The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-11-16


river, Tennessee There was a gener-
al store, in which dry goods, grocer.
les, saddlery, hardware, crockery,
meats and whisky were sold in about
equal proportions: a blacksmith shop,
two houses, a bridge-and that was all
When got up in the morning it was
raining, and the sky had that leaden
hue which means a drilling day. JEFF
fers would not hear of my going on,
and observed that it would be a good
day for the mountaineers to come in
and reveal their leading traits of char
acter.
We had scarcely finished breakfast
when they began to come in, each man
mounted on a mule, and each man
wearing rubber coat. By ten
o'clock there were a dozen. All seemed
to have little money, but the only
purchases made outside of whisky were
a pound of wet brown sugar and some
plugs of tobacco. One man had mule
with three shoes off and the fourth one
gathering. As he dismounted at the
blacksmith shop ne said to Smith:
Bill, want yer to look at that ere
mewl."
I'm lookin', Tom" was the COM
plaeent reply.
DO you reckon she'll pull through
the winters"
Bill picked up each foot. squinted at
it Ike a judge sizing up witness, and
pulling off the loose shoe with twist
he spat three times in the direction of
his anvil, cooked his hat anew, and
gravely remarked:
Tom, she can't possibly do it-no
how can't"
Shoe, Bilr'
Cant do it, for shore Nevis is
nevis If she was elephant she
might, but she's mewl. an an afore
spring them feet will wear of cl'ar up
TO the iints. Got to hev shoes on. Tom
''Shoo. That's what | reckon. Is
shoes cheaper
''Skeercely."
''Shoo! l heard they was. Kin We
make it 70 bits. BilIs
''Wuth that for iron, Tom. Six bits
ar the lowest"
Wall, dod rot her ole yaller hide,
I'll see about it afore night, If We hev
a niger, he wants clothes. an if We
hev z mewl. he wants shoes, an he'll
take 'ticuIar pains to kick agin every
rock he comes to. Its all wrong,
boys. an sometimes l feel like lettin'
myself loose and lickin' sumbody."
There were ten of Us in the store,
and / was listening to the story of a
Union man who guided party of ref
ugees over the mountains into Ken
lucky, when great CHATTER was heard
outdoors, and somebody said that old
Dick Trasker had '-arriv." Next mo-
ment he came in He was man fifty
eight years old six feet nigh, weighed
two hundred pounds and was the speci-
men bad man of the four counties. He
didn't look il. He had a smile on his
face, large blue eyes. and child would
have gone to him in preference to any
other man in the store But. If he
didn't look it he acted it. His first
movement was TO drink common tum-
bier even full of moonshine whisky.
As he sat the glass down he wiped his
mouth on the back of his hand. sur
veyed each one of Us in turn. and finally
growled:
A cursed mean day
were silent Old Dick was in ugly
mood. armed with knife and revolver.
and was evidently looking for victim.
Not another man was armed. and there
was the display of nerve which those
mountain men are noted for. Not a
man attempted TO fatter or conciliate.
Not a man attempted to sneak out
doors. They were helpless to a certain
extent but were as cool as icicles.
Old Dick called for and put down two
more drinks, and each one OF them large
enough TO befuddle weak man in five
minutes While he had his back 10 the |
crowd Jefers whispered to me.
Look out for him Ar We heeleds-
Yes, I have my revolver"
Then git the drop on him Plug
hia right through the head or heart-'
But Heavens. man. l can't shoot a |
person down that way. He hasn't even
spoken to me yet
Wall, keep yer eye on him and If he
makes move let him have it.
lbegan to figure began to add up
the wealth of the Astors, Fanderbilts,
Gonlds and EnicLer.hockers and fool