Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1884-03-27

in the forest, but no conclusion that
a days study might aid me in reach
ing would alter the fact that Mr.. Ned
Higgins was lost. Near the inter-
section of the two creeks stood q
small house, having been built, it ap-
peared, of drift wood and oddly
shaped chunks snatched from the
hurrying tide. Not far from the
house stood lank man, with a gun
intently gazing into the top of tall
tree. Mr.. Higgins approached and
said:
"Good evening""
Don't know what time it is"
without removing his gaze from the
tree.
"You seem to be looking at some
thlng?"
mo, lookin' ter see eff kain't find
suthin'. One O. the boys lowed he
seed econ go up this here tree
"And you want HIM, eh?"
EFF didn't wouldn't hang er
round here
"My friend, my name is Hug
gins
"Never axed yer what it was."
81 know that we'll enough. 1 am
chief engineer Of the Little Rock and
Choctaw Railroad, and-''
"Whar's yer in-gine," moving
around and still looking up among
the distant boughs.
Il don't mean that l rnn all en-
gine. 1 am a civil engineer
"Then yer amt a fightin' man, 1
reckin.''
."Still you don't understand.
am surveying route for railroad
and am lost"
''Tnen yer don't know whar' yel
air goin' ter run yer road"
"Oh, yes, for the line is prett,
we'll marked OUT
''Yer amt lost, then, air yer:'
shading his face with his hand.
tYes, am.''
"Wall, then, yer amt got yer lint
marked OUT
"Look here
"Ruther look for the coon."
Mr.. Higgins, unaccustomed t.
contact with such peculiar charac
ter, regarded with a bewlldred ey'
the strange man, and replied:
"If you can neglect your inten
search for few moments and an
swer question or two which to IN
are highly important, 1 shall feel un
der many obligations to YOU"
The man, without replying, raise
his gun, took deliberate aim an
fired. A coon tumbled from the tree
The man uttered whoop, and stoo
in triumph over the animal. The
he turned and carelessly surveye
Mr.. Ned Higgins.
"You have killed him, see."
"Wall, yes, fur a bullet throug
the head is mighty apt to injure til
naehul appertIte o. most anything
tier community. Woulder had m
dogs here, but wife she tuck fo'
notion this mornin' that she wante
ter 90 ter the funeral O. ole ma
Bodsucker, and the dogs, as the
amt had no fun in some time, wei
along with her."
81 am lost, my friend, having bee
separated from my party, and
should like to know how 1 can g
out of here?"
"How did you get here?''
why, 1 came in"
"Wall, 1 reckin yer better go out.
"But how can l get out?"
"How did you get in?"
81 tell you that came in"
, "Wall,I tell yer ter get out"
ssOh here, now, / don't want an
such foolishness as this. Night
coming on and l am lost"
"Reckin' yea'd be lost if Mig
want coming on"
Certainly. The reason l spoil
of night coming on was to carry Il
. information of which stand so mut
] in need
"Why don't yer set down.
.sOh here, now. Tell me how
can reach Wayne's Point
' "'Don't think yer can reach it fro
4 here. Arms ain't long enough
"Confound your ugly picture.
Never had q pictur tuck, stra
ger. Went ter a feller wunst wh
had tent an lookin' glass, but
4 couldn't get his machine to work."
II "Now, see here" said Mr.. N
Higgins, exhibiting annoyance,
want to know how far it is
Wayne's Point, and the best way
reaching that place. l am hung
} and tired and 1 don't want to &C
tinue this conversation any long
than possible
"Reckin yer'd better hush, then
thing mp the coon by the tail a
e, starting off as though MIR. Hugo
had not addressed him.
''HoId on you internal idiot a