The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-04
STRANGE BEDFELLOWS.
BY Wallace p. Reed.

he spent most of his time Quarreling and
ghting with his neghbors, and any stranger
that came along.
Mayberry was a regular country bully. 1t
was hard to find his match in a fst-and-skull
fight, and he was an ugly customer with
knife or pistol lie would fight anything,
and he never forgot or forgaye an insult,
One day Mayberry found it necessary to as
certain the whereabouts of a missing client,
He suspected that the man was in certain
village among the mountains i'll the northern
part or the state and to satisfy himself he sat
down and wrote a letter to the postmaster of
the place.
In due time he received a rude reply.
Among other things the postmaster said: II
shall not take the trouble to answer your ques-
ton. You failed,to inclose a stamp, doubtless
thinking that would take advantage of my
position to use an official envelope for your ac-
commodation. l have never dcfrauded the
government out of a stamp, and l don't pro-
pose to do it now"
When Mayberry got this letter he ripped and
swore until the atmosphere was sulphurous.
Then he sat down and did some Of the talest
thinking OF his life. There were few railroads
in those days, and it was long distance to the
little mountain village. Mayberry read the
letter again, fixed the postmaster's name in
his mind, gritted his teeth, and then struck
bee line for the saloon, where he filed himself
full.
y
was man OF sixty, but in spite of his years
he remained as tough and plucky as ever. His
fights were not SO numerous as IN former years.
but when he took hand in racket the town
boys lost no time in getting beyond the reach
of his iron fist.
There was state convention to be held in
Atlanta, and Mayberry was one of the dele
gates. He arrived in the city late at night,
and was shown to @ room in the old Atlanta
hofa N
one of them was occupied. AS the moonlight
streamed in through the window, the country
lawyer undressed without striking alight, and
jumped into bed.
He found himself wakeful, and started
conversation with his unknown room mate
"Delegate?" he inquired.
eyes, SIR was tho reply.
$50 am l." said Mayberry.,
Then there was pause for moment.
"Where do you hail from?' asked the law
:'Blue Rock"
''And what might be your name?"
my name is Shorter" answered the stran-
ger.
Didn't you used to be postmaster at Blue
Rock?''
"Yess-but that was twonty-eight years ago,
l.
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 ex-post-
master.
CHOW, durn you, I've got you'll he shouted.
''My name is Mayberry Maybe you don t
reeoliect answering a letter of mine once, and
charging me with trying to beat you out of a
starnp?"
That was twenty-eight years ago." gaspod
the other, ''and l have almost forgotten the
circumstances
II don't care a d-n when it was, said May
berry. 81 sworc that I'd whip you for it, and
L will"
And he proceeded to pound his victim with
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 knees on his enemy's
breast, he said:
"Ill just cut your blasted throat and settle
this business"
The ex- postmaster commenced begging.
at was twenty-eght years ago." he said,
"Great Goddiemighty, man, do you want to
kill n man for little thing like that. Pm an
old man now, and have a family. I'm sorry
wrote the letter. I wouldn't do it now"
Old Mayberry turned him loose and struck q
light.
"Win you write an apology?" he asked.
"Of course WILL was the answer Of the
half dead delegate
The lawyer pulled a note book from his coat
pocket and handed it to the postmaster. He
then dictated the apology and the other wrote
it down.
''Now," said Mayberry "wind up with some
thing about recognizing me as perfect gen.
tleman, of great forbearance and courteous
manners"
The postmaster groaned, but wrote it down.
CHOW sign it, commanded Mayberry
This was done and the old lawyer poclleted
the document.
"Now," said he calmly, "you take your buds
and get out of this room. L am going to have
it to myself"
AS the postmaster, with his clothes on his
arm, skunk through the door, Mayberry heard
him mutter:
Great Go1dlemighty! 1t was twenty-eight
years ago, What memory that man hast"
Old Mayberry gave a chuckle, and jumped
into bed. In ten minutes he was sleeping the
quiet peaceful sleep Of an infant.