Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-11-10
A TRAVELLING LIAR.

SAAhlV
One afternoon in September, as was
toiling over a rocky trail in the Smoky
maintains, which range of the Blue Ridge
separates Tennessee and North Carolina
for many miles, a girl about 10 years of
age, b~areheaded, barefooted, and having
on a single garment mad of cheap stuff,
suddenly jumped into the road a few feet
ahead Of me, fell down, rolled over, lost
her hold on a bundle of roots and banks
and was up and off like a shot. She
passed me without seeming to see me,
and next minute a bear came rolling out
of the bushes upon the spot she
had covered. | hai a big revolver,
and had it handy, and bruin was dead
before he could suspect how my hair stood
on END and my legs wabbled. He wasn't
fifteen feet away and he looked Us big as
a yearling calf, and even If | did shoot
with my eyes shut he would nave been
ashamed of me If | had failed to kill him
with six bullets. He was kicking his last
when the girl came back, regarded him
with bulging eyes for a moment, and then
said:
"Lordyl but I thought I was a goner.
WHO be you 'unP'
"Oh, happened along here. Why
didn't you screamY'
Couldn't. hadn't wind 'nuff."
"How far did he chase your"
"a right smart"
"Well, who are your
Susan. Come up to the house"
She picked up the lost bundle and
started on ahead, and a quarter of a mile
above we came to a cove and the newt.
ahln mnnnfainpnr'G 10 hin Tho onyn roc
the ~same-cabin the same-surroundings
the same as a score Of others. Ayel the
gaunt, miserably dressed woman stood In
the door, two children rolled on the
ground. and a big dog slouched out Of the
cabin and growlcd f~ercely at the approach
Of a stranger. Susan led me straight to
the door, and as we halted on the thresh-
old She exclaimed:
Bar was chasin' me. He 'un killed it
with his pepper"
AS sooa as the matter was understood
the three of us went back. made q litter,
and after a hard tug got the bear TO the
cabin. We had just arrived when the
husband came hom., having been of on a
hunt, and the girl braced up, got n rest
for her back against the house, and told
the story rs follows:
Got my roots tied up. Bar cum for
me. Took u run. Net he I'm. IIe'un
never run tail. Heard him shoot-pop!
pop! pop! Went back. Bar was dead.
Told he 'un to come up and see we 'uns.
Gin him yer paw, pap"
Stranger" said the man as he came
over to ne with Outstretched hand, put
it thar Reckon you saved that gals
life fur suah. Nam, give him yer paw"
lie thankful, shore | am, > she said as
we shook hands.
wanted to go five miles further up the
trail, to Uncle Joe Billings place, but
there was Il general protest on the in
slant, and the mountaineer exclaimed:
Stranger, do you 'un think we 'uns ar
~heathens? Yves pore and forlorn an
shuckless, but Yves got feelings. You've
got to stop right we're till to-morrow."
Deed he has!" added The wife. No
body as saves our Suse from Il bar is
gwine 10 walk off like that"
II thought ! was dun gone when !
heard him 90 pop! popl popi" said Susan,
IAN the bar fell down in a heap"
Then there came a period Of silence,
with every one looking full ct me. |
knew what was coming. 1t had come a
dozen times in q fortnight. The man was
uneasy, while the wife looked puzzled.
BY and by the husband hesitatingly
began; $3.50,
'uns but-but'-
1T don't make no difference, l sayl" ex-
claimed Susan.
Yes, her do" replied the father as he
pulled a piece Of bark from the log.
Stranger, We 'uns want TO know if
if
lie couldn't get it out.
you want to know what I'm doing
here" suggested.
That's it."
We'll, I'm travelling for health and to
see how YOU people lve.'
"Whar' fromf"
Michigan"
"Then you I'm is a Yank2"
"Yes."
And you fit into the war;"
and You walloped usT'
YES"
And you hain't no spyr"
Never"
stranger, / believe you! Put IL thar
Nobody WHO fit into the war would be
mean huff to come spyin'. Jist feel right
70 home. All we've got belongs to YOU"
IN tho evening three or four mountain
...s dropped in, one Of whom was accom-
"a ed by his wife. The women used
lae!r snuff sticks, the men lighted their
.i9cs, and cs q starter the host turned to
lie With:
Stranger. whar' Is that lnchigcnT'
Worth of Ohio"
Many people Up thar'T
Plenty"
Twenty thousands"
detroit alone hss ten tincs that mum.
Der"
lie winked ct each man ia turn. end ]
heard tie visiting female eAclGia to her.
self:
"Oh, Lordl please forgive him fur
lynn"
Been on q steamboat, I reckon?" quer.
led the host. after q time.
"Yes."
"Niore'n one?"
Fifty. l presume"
He winked again, and tho visiting TO-
uale sighed;