The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-11-21
JOEDoPPLE's STORY

ing very good care not to let us know on
which side it was so very plain. Most OF
the testimony ON both sides, we were con-
vinced, was false and the problem TO oe
solved was one not unusually presented III
lawsuits-to siud out the truth by striking
n balance between contradictory lies. be
ing in for a night of it, and having regain
ed toward each other the good temper we
had lost in quarrelling over the case, the
next point was how to get through the time.
Somebody tell n story" suggested the
foreman. ''Mr. DOpple, you're an old set
tier, and must have met with some advcn-
lures in pioneer times that would be worth
telling
Well, have seen some queer things"
said Mr.. Dopple-''Uncie Joe, - his neigh
bors called him-a hale old man of about
sixty, with face full of good humor and
good sense. II have seen some queer
things, but l am not much at narrating
them
ssNever mind, Uncle Joe, " we said, ''you
can do it well enough"
well, boys if you will excuse mistakes
I'n-tell you about case that might have
turned out good deal more serious than
this one.''
500 on, ;" was urged
''This is how it was" began Uncle Joe,
clearing his vocal latchway by rolling an
immense quid into one cheek:
here and buy, mother as | call my wife,
she made me belt to carry my money in.
"Them was the days before greenbacks,
and bank-notes was no great shakes if
they got too far from home. So land buy
ers mostly carried what they had in spe-
Gle, which they commonly did in belts
buckled around their bodies-a dodge the
fobbers soon got up to, and the first thing
they did when they got hold of chap was
to look for his money belt.
''Well, l kissed mother, and bid her
goodbye one morning, and set out for
new home for us, carrying the price for it
in hard cash.
Nothing worth mentioning happened
till one night l stopped at a cabin and
asked for lodging.
'"'You can have it, was the answer
that is, providing you don't object to
sleeping double, for another stranger is
here before you.'
81 didn't exactly like the idea; but
houses were scarce in them parts, and not
caring to risk going any further, and
faring worse, lit, and taking my saddle
bags on my arm, led my critter around to
the stable, the proprietor showing the
way, and when old Roam had been looked
after we went into the house.
'"rhe other stranger was sitting by the
fire, and gave me sharp look as l came
forward.
Gas sat noticed he kept watching me
sharp. l didn't fancy his looks much; but
after spell he managed to be quite friend
ly, and it was always my way to meet that
sort of thing half way.
''He, too, was on the lookout to buy,
and we compared notes on the subject till
bed. time. Our host was one of them sort
of chaps that listens good deal without
saying much, and his wife looked as if she
daren't say much if she would.
1--WE paid our bills before going to bed
The other traveller said he was going to
start before day; but, as our roads lay but
a little way together | concluded | would
much company. Sunrise was carly enough
for me.
"Ou- sleeping room was one end of the
cabin partitioned off by itself.
It's a long time since you and me slept
together said the stranger, when we
were both ready to lay down.
g SO it is said l. Which side do you
take?'
& Front, said he, if it's all the same
to you
'''An the same said I, jumping in.
The stranger followed, and | don't
know what he did, but soon fell asleep.
81 don't know how late or early it was
when l woke up, feeling chilly. The
moon was shining bright through the win
Nlo"- uC SAOlllSS NSIc over from
the front Size of the bed, and there stood
my bedfellow, leaning over me with a big
knife in one hand, a fumbling at the buckle
of my belt with the other''
''Of course you grasped the arm that
welded the knife with one of your hands,
and the Villains throat with the other?''
interrupted clustering juryman.
'tWell, no, l didn't
"You cried out, theu?''
mot that either.''
''Wen," said the clustering jurymau,
'1'd like to see the man rob me without a
tussle for it. Suppose he had killed you
what, after all, is death? Only an eternal
sleep philosophy tells u.s.
That may be- said Uncle Joe; ''but
wasn't bit sleepy, just Them
''Ha! har' laughed the foreman, 81
never heard the eternal sleep better an
swered"
'Wen," continued Uncle Joe, 81 Law
still as a mouse till that pesky critter un-
done my belt, and slipped it from under
me, which he did so gently that hardly
felt it, wide awake as | was Then he
pulled the cover over me, and tucking it
IN as careful as mother could have done,
lie 5uckled my belt around him, finished
dressing, and slipped OUT
And you lay there and let yourself be
robbed without uttering a word?'' again
broke in the clustering iuryman.
ului see any SOOu IN speaking
said Uncle Joe; Il knew he'd sock his
knife into me if | so much as chirped, and
take his chance of cutting his way through
the landlord afterward, if he woke up.
NO, l didn't say word, but just turned
over and took another nap, and in good
time got up, just as if nothing had hap
Pened. got to my journeys end that
day, and bought my land the next
but your money ?" the foreman re-
minded him.
20, that was all right" said Uncle Joe.
why, didn't the robber get it?''
''IIe got the belt,'' Unclo Joe answered
1ou see, mother and me knew that money
belts had got so much in fashion that they
were the first thing every robber went for,
and once they got mans belt they'd 90
of contented. So, what does mother and
me do but till my belt with pewter buttons,
and mother she sewed the double eagles
into the lining of my coonskin Jacket.
which the fur on the outside kept from