The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-05-31
THE CHIEF OF THE NIPMucKs.

Sk1AEE UT n V - n Ss
 Every one of the company agreed that Captain Hillman should tell the story of an adventure which, though it occurred years ago, is still so fresh in the book of the captains memory that he never has to turn down leaf to enable him to ind the place again, but can at once open at the right page.
 Some of you have have heard me relate the affair and don't want to bore you, 90 those who do not care to hear it again, will please step into the adjoining room where you will ind beds and sofas Oil which you can sleep until the curtain goes down on the last act. Nobody go- ing? All right. When was 3 young man, say a5ou: twenty-five, l went to a small town and established myself in the book and stationery business, but lest the intelligence and desire for knowledge of the community be over-estimated, let me add that had not supplemented garden seeds, cigars. tobacco and brogan shoes, my income would have been barely suffi- oent to pay for the washing of my scant linen. A short distance from the village lived an old bachelor name Valentine Diff. He had amassed considerable prog erty one way and another. particularly the other, and the gloom of his great brick house was rarely penetrated by the glance of strangers eye. One day when in my store, whither he had come to purchase plug of tobacco, he took up copy oi < Choctaw Dan, or The Rifle that Ne1er Missed Fire"
 t'I never read book in my life," said he, "and as am now getting along pretty well in years, with nothing to particularly engage my attention, am half inclined to buy this book and read 1t to see ii people seii the truth in speak ing of the great entertainment to be found in literature. lhave been a pretty close reader of the newspapers, bu, am getting tired of them"
 If you desire to read book sug- gessed, tread one of intellectual tone. This thing is ofa low, sensation order"
 No. I'll take this one along. as don't want to be bored by the heavy ideas of fanatical reiormer-
 He took the book, and the mex, day he returned and declared with enthusiasm that he was quite delighted with the work. "l was never more highly en- terta ined in my life" said he -.' Why, sir, Choctaw Dan was wonderful fellow. You ought to read it. By the way. let me have another book of the same kind"
 I sold him ~Forked Lightning, or the Rock where the Red deer fell" The next morning he came back. He seemed to be depressed, and l noticed that he vas given to sudden starts, and that whenever any one entered the store, he would shy of to one side and knit his brows. Without saying much, he bought ten cheap books, and went away. did not see him again for nearly two weeks. When he returned, he wore a strip of buckskin around his waist, and thought, though it may have been a fancy, that saw the blade of hatchet gleaming among the folds of great red jacket which he wore under his coat.
 Friend" said he, "the baron de mands an audience"
 discontinued my work of dus,ing the show case, and turned to the warrior.
 During the silent watches of the dark and stormy night when the young wolf crouches under the shelving rock and the braves bare their backs against the bark q the great trees, have pondered deep ly. The chief of the Nipmucks must be entrapped."
 smiled, and giving me a severe glance, he continued: The hall of the war-like baron, who has taken refuge in tAis wilderness, shall never again re- sound to the swelling notes of festal nasic until the chief of the Nipmucks is captured"
 Thinking that an attempt to change the Aziff ofhis thoughts might not prove un- ayailing, l asked:
 Mir. DiG hov long have you lived in this communityr
 @Ar. DiGr he repeated coasemptu- sasly, "address tAou me by the name which to me vas left as . proud and alesass inheritance, or by an the ssb oa Mount Olympua and aIl the chia6 asssRhled around the glowing cnp-6rss q mid.ight council, it shah anze se III wifh tAse thas yean hsnce this