The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-04-15
JOHNS BLUE DAY.

III you WanJ uO uCur more say SO.
"What was blue dag 7" asked David
Spang.
Old John drew match across the
sole of his moccasin, lit his corn-cob
chibouque, and, after few preparatory
whifis, answered:
"The day got locked up in Jail"
There was general murmur of sur
prise.
Having given our astonishment time
to work itself In John proceeded:
You see, / made up my mind to
move furder West. So, after sellin' out
what little l had, me and Polly and the
baby pulled up stakes, and packin' up a
few light articles in a two hoss wagon,
set up to travel.
Twas along about noon on the sec
ond day, when four men came gallopin'
up, and filed off two on each side, at
the same time pullin out four pistols.
" Halt = says 6ne.
/" Now, I'd as good rifle with me as
ever drawed bead on buck or redskinr
but I'd seen too many scrimmages not
to know that four to ones desperate
odds, specially when they've got the
draw on you. So l jest asked what
they wanted.
You," says the one that spoke
first.
CSC What for p said l.
sc You know where you stopped to
bait your horses yesterday p said he.
CSC Yes, said L.
"' Well, the money you paid is coun-
terfeit,and SOS that you paid where you
stopped last night p
"' Now, know you're only-jOkin',
says for the money paid at both
places, got from Mr.. Skimpall, the
storekeeper at our crossroads, a standin'
candidate for the legislator, and the best
judge o. money in the county. 1 got
him to change me fifty dollar bill
about all the money had, jest afore 1
started. Polly here knows it, for told
her So
"'Oh of course says t'other, and
then they all laughed.
Then they made me git out and
sarched me. They took away the rest
of my money, and said it was all coun-
terfeit-' all cut from the same piece.
"After taking possession of my gun,
they let me git into the wagon, and with
two of them ridin' on each side, like
pallbearers at fun 'ral, we sot out for
neighborin' 'Squire's.
"The Squire was an awful wise-look-
in chap.
"' Where did you git all this bogus
stuff?' says he, when he had looked my
money over.
''' 1t amt bogus says L.
1.-THE way he turned up his nose,
spoke louder'n words.
CSC got it from Mr.. Skimpall,' says
/, warmin' up, the leadin' 'est man in
our parts, and blamed sight better
jedge o. money than any one in this
crowd !"
80 Kin you prove where you got it p
says he.
"'I 1 kin, says L.
&c How p says he.
GO Well, says 1, jest you send for
Mr.. Skimpall, and if he don't say he
give me the money, and proveits good,
besides, I'll agree to go to States prison
for life.'
so the Squire made out suppeny
for Mr.. Skimpall =; but, as it was too late
to git him that day, they KEEP me and
Polly and the baby under guard till
morning.
'Then they had me up again. Mr..
Skimpall was there, but he treated me
very distant; and when the Squire
asked him to give his evidence, he not
only denied point blank givin' me the
money, but pronounced it bogus.
Mr. Skimpall, says 1, startin' for
rid and layin' my hand on his arm, for
goodness sake remember. / come into
your store and got you to change me a
fifty dollar bill the day 1 lie # home. You
can't surely have forgot it,
But he only turned his back on me
and walked out.
1.-The Squire said must give thou
sand dollars bail.
81 had no hail to offer. All could
do was to let Polly take the hosses and
drive back with the baby to friends
home in the old neighborhood; and that
night was locked up in jail.
When the jailer come in with my
supper, twirlin' the key on his finger, a
thought struck me.