The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-07-20
GAG OF NO CO."

The deep little gorge was not thor
oughfare. A party Of prospecting miners
had found that ont, in the early days,
by walking to the end of the dark recess
in the mountain; and before they turned
back the place was named "No Go"
But gold was thercabout, and the stream
that tumbled down from the height pro-
vided water for the delivers pans.
Therefore "No Go" became busting
settlement, though it did not change its
name to something indicative of its pros
pcrity. A stamp-mill was being built,
and machinery was beginning to take
the place of mems arms in the processes
of mining. Some of the miners had de-
serted their cabins and taken to board
ing at the Spread Eagle, a house made
Of planed boards, and containing
painted barroom.
Supper was over at the Spread Eagle,
and the mistress, leaning her back
against the bar and her elbows ON it,
c&rclessly faced n crowd Of her boarders
and others. A few Of these rough resi-
dents OF "No Go" knew that her name
was Agnes Brinklcy, but the Brinkley
was hardly ever heard, and the Agnes
was III common usage shortened to Ag.
She was not over thirty, and her face
was not hideous. Her blindcst friends
could claim nothing further for her
looks She was six feet III height, her
form was ungainly and muscular, her
red hair was cropped like a name, and
her coarse features We're freckled and
weather marked. Her heavy eyebrows
were now lifted in surprise, for the bar
room aSsemblage was not only larger
than usual so early in tine evening, but
the men stood i'll clump instead Of
sprawling over benches, chairs and ia
blcs.
'I'd like to be told what We mean by
GRIMM an sncakin' round yer like a
pack o hungry wolves. y Ag said: "Ie'ye
had yer grub, hain't YEP
The voice was harsh, but gOod-na-
tured. and the rude words were under
stood by all to be joose. Her question
brought hcsitant spokesman to the
front. He went 50 far toward taking off
his hat as to push it to the back Of his
head, and said:
otis this way, .g. The boys has
been thinkin' as they'd like to give we
kind o testi-moni-yal, specially sence
We had the bar-room painted. They feels
yer public spirit, Wal, it's come to a
head, an it's out tina. in the wagin. We
did expec' to bring Jedge Low up from
Pinkeyville to make a presentashing
speech, but he's got a hung iewry in
boss case and can't come. So we'll jes'
have it brung right in, without no more
talk"
Some of the men went ont and lifted a
big mirror from a wagon in front OF the
house. They had trouble getting it
through the doorway without scraping
the gilt off the heavy frame. Ag's face
flushed when she saw it, which might
have been taken as evidence of delight;
but her suddenly lowered brows and COM
pressed lips would have warned the com
pany of an outbreak if they had not been
too busy with the mirror to observe her,
They leaned it carefully against the wall,
crowding in front Of one another to see
themselves il it. and then turned to-
ward Ag. Her black aspect drove the
iollitv ont of their faces. The last time
any OF them had seen her look like that
was when she broke q pitcher and the
Pinkeyville champions head.
Stan aside" the spokesman cried,
with brave attempt at hilarity, IAN
| give Ag view Of herself.
They stiflly obeyed, cycling the en-,
ragged woman. She seized bottle oil
whisky by the neck with one brawny
hand and flung it with all her might at
the mirror, SCATTERING both plate and
missile and scattering the beverage on
the wall.
"Thar's my feelins, fully expressed, y
she said, replacing her elbows on the
bar, swelling her broad chest and glar-
ing at the astounded miners. "Heyin'
been insulted in my own house | makes
a forcible remark. The frames left an
We kin tote it right out, er I'll crunch it. "
"Why, Ag-" the spokesman began.
81 never made no claim ez | wasn't ez
homely ez a hedgehog" she interrupted,
and her short, bristling hair seemed to
| be rising like quilts on Che ugly beast
mentioned "an' knowed was rough
erin the toughest Of we. Very well.
| Ye mustn't make no sport OF my looks,
however Ye might o 'spicioned as L
wouldn't take no such joke. A glass tor
me TO look inl WHY, cuss We, why didn't
We have me photographed, an done
] with itY"