
';r.brrreled revolver and covere'
I'm mi,h IL. seeilg thaL bis argtl