Nevada County picayune., 1886-05-05
HANK BEN.
ARKANSAw TRAVELLER.

Ben Stephens, who.e style of construction has won for him the name of Lank Ben, recently nov ed from the hill regions down to a shuddering little river town, where every girl is the accomplished Miss So-and,So. and where every young man is so intelligent that he is the rising sen of our distinguished fel low tOwnsman, Such-and-such. Lank Ben is not a handsome man. He has a drouth-like grin and his head is shaped like the average early roso potato. When he ar- rived in town and began, in an un- assuming way, to discharge the du. ties of a position in cotton gin house, the rising sons of several distinguished townsmen met and agreed that it would be the appro- priate caper to have some fun with him. In all the river towns Of Ar kansas the snipe joke is still in the vigor and freshness of youth. In those towns the intelligent young men think this palsied landmark of an ancient "sell' originated with them. Yes, Lank Ben must hold the bag; so Abe Granger, Lake Potter and three of the Mills boys called on Ben and introduced Ben threw down an armful of lint cotton and shook hands with his visitors. He was tiattered at receiving such 'aNen- tion, and mOistening his smile with warm flow of tobacco juice, he said:
 "Gentle-men, I am powerful glad that rve seed yer.'
 "Eot at sll," Luke Potter said.
 S'Don't mentiorf it," said Abe Granger. eve always try to make a fellow feel at home. Going to live here I understand"
 ''Yas, thought I'd try yer a few falls"
 "Glad of it," Mir. Granger re- By the way, do you like sport7
 "Wall, l kin stand little nv it."
 "Glad of that, too. Now, I'll tell yoer our object in calling on you. Out on the island, in front of the town, there are any namber of shipe, and at this season of the year they drive splendiHy." "Why don't you shoot 'em?"
 "Oh, that wouldn't do. for it would frighten 'em."
 "Whst air yer going to drive lem in!o
 "In a bag.'
 "Ben laughed. They won't go in bag" said he.
 "Ob, yes, they will," shouted the Mills boys.
 "I should say so," exclaimed Abe Granger. All you've got to do is to hold a candle at the mouth of a bag, and let the birds run in. We catch bushels of'em that way"
 Ben meditated seriously and then said:
 "Gentlemef, l was raised in the woods and blamed eff l don't be- lieve thar's painters over on yan island"
 The boys roared with derisive laughter. Ben ahoiosized, declar- ing that if his suspicious were un, just he was willing to nuke any reparation which the ieland might demand
 Tire apology was accepted and arrangements for the proposed hunt were soon completed. .
 The night was dark and wind, The unbridled moon reared and plunged from one cloud mass to another. Lank Pen, simple and uususpecting, got into skiff with the heartless young men. The river ran high, and with yellow gurgle struggled to overthrow the cotton. wood trees that grew along the edge of the sandy.
 "Iiere we are," said Potter, as the bow of the boat touched the island. "Hop out boys, and let's draw the bost high up, for the riv- CT is rising. What do you think of the prospectsw he added, as he held up a lantern and surveyed Lank Ben's face.
 "Don't know, but thar pears to be ruther too much wind. <"
 No, it's just right" said Gran ger. "Fetuh the bag, Lem Mills, Now come on and don't make