St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-01-05
WARNED AWAY.

VAIN Eli avail
A Memorable Night with . Mount
alneer's Family.
The Remarkable Coolness with which
They Receive the News Of Danger
Welcoming the 3Ildnight Wis
itoes with Cold Lead.
Late one afternoon in September +
reached the cabin OF John Hungerf0rd,
In the cove OF the kentucky mount
aims. The family consisted Of father.
mother and three small children. and
there were many comforts about the
place. Hungerford was an Industrious,
hard-working man, and one Of unusual
the wife and children were far above
the average. 1hey extended q royal
welcome. and we had been visiting
away for two hours when . woman
rode up on n mule. The beast was
badly blown and wet with perspira-
tion. and the woman must have come
with important news. Now was de-
veloped a trait peculiar to all the
Southern mountaineers. They are
game to a man-and woman. They
arc the coolest people in the face OF
danger one ever SAW.
'.Howdy, John?" queried the woman
as she drew rein ut the door, and as
Mrs. Hungerford appeared she added:
'.And howdy, Marys"
Both answered that they were we'll.
and John inquired:
''HOw are all yOu'uns, Sarah?"
..All able to dig. thankee. John"
''Corn an taters turnin' out well?"
''Reckon they be, what little we've
got, but barks and roots pays better.
Children chilling any this fall, Mary?"
mot bit. Sarah"
Haven't heard from them'uns, /
reckon?" queried Hungerford. after
long pause, during which the woman
tried to size me up.
..Mebbe. Who may he'un be?"
'.Stranger from the Moth"
..Sartin?'
I'm Shore"
"Will he back with ye (stand to your
back in case OF trouble)?"
Haven't mentioned. but reckon. :"
"Well. then. they'uns is coming up
tonight to put on the hickory"
"Hu! Who said it,"
Heard it at the corners. 1ts shore.
Bassett has got home. and he'un is
gwine to lead EN- Are ye prepared.
Jim?"
Reckon"
"And Mary?"
''She'un is prepared"
well, then. that's all I've, got to
say. Hope you'll hurt they'uns till
they'll behave themselves. Goodbye.
John-good-bye Mary"
She was OF with that. had dim
suspicion of what was meant, but the
coolness Of the trio puzzled me- When
che was out of sight down the rocky
road l asked:
'.Is it trouble?"
stranger. replied Hungerford. a.
he pulled a twig of bush and bit at
it. 1--we been warned away!"
'.How-why?"
Took sides with the Oldhams
against the Bassetts. and the Bassetts
have warned me to leave"
And as you have refused TO 60 they
are coming to take you out and switch
you?"
..Exactly-if they kin!"
And they are coming tonight"
Il reckon"
'.And you"
Il shall be ready"
We sat in silence for a moment.
looked up at Mrs. Hungerford, but shc
was sewing away and trotting her foot
as placidly as if danger was ut the
other end Of the world. The children
soon began a game Of tag. and the hus-
band softly whistled as he switched
the twig over the ground.
Great heavens. but you take it cool
ly!" l exclaimed. as ! noted every
thing.
Stranger. answered Hungerfcrd,
as he turned to me, Il need somebody
10 back with me tonight. This amt
your fuss. You don't know the Old
hams from the Bassetts. Deed you
may have stayed with an Oldham last
night You don't want to mix in, and
yet -"
Il don't want to kill or be killed.
but can't help you some other wayp"
You kin. He'un is all right Mary,
Iknow he'un was"
Glad ont" she briefly replied. not
even looking up from her knitting.
Hungerford took the whole matter
as ccolly as If it was an ordinary busi-
ness transaction. There was only one
way by which his cabin could be ap-
preached. Il was arranged that
should secrete myself In the cow-shed
on the one hand. and his wife in the
s,no.le-house on the other, and at the
proper moment this flank fire would
have it eject. Hungerford was to
hold the house, and ~ IVES the only