Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-10-05
Strange BedfeIIows.

Strange Bedfellows.
LAWYER Mayberry lived in a little
town in middle Georgia. He was IA
big. stout fellow. and as he had very
little business in the courts, he spent
most of his time quarreling and fight
ing with his neighbors, and any stran
ger that came along
Mayberry was a regular country bul-
". 1t was hard TO find his match in
a fiSt-and-skull fight, and he was an
ugly customer with IA knife or pistol.
He would fight anything, and he new
er forgot or forgave an insult.
one day Mayberry found it necessa-
ry 10 ascertain the whereabouts OF a
missing client. He suspected that the
man was in certain village among
the mountains in the northern part
of the State. and 10 satisfy himself he
sat down and wrote a letter 10 the
postmaster of the place.
In due time he received rude re
ply. Among other things the post
master said: Il shall not take the
trouble 10 answer your question. You
failed to enclose a stamp, doubtless
thinking that | would take advantage
of my position to use an official en-
velope for your accommodation. |
have never defrauded the Govern
ment out of a stamp, and | don't pro
pose to do it now"
When May berry got this letter he
ripped and swore until the atmos-
phere was sulphurous. Then he sat
down and did some of the tallest think
ing of his life. There were few rail
roads in those days, and it was long
distanceto to the little mountain village.
Mayberry read the letter again, fixed
the postmaster's name in his mind.
gritted his teeth, and then struck II
bee-line for the saloon, where he filled
himself full.
Twenty eight years rolled away.
was man Of sixty, but IN
spite of his years he remained as slough
and plucky as ever. His fights were
not so numerous "a in former years,
but when he took hand in racket
the town boys lost no time in getting
bevond the reach OF his iron fist.
There was a State convention to be
held in Atlanta, and Mayberry was
one of the delegates. He arrived in
the city late ut night, and was shown
TO a room in the old Atlanta Hotel.
There were two beds in the room, and
one OF them was occupied. AS the
moonlight streamed in through the
window, the country lawyer undressed
without striking IA light and jumped
into bed.
He found himself wakeful, and
started a conversation with his un-
known roommate.
"Delegate?' he inquired
Eyes. sir, was the reply.
80 am |. " said Mayberry.
Then there was pause for n mo-
ment
Where do you hail from?'' asked
the lawyer.
Blue Rock
And what might be your manner
NV name is Shorter, answered
the stranger.
Didn't you used to be postmaster
at Blue Rock?''
"Yes-but that was twenty eight
years ago. I"
But he never finished the sentence.
With an angry snort that sounded
like the yell of some wild animal, old
Mayberry leaped from his bed and
threw himself upon the e1-postmas'
ter.
Now, durn you. I've got your he
shouted. MY name is Mayberry.
Maybe you don't recOllect answering
a letter Of mine once, and charged me
with trying to beat you out Of a
stamp
That was twenty eight years ago,
pasped the other, "and / have almost
the circumstances.
II don't care a d-n when IL was,
aid Mayberry. II swore I'd whip
YOU for il, and / will"
And he proceeded to pound his vic
tim Sith both fists.
Old Mayberry dragged the Blue
Rock man out Of bed and rolled over
the floor with him, pounding him all
the time. Then he got his knife, and
planting his foot on his eDemys
breast, he said;
I'm cut your blasted throat and
settle this business.
The ex-postmaster commenced beg
ging.
1T was twenty-eight years ago, he
said. Great Goddlemighty. man. do
YOU want TO kill a man for little
thing like that. I'm an old man now,
and / haye family. I'm sorry / wrote
the letter. / wouldn't do il now"
Old Mayberry turned him loose and
struck light.
will you write an apoiogyf' he
asked.
"Of course ] will, was the answer
Of the half dead delegate.
The lawyer pulled q notebook from
his coat pocket and handed il TO the
postmaster. He then dictated the
apology. and the other wrote IL down.
Now" said Mayberry, wind up
with something about recognizing me
as perfect gentleman, Of great for
bearance and courteous manners.
The postmaster groaned, but wrote
it down.
Now sign it," commanded May
berry.
This was done, and the old lawyer
,noL afad tho document