Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-03-30
Told BY a suIIsIess Drummer.

Recently sad-looking drummer al
rived in Little Rock. He had Just made
tour of several Of the northwestern
counties, and, as he expressed. II, had
enough experience in one house toward
the "shank" Of his trip to serve for
years Of adventurous "reminiscences.
"Several days ago" said the drum
mer to party Of acauaintancee, ~
was riding along through the woods.
wet and weary, and hungry. 1 had
hired a horse at farmhouse, and was
accompanied by colored boy on an
other horse, who was sent to take my
horse back when / reached the railroad.
Well, as I was riding along through the
country where the road was a mere
path, and where the VIC were SO
thick that they reminded me OF per-
petual evening, I was suddenly con
fronted by two men who, with leveled
guns, told me to hold up my hands. 7
would like to have had an explanation,
but my hands went up. Several other
men advanced, and two Of them searched
me. They found borrowed revolver
and q watch. They did not take the
watch, but relieved me of the pistol.n
"sWhat's the boy doing with youp" Z"
one of them asked. replied that he
had been sent along to take my horse
back when reached the railroad.
"Yes; when you reach the railroad r
one Of them said. asked for an ex-
PLANTATION, but they cursed me. 7 didn't
know what to do. and it didn't seem
that they desired me to do anything.
They tied rope around my neck.
"Lets swing him up here" said one
festive young fellow whom I took to be
in something Of a hurry. Then they
began a debate. The colored boy was
frightened out of his wits, Pretty
soon they told him to go back, and to
take my horse with him. TO this be
readily assented, and in minute more
I was on the ground. I begged for "a
explanation. One man solemnly pointed
to the rope / wore.
'Fellers,' remarked q thoughtful
looking man, we'd better take him
over and see if he is the right man.
This motion seemed to prevail. They
threw me onto horse behind little
fellow, and I started off through the
woods. 1t seemed to me that we had
travelled an age, when we reached .
clearing, in the center of which stood q
small house. Several men were gath
cred in the yard, and I noticed excited
women moving around. Our arrival
was greeted with loud shout.
where's Abram r. asked the
thoughtful man of our party when we
reached the gate. .Atram' would be
out in few minutes. He came an old
man with gray hair and hickory shirt.
i" We've got him, Uncle Abe,' said
the man who had proposed to hang me
and we're only watin' for the word.
The old man regarded me for q moment
and then said, Boys, he amt the man,
turn him loose
"The rope was taken from my neck
what was I seized forY I asked o.
Abram.
Wall, you see,' he said, 'a fellel
came along here this mornin' an tried
to steal my dog. You amt the man
You can CO. I turned and walked
away. I had gone about two miles
when man on horse overlook me
The old man must see you,' he said
hurry back 1 'trudged back to the
farm house. The old man was at ths
gate. 'What do you want /? 1 asked
4 want to say, young feller, that i
would be q good idea for you never
never to steal dog" Then I walked
ten miles to the railroad. I hav
thought the matter over since, an'
blamed il I intend to steal q dog,