The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-03-04
heir winter supplies, and thesannual

their winter supplies, and thessannuaI
dinner gave the opportunity to the vet.
eran officers of the late war 10 fight their
battles over again, and talk about their
| strange adventures over the sherry and
MADEIRA. In the fail Of 1889 my father
went down, as usual, to attend the meet
ing, travelling on horseback, for there
was no Northeastern Railroad then, and
no steamers piled on Cooper River. II
took two days TO make the journey from
st. Stephens, the roadside taverns fur
nishing rest and Fefreshment at night.
One of these, the Seven-uile House, had
decidedly bad reputation IL was too
near the city; for the purposes of country
travellers, and was frequented by disor-
derly characters from town. Ny father
had not seen Theus for week or two,
and remarked his absence from the So
ciety meeting. just as dinner was
served, however, the Captain came in,
fresh from the road and apologiaing for
his detention, which he promised to ex-
plain after the cloth was removed. The
toasts were drunk, and the decanter was
circulated with the freedom which fortu-
nately il 20 longer considered essential
to tho requirements Of good society, when
the president raped on the table and
called for Capt. Theus's story. He re-
lated substantially the adventure which
l have just told you, and then proceeded
with the esquel 70 it:
Il was unable TO leave home until yes.
terdey after dinner, and stopped at Boin-
est's tavern last night, determined to start
early this morning and mako the last
twenty miles in three hours. Unfortu-
nately, however, my horse struck lame,
ind by the time I reached the Seven mile
House ] had to dismount and lead him.
determined to leave him there and hire
a fresh beast to bring me; and, having
made the arrangements with the hostler,
l went into the bar to get something hot
while l was waiting. Imagine my feel
ings when entered the room and saw
Dave Peigler standing ut the counter, as
] had seen him often ut Scuffletown, serv-
ing out rum and sugar TO half q dozen
Unlocking fellowS1 l don't think was
frightened, but know turned pale with
astonishment, and it was some time be-
fore could ,utteria word. The fellow
recognized me. ct once, and his hsld
shook 80 as to spill the liquor he was
pouring; but he recovered in o moment,
and stood looking st me with very
queer, ugly expression. | thought there
might be trouble, but knew my man, if
death had not changed him, 80 I quietly
loosened the strap Of my holstera, which
hung on my arm, and walking straight
up to the bar, said /: Are you not the
Dave feigicr whom I banged at st. Ste.
phen's ten years ago p I'm that very
Dave Peigler, and as good o man to-day
as any of the crowd that roped me up
was the answer. Then, pray, how the
devil do you happen to be here now p
The Devil had nothing to do with it, or
things might have been different, and
email thanks to you, either. You left
me twisting round like an old woman's
spindle, with hard knot under my left
ear. It sets my head spinning to think
of it now. If Balls Loyalists had been o
little more careful, they; would have gob-
bled up your little squad bodily. As it
was, they caught Joe Edie, who you
thought had deserted, and hung him with
the same rope from which they had cut
mo down. It took some rough rubbing
and pint of hollands to bring me to
again but came round at last, and we
buried Edie in the yard of the Old Brick
Church. ] reckon, Captain, that clears
the score between ua, and You and may
as vel! be friends.' Then, turning with
q wicked grin to tho astonished rowdies
who, stood by, he added: That's the
reasoni boys, why I always wear my
shirt-neck open. I've never been able TO
stand the pressure of q cravat since that
day took the rum and water which
he offered, but insisted on paying for it,
and determined to ride my own horee to
town, after resting him q wh;!o. That
accounts for my being late at dinner to-.
MY father used to say that, after this,
he never passed the Seven.miie House
after night, and always hurried by in the
day time, for he could not help the feel
ing that, if Dave PeigIer was not ghost,
he =. at least ought to be one" Which is
the end of the Colonel's story.