Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-14
The "Mum. NociabIe.

"
neck:ie around under his ear and one
tail Of his dress coat torn of, as he
came into q West Side saloon with
overcoat on his arm and his overshoes
In his hand and. his clothes all covered
With snow.
What's the matter with your" said
the bartender, looking ugly at him;
do you suppose am going 70 lend
you revolver to kill somebody, and
then be arrested for being an aces
sorry? Not much. But what's the
matter? You look as though you
came out ola window. Was anything
the matter with the door2"
The young man took a wet towel,
sSpped the blood Of his nose, then
went to mirror and fixed his neck.
tie and turned his back and looked in
the glass to see fthe absent coat tail
showed much, then vent and leaned
on the bar and looked at the bartender
a moment and said.
You look like a man that can be
trusted, and whose advice would be
safe to follow in an emergency, and |
will tell you about this murder that
l contemplate, and maybe you can
give me some points, as you have 70
doubt murdered many people. The
trouble Is right here. Our lodge is to
give mum social this evening. You
know what a mum social is. Young
people go to house and sit around
all the evening and keep their mouths
shut, ana never say a word until
signal is given; then they all make up
for lost time and talk for all that is
out. Is my nose bleeding yet?
rhanks.) They wanted me to 20 and
| Just came from there. That isl came
from the house next door. You see,
| vent to the wrong house aud rung
the bell. A man in his shirt sleeves
came to the door and said good even
ing; but | wasn't going to be caught
.Deaking, because you have to pay
forfeit if you speak. So l just walked
right in and pulled off my overcat and
hung it up, aud hung my hat on
the hat rack. The man looked little
bitannoyed but he asked if the weather
was not sOftenening up q little. |
smiled, but didn't say anything, and |
walked in the sittingroom. Thought
| was the first one there and felt
very awkward. The man watched me
pretty close. and finally he said |
had the advantage. of him, and |
smiled again but didn't say
anything. Now that | think of it.
| noticed that he unbuttened his shirt
sleeves and began to roll them up. |
did not think Of it at the time, but
his arms we're as big as my legs. He
asked me to what circumstance be
was indebted for the honor of this
visit, and | thought be was trying
to get me of my guard so l would
speak, when they would have the
laugh on me; 80 | smiled one of my
best two-for-a quarter smiles, and
looked at him as much as to say:
You can't play any of your games on
the undersigned. Think he was the
crosseSt man that | ever saw, and |
wondered what made the committee
have the mum soclable at his house.
l thought it was time some of the
rest OF the crowd we're coming, and |
got up and went to the window to
look out, when the man came up
beside me and Kissed in my ear:
What is your little game, any way?
Well, | wasn't going to speak, and
give myself away, so | looked at him
sort OF impudent, as much as to say:
Oh, go and chase yourself around
your feet, and then | thought light
ming had struck me. He took me by
the throat with one hand, and by the
vicinity of tae coat tail with the
other hand, and he choked me so my
tongue run out, and his wife screamed
and said: Don't kill him, and the
man hustled me out into the hall and
opened the front door, and he
picked me up bodily and threw mt
out into a snow bank FIVE feet deep
| struggled a little going out of the
door, and run my nose against the
door casing, aud | guess he forgot to
ct 60 of my coat tail when ! went
out. | struck head first into the snow,
.nd before | could dig my huad out
the door was closed, and l could not
explain my conduct to the man. |
was so mad | could not have explained
any way. just as | got out of the
snowbank and shook myself the door
opened and the man threw out my
overeOat, hat and overshoes, and he
told his wife to hurry up with the shot
gun and he would take me on the hy
as went over the fence. Well, |
didn't wait for no shot gun, but grab.
bed my coat and things aud came down
the street en- a gallop. | met a lot of
the young people going up, and as |
turned the corner | saw them going
into the next house to the one thst |
visited, and that was the first | knew
OF my mistake. Now, what | want is
for you to tell me whether | had better
shoot that man or kill him with club.
| was ra;sed in the South, and my
warm Southern blood will not stand
any such treatment"
The bartender laughed, and told the
young fellow he had better 20 and
apologize to that man, or he would
kick the other coat tail off the first
time he saw him, and the young man
said on second thought he reckoned he
would.
How He Got 20 the Legislature.
G f. Merrill, the racy and gifted
correspondent Of the Courier journal,
writes from Nashville the following
humorous and well drawn personal
0; noted member OSthe House.
Hon. A. Fisk. representing White
county, is the "swinge cat" of the
House. And this means great deal