The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-02-11
1.-THE LATE WAR"
BY NJ. QUAD.

BY M. QUAD.
 We hsd stopped at farm house to get drink of water and rest the horses bit, and as I saw that the door was held open by a cannon ball lying against it, presently asked of the old farmer:
 "You were in the war, of course?" "Yes, fit from first to last," he re- piled. "You mean the late war, suppose?"
 "Yes"
 That's the one mean. wasn't in the Mexican war, nor the war of 1912, nor yet the Revolutionary war; I could lie about it and deceive you, but won't do it. Never told lie in my life"
 "Were you in many battles?" "Over hundred. I could lie about it and say over two hundred, but won't. I never exaggerate bout any thing"
 "Ever wounded?"
 "Fourteen times, sir"
 ''Is that possible?"
 "Reckon it is, sir. Some of the fell lers around here would tell you they had been wounded thirty or forty times, but that isn't my style. Twas hit just fourteen times, and I don't propose to add to the number" You were lucky not to lose leg or an arm."
 "Yes, 1 was. l could lie to you and say had, but l won't do it. I hate a liar"
 "What prominent battles did you take part in?"
 Do you mean in the last war;" "Yes."
 "Because that's the only war I was ever in. I never tell thing 1 can't swear to. What prominent battles was 1 in?"
 "Yes."
 "All of lem, of course. That was what I enlisted for-to be in all of the prominent battles. could lie to you and say wasn't in any of lem, but won't do it. never have anything to do with liar"
 ''What was your hardest fight?" 'In the last war;"
 "Yes."
 Between the Tanks and Rebs?" "Yes."
 "I couldn't hardly say. Some folks would say this or that one was the hardest, but was brought up by 8 religious mother, and I can't be de- ceiver. I simply fit, and fit in each one, and when I got through I had one of the boys take towel and wipe the blood off,"
 "You must have killed a great many Yankees. What do you place the number at?"
 "Yankees ill the last war;"
 "Yes."
 "Not in the Revolutionary war;" "No."
 "Well, at about three thousand" "Nov'
 "That's what said, stranger. Some of the fellows around here claim to have killed from seven thousand to ten thousand, but I can't do that. It goes agin the grain. l couldn't look you in the face and say over three thousand"
 "Did the Union soldiers know what a terror you were?"
 
 "Yes."
 "War of the rebellion?"
 "That's the one"
 ''I reckon they did, sir. could lie to you and say reckon they didn't, but know you want it straight. My father lies buried right across the road, and I'd look purity telling lies in the shadow of his tombstone?" "Were you ever taken prisoner" l asked, after a short silence.
 "PrisOner of war;"
 "Yes." "In the Mexican war;"
 "No; in the last war"
 "Never, sir. Some of our fellers around here are allus telling how many times they were taken prisoner, but won't lie to you. You look hon. est, and Pm going to tell you the truth. A liar may get along all right for few years, but he's tripped up at last"
 "You must have come out of the war a colonel, at least"
 "This last war;"
 "Yes."
 "So did. Yes, but I won't deceive you. 1 could lie and gay didn't, but you'd stop at my son. in- law's up the road and ind out the truth. Tween hoss-thief and liar prefer the thief It's much more honorable" '.Is that cannon ball shot at you from Yankee cannon?"
 "In the last war?"
 "Yes.o