Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-02-16

and when he spoke. his voice was short,
sharp, earnest, and you felt like dodgin'
every time he said word. I watched
his motions, and unless it was a fox tied
up with plenty of loose chickens runnin'
around. I never saw any fellow SO restless
as he was. He'd sit while by the fire,
then git up, walk back and forrard awhile,
and every time he would do SO he'd wind
mp by goin' to the window and gain out
into the DIRK with a blazin' stare, aud
seemed to be listenin' for somethin' or
somebody.
.'T'other two fellows were long, spar
young man. slim as pine sapling. who
didn't have anything much to say; and a
small wizzen-lookin' Dutchman that slut
tered and spluttered out the little English
he could speak; but fact is I didn't pay
much attention to them, for I couldn't
keep my eyes often the dark chap who
kept up such trompin' around and sharp
chat with his friend Ham.
''I had sent Josh off to see about sup
Iper, for late as twas, they wanted hot cof-
fee and a reg'lar meal, for they had come
ia long journey; and judgin' from the way
that dark chap cussed the dinner-house.
they had got but lean pickins thar, and
felt very sharp-set for anything I could
give 'em. / was lookin' for Josh back
every minute, when all of sudden that
dark chap turned from the window and
barked out Landlord SO quick that /
Jumped up. walked to him and said almest
as quick, 'SirF
Looking at me he said: Did you ever
kill man?'
"'No,' said I. sorter shiverin', for the
fellow looked devilish. Did you eyer?'
.'He set his teeth curled his lip, and
such a grin as he said .Yes. and I always
feel savage when hungry
"'Well. says T., for Gods sake don't
be cuttin' up any of your dl-does here,
stranger, for there's nobody in this house
that wants to die just because you are
hungry. Thar-Josh is comm now to
carry you straight in to supper
HE grinned again. and looking at me,
says: Don't mind my moods, landlord /;
the devil gets into me sometimes, and I
must let him loose; but he's mild tonight,
very mild l didn't think be looked so
powerful mild, gentlemen, SO I hurried
the whole lot Of 'em in to supper. and I
tell you I fed that devil most enormous
until had the satisfaction of seeing him
become amazingly quiet. He subdued
the best part of ham, provin' hisspecial
likin' to swine-fesh, and damaged the
chicken coop. besides maxim most on
reasonable request on the cofee-pot; but
when he was through, and every way
satisfied as far as appetite were concerned,
he actually cracked joke with his friend
Ham, and laughed the queerest you ever
did see. By shot it 'twasn't any human
laugh, but the devilishest kind of a chuc-
kle, and thought he looked worse when
he laughed than when he grinned. The
slab-sided man and the little Dutchman
were both tired and hungry. SO they tend
ed strictly to supper, losiu' no timej and
soon thereafter they were put in the same
room to sleep, and saw no more of them
until we were all reused up by what hap
pened. Comm out into the bar-room
from supper. the dark chap pulled out
some cigars, handed one to his friend
Ham and another to. me.
II told 'em both it was late, and they'd
better sleep now and smoke in the morn
in; but no, nothin' would do but they
must have it out then, so I had to sit up
too and smoke with 'em He didn't smoke
like anybody ever seen he would draw
and puff so fast that his whole head would
be kivered up in smoke, and then he would
let it float away, while he held his cigar
and jerked out his talk like drappin' hot
shot. Well, we three sat there for some
time, it mought be half an hour, when he
jumped up in the midst of one of his mos
powerful puffs and walked out on the
piazza, and we could hear him out there
in the dark mutterin' to himself as he
tromped up and down, up and down, like
a Gagged bear.
Il thought would pump his friend
Ham little, SO pointiu' toward the piazzs
with my right thumb over my shoulder.
said: Queer chap that. Know'd hin
long?'
mot more than three months say
be. We met in Savannah. and hav,
travelled together from there
! Think he's crazy says I. kinde
hcsitatin.