Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-06-12

Is a salesman. One morning, as he
emerged from the door of his hotel, he
,eard the report of pistol and a shot
by his ear. He looked around
md saw a Inan aiming at him with
revolver. He turned to fly just as an
,ther shot cut through his hat, but as
ne did so a second man hit him upon
he shoulder with his fist and nearly
shocked him down. A moment later
MIR. Blister clenched with his new ad-
and rough and tumble fight
began. The stranger removed hand
full or two of Mr.. Bister's hair; then he
kicked his left leg three times with vio-
Ience; then he put his elbow against
Mr.. Bister's third rib and scroughed 1t
in with intense force.
Blister resisted, but as the man who
shot at him would hit him on the head
with the butt of his revolver, whenever
Blister happened to get on top, he had
not really a first-rate chance. Pretty
soon the combatants rolled over in the
gutter, with Mr.. Blister underneath,
living in the mud. While he reclined
there, his antagonist took hold of Mr..
Bister's nose with his teeth, and chewed
it as if noses were his fayorile diet and
he were seriously hungry. When he
let go the other man tapped Mr.. Bister's
skull few times with his pistol, and
then the two picked up their victim
and soused him in the canal, from which
they fished him a few moments later,
by inserting boat-hook in the back OF
his coat. As they dragged him out
nearly dead, the man with the pistol
picked up Bister's hat, and after study
ing intently the name pasted upon the
inside of the crown, he said:
"why, see here, Harry, there some
mistake. Pm afraid we've got the
wrong man."
81 say, you sir, is your name Alexan-
der Bister?"
Mr.. Blister gasped out that ii was.
"Well, it's too bad" said the man.
Snow, do you know, 1 mistoOk you for
Judge McGath. of Little Rock, who
cheated us in a land claim"
''Do | look like him?" asked Blister,
in faint voice.
"You're as much alike as twins. It's
a laundering shame. l hope you'll ac-
cept my apology for treating you so i'm
politely"
at occurred TO me that it was rather
impolite," whispered Blister; ''but
don't mention it How's your own
health, and your family's?"
"And what makes it worse is that
you're stranger" returned the man.
'I'm afraid you'll gather from what
has occurred that we are wanting in
affability out here"
''The thought might, perhaps, have
entered my mind after | had had time
for reflection" said Blister because in
the east, where l live, it is a very rare
that a person indicates
his affability by biting off the human
nose. But I'm a forgiving man; so
Wen let it drop. Beautiful weather
we are having nown'
'I'm mortified about that nose" said
the man. But if you'll come up to
drug store a minute, | think can make
it hold together with sticking plaster" "
''Is it much hurt?" asked Blister,
feeling it tenderly.
cts perfect nasal ruin,'' said the
man. Harry, | think you chewed him
a little too hard. Why didn't you bite
him somewhere else?"
perhaps you'd like to take another
bite now," said Blister; ''you may gnaw
away at the calf of my leg if you think
it would make you feel better. The
nose is of no consequence. Perhaps it
is a good thing to have it changed a
little, for then l won't look so much
like Judge McGath. This seems to be
a fine farming country. How are the
crops?"
"YOu appear to be a perfect gentle
man, said the nan. ''If you come up
to our hotel I'll introduce you to some
of our friends.'
Certainly" said Blister; "I'H go
right up if you'll get me pair of
crutches and a sling for my arm. I'd
be glad to know them. Maybe they'd
be glad to fire four or five shots into me
or hold me under pump? L want to
oblige everybody. Do you often have
these little laughable incidents in your
town."
Most every day, in some shape or
other. There are not eight whole noses
in the place except the wOmen's."
GLOW charming, When the news
spread l should think the tide of emi-
grafton would flow right in. You say
you don't care to bite me again?''
so no."
Don't want to empty the other bar
rels of your revolver into my back"
no; think not"
"Maybe you'd like to kick me or roll
me in the gutter? No, well just toss
me in the canal couple of times again
as kind of an expression of esteem
''It's hardly worth while"
"And you think you don't care to
pound me with brick or anything for
five or ten minutes?''
II rather think not"
"Well, them" said Blister, 81 think
I'll crawl up home and fix up little.
Good-bye. If you ever come on East
stop and see me. Come and stay a
week and bring your relations. Good
bye"
And Blister went to the hotel. packed
up and fled in the first train. He wrote
home that the Arkansas trade would
probably be opened more successfully
by an iron-clad man and a bull dog
than a salesman who was not fond of
war.