The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-06-07
OLD coRNsrALK.
lopie P. Read, in Texas Sifinss.l

0S0 SSe>AsS h AsAs
 lopie P. Read. in Texas siftingsl
 The Denson boys had committed foul murder. and the entire neighborhood was ul in arms against them. Jack Dover, the victim, had dared to face the Denson boys, and tell them that they were infringing on his rights by pulling down his fence and allowing their cattle to range in his field. For this assump- ton he was shot down. The Densons, four in number, lied to the mountains The governor issued proclamation, cail- ing on all good citizens to assist in their arrest Men turned loose their plow- handles and rallied to the support of the law. It reminded one of the beginning of the war. when farmers suddenly be- came soldiers. The posse was under the of Sheriff Guiding, bold man, who/ brought home three wounds from Gettysburg. and among the aveng- CTS was an old fellow known as Cornstalk Johnson. Why this name was given him is not known, unless 1t be the fact that he had but one ear, and il is said that a stalk of corn in the Oak Flat neigh borhood never bore but one ear. Corn stalk took with him an old rife which he declared was presented to bis grandfather by Davy Crockett The neighbors held their own opinions concerning the histori- cal value oi the gun, and some of them hinted that he nipped' the rife during the Brooks-Bsxter war, but as every one desired to be on good terms ~;.s .he old fellow, he was allowed 10 have his own own.
 It vas known that the Deason boys had friends in the mountains, and thzs a desperate resistance would be made The mountain people of the Blue Range have no respect for the law, and regard every attempt at its enforcem ent as an oppressive measure. Their idea is, that if man is no, able to defend himself, he should keep his mouth shut, or leave the vicinity.
 Quite a number of men who at first were eager to serve the state, became dis couraged when the excitement had died away, and finally Sheriff Guiding, just as the posse was entering the mountain de- files, stood high in his stirrups sad sx. claimed:
 thing. There's going 10 be some mrsic round here, and coward ain't got no business in this gang. If anybody wants to go back, now's the time for him to git"
 The apellaiion of cosard had effect, and for time no one was disposed to accept the humilating terms of discharge. Finally, old Cornstalk rode from the ranks, and said:
 know as well as know ny name that some O you fellers are skeered. don't want to see no man hun, an some O you need a leader what IS go, the moral backbone, jis' let me say, Mir. Sherin, that you can count me out O this here undertakin'."
 Shame on himw exclaimed several voices. Coward, traitor !'
 Cornstalk,. said the sheriff; "l thought you would fight, but 1 see you aint got no more grit than a worm Go on back with your rake-handle that you stole during the Brooks-B Baxter fight, and don't never apeak to me no more.r
 If it want oo sich . solemn occa- sion" replied old CornstaIk, "rd whup ye fur calin' this old gun a rake-handle, an then airter yer sogter rekivered yer sef I'd whup yer fur sayin' stold hit"
 Yes, you've always got some excuse Go on back and tell the wimmin folks that you'll tote water and make fires for
 None of the murmurers now had the to face the indignation of the sheriff and his more determined follow CTS, and as they rode on, losing sight of Cornstalk, no one dared to lift a voice against the expedition. For time they proceeded in silence the clank of the horses' hoofs and the occasional splash of water falling from the grim rock above were the only sounds to break the stiil quiet of the rugged region of solitude
 "We've got to be mighty careful along here, tellers," said the sheriff, turning and looking over his men vho filed along the nov steep pathway. Reaching a place of high prominence, the leader stopped moment, and shading his eyss from the sun blszing over dissant peal, he surveyed the ravine below, and then led his men down the dangerous dope. The last man had descen0ed, and the sheriff and an adviser were debaeing as to the proper coarse to be taken, vhea from up among the rocky ledges puls of smoke arose, and the sharp crack of the noe and the Jax1ng bang of the shot, gun threw the men into confusion. Two men fs1 from their hogses and were bon svay hy companions. EacA man IpE1ng 6om his horse and toek rsfu9e as beR ke could The surprise vas com p1e1e, theagh it might have ben expect- ., aad seveEal minsses elapsed befure IAe SAoGiPs men reeuhed the Gge, and uAsa . shover q buliess and shos vzs Dene p rs4fiing among the rocks, 10 lIbct Sssulhed, tor the De.soa boys aad lAsir lawles fiands vae safay concsal- . ko0 view. Again . voIlsy came iron lbeve, but by this time the sAeiA's men usse under the protection of rocis, be- Aind which they oooched- Duks Dea-