The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-10-25

people at the cross f0ads than had ever
gathered there before; and Bill Jones was
mad at their cfedility, but be had an eye
to business and kept behind his couhtsr,
and sold more whisky in an hour than he
had sold in month. As the appointed
hour drew near the settlers began to look
down the long straight road that Old
Sledge would come if be. come at al, and
/ every. man whose head tath9 In. sight
lust over the fite; Of the distah k hill was
closely scrutinized. More. that ohte
they said: "Y onder he comes; that's
him shorel" But not was not him.
Some half dozen had old bulls eye
silver watches, and they compared time,
and lust at Eve minutes to eleven the old
horse thief. exclaimed "f see Tom Bar.
ker. arisin' of the hill. I hain't seed him
| for eleven years, but gentlemen, that ar
him, OF I'm lisr." And is was him.
As he got nearer and neafet 8 Voice
seemed to be coming along with him, and
some said, she's talkin' to hisself." An.
other said, "he's talkin: to God Almigh-
ty,'' and ahother said, "lll be burned it
he amt prayin', bus. very s0oh 1t vas
| generally agfeed that be #as singin' a
Rime. Bill Jones was soon advised of all
this, and coming to the front said dam'd
if he amt singin' before / AID, him,
but: I'll make him sing! 7 ankee Doodle
when he comes, and I'll pay him for that
onsulting messages: I'm not gwine ter
kill him, boys. I'll leave just enough
life in his rotten old carcass for him to
git away on, but that's all. If any Of you
want to hear Old Sledge preach you'll
have to 20 ten. miles from the road to do
talk
Slowly and solemnly the preacher
came. AS he drew near be narrowed
down his tune and looked kindly upon
the crowd. He WAS massive man in
frame, and had heavy suit of dark
brown hair, but his face was clean shayen
and showed features of frmness and
determination. "Look at him, boys, and
mind your eye," said the horsethief.
"Where will I find my friend, Bill!
Jones ?" inquired old Sledge. All around
they pointed him to the man. Riding
up close, he said /: "My friend and
brother, The good Lord has sent me to
Won. and ask for hospitality for myself
and nv beast:n And he slowly dis.
mounted and faced his foe as though
expecting kind reply. The crisis had
come and Bill Jones met it. The settlers
| all leaned forward with eagerfess as he
said: "You internal old hypocrite. You
cursed old shave faced sco1ndrel. Didn't
you know that / hadgaRord an oath that
lfT would make you sing and dance and
whip you besides if you ever dared to
pizen these cross roads with your shoe
leather? Now, sing dam you, sing;
and dance as you sing;;" and he empha.
sized his command with ringing slap
With his open hand upon the parsons face.
Old Sledge recoiled with pain and sur.
prise. Recovering in q moment, e!said ::
aWell, Brother Jonc- l did not expect
sorwarm@ welcome. If these be your
cross roads manners, l suppose must
sing, aud as Devil Bill gave him another
slap on his other jaw the parson lifted up
his voice with
"My soul be on thy guard,"
and with his long arm suddenly and
swiftly let fly and gave Devil Bill an
open handler that nearly knocked him off.
bis feet while be continued iD splendid
tenor voice: ~ -
..'Ten thousand foes arise"
Never was lion more aroused to
frenzy than was Bill Jones. With his
short, powerful arm be made at Old
SJedge as if to annihilate him with one
blow and many horrid oaths, but the par
son Tended off the strokes as easily as a
/ practiced boxer, aud with his left
hand dealt Bill q settler between his
eyes and staggered him as be continued
to singl
"Oh watch and pray and fight,
The battle ne'er give o'er."
Bill Jones was plucky to desperation
and be saw that thessettlers we're watch
ing him with bated breath. The crisis
was at hand, and he squared himself and
his clinched fist flew thick and fast upon
the parson, and for while disturbed his
equilibrium and his song. But he rallied
quickly, and began the offensive as he
sang
"Ne'er think the victory won
Nor lay thine armour down
With blow upon blow be backed his
adversary squarely to the wall of his shop,
and there seizing him by the throat with
one hand, he ;mauled him with the other
as he sang: -
Eight. on my soul till DEATH"
+ I'm 8 moment the oat.clutchydid its
work. Bill Jones turned black IN the
face and sauk down upon the ground
whipped and as humble as a vet dog.
Old 'Sledge called for water, and with his
own handkerchief bathed his battered face
and helped to restore him and begged q
thousand pardons. Devil Bill was sooD
carried to his house, and was cared for
by his. family, while Old Sledge mounted
box in front of the grocery aud
preached righteousness and temperance
and judgment to come to that people, and
sure enough he stayed at Bill Jones's
house that night, for Mrs. Jones was a
far better woman than Bill was q man.
The next day he preached, as he had
appointed, from the piazza of Devil Bills
house, and Bill heard it all, and was con.
verted and joined the church, and it was
always said and believed that Old Sledge
mai.ied the grace into his unbelieying
ssoul, and it would have never got itany
other way, -, BILL BILL ABB. ABB
More Awkward than Gilpin's Ride.
LOUISVILLE, Oct. 17.-Until recent
ly cattle, pigs, goats, and, in fact, stock
Of all kinds were allowed to roam through
the streets of this city without fear of
molestation from the authorities. Three
weeks ago stock ordinance was passed,
and they are seen no more on the fash
ionable boulevards. It was lust before