, 1889-05-28
A B

stance where, for a short time, such a resem-
blhnce seemed to battle tho inquisisvo eyes Of
old acquaintnnceS
It happened not long ngo to n friend Of
mino, n civil engineer in tho employment of a
great railway company, TO DO most avk-
wardly mistaken for n fugitive from tho
primitive Justice of n mountain district In
Arkansas His adventure was exciting and
full Of danger, and seems worth relating.
Conrad Hurting, though a young man, Is
one Of the most efficient engineers In tho EN-
ploy Of the NJ r. and p. Railway company.
He belongs 10 the locating corps" and his
work is in preliminary and locating
surveys Last winter he was sent alone
upon an important mission which required n
journey through the state of Arkansas, q
Journey not by rail In n Pullman sleeper, but
on horseback over three hundred miles OF
mountainous and swampy country, much Of IL
little better than n wilderness
The Missouri, Rio Grando and Pncinc dlrec-
tors, Jealous Of n competing line which was
building an extension pointing In that direc-
ton. determined to forestan IL In occupying
Arkansas territory, and Hurting WINS sent out
TO look over the ground In advance of n pre-
hmtnary survey. In fact, he WINS to mako a
sort of preliminary by the aid OF his eyes,
his powers Of gathering information from In.
habitants, n sectional map OF tho stato md
@1@A - NaA@A A9 IA ANl hIOll lit
to trace tho route and all prominent land
marks and water COURSES.
II was about tho LIST of December that ho
set out from tho mountain village of Ono,
where he had purchased n horso and saddle
for tho Journey. lie had nttired himself in n
rough corduroy suit, n broad brimmed white
hat and n pair of high top hunting boots. He
carried n revolver In n pocket Of his saddle
bags, which also contained his maps and
mar NTH ~, TO- q. -Nzu l
The first days travel led him into n wild
and picturesque region of tho Ozarks, n rough
country of rocky peaks and ridges, of deep
ravtncs and yawning gulches, tho homo of
not n few suspicious moonshiners, and, II re-
port were trustworthy, of some other char
actors still moro unpleasant to meet.
However, the young engineer WINS we'll on
his gunrd, no know tho characteristics of tho
inhabitants generally, and was usually pos
sessd Of tho lucky faculty OF making him
self "at homo with everybody" In other
words, Of winning tho strangers confidence.
Tho weather WINS fine. and for several days
the traveller found his lcisurely Journey pleas
mt and full Of interest. Tho few Inhabitants
with whom hemet and convcrsed on the road,
or at occasional cabins whore no put up for
the night or stopped for n meal, seemed well
disposed, and generally gavo him such infor-
nation as they had about the route he pro
posed TO take
Some of the moro Intelligent of them wero
very hospitablo upon learning his errand, and
eyinced much enthusiasm ut tho prospect of a
''shore nough railroad" and "cyars" running
past their very doors.
II knowed I'd SEQ n engine n-humpin' up
this valley some o. these yero days. said one
shrewd old farmer, "nn' that's les tho reason
why tuck m sot myself ON my family down
on this yero piooe O. lam wat | got pa'chelly
fenced, On ben alvin on hit ever senco tho
wah. Hit mir boun' ter be a vallcyable piece
O. propty, hit air."
Conrad passed an enjoyable evening at the
old mans cabin, where n large family of
~overgrown youths of both scxes sat with
thom about the fireplace conversing, after tho
first shyness had worn off, In their uncouth,
roundabout dialect.
For several days no pursued the route
marked out for him through tho valleys of
deep watercourses, through mountain passes
and over platoaus, or 'bcnch lands," and
without adventure of an unpleasant sort
Occasionally he met with surly or suspicious
mountaineers, h eyed him askant, md
spoke to him guardedly or not at all
But ON tho sixth morning, at q crock
crossing" no mot upon tho bank of tho
stream a lank, leather faced man, In coon
skin cap and leather legginss, bearing a long
rifle upon his shoulder, with a half dozen or
marc s1airro!s strung upon tho barrel. and
the lean hunter Stood, as he rode up, gaping
Mt him in uudisguised nmazement
Somewhat surprised at the hunters broad
stare, In which there seemed such extrnordi-
nary interest, Hurting drew rein and saluted
the gGzer.
"How dye dot" ho said pleasantly.
"Torble,n answered the hunter, with an
unpleasant grin "How air ycu-unsFn and
Conrad noted u look of cunning upon tho
lcathery face.
well" said tho engineer, "rm getting on
oil right, but III DO much Obliged to you'll II
you'll put inc on tho right trail on the other
side OF the creek there. see the road forks,
and | want TO so through Horrigan's gnp.n
Tho hunters grin became enormous as Con
finished.
WAL, Dave" said he, drawingly, 81
afnys knowed ye were right peart in ye
makin's up, but 20 CANT projeck ole Jake
outen the youst Nv is eyes reckon yedone
knowed which road air the best Ter ye ter
take afore ye coined nigh hyar."
$50 you take mo for somebody who's been
here before, hit" said Hurting. "Well, my
good man, you're of in tho matter of eyesicht
for once in your life. I've never been hero
before. and an very certain l never saw
your fnce."
The old man grunted half angrily, Don't
ye DO lettin' On ter DO q plumb fool, Davel
Ye nnchelly CANT 'possum noways with me.
done knowed ye comm away up the rise
yander."
This was rather e-aspernting, but the strar-
ger bore it with outward patience, at least,
and again denying his identity with that OF
Dave whoever the individual might be,
he dismounted, opened his ddle bags, took
out his maps and explained the purpose OF
his GRAND through tho country.
Tn old nan looked and listened, still In.
credulouA
Y don't talk exactly like Dave, en- yc hos
rz a beard" was the only admission tho en-.
gineer could get out of him He refused, in
fact, to talk, believing that "Davcn was try
ing to play a trick On him, and aftor point
ing out-ratherr eluctantly-the road to Hor.
riganis Gap, the old hunter started or, shak.
ing his head
Hurting was not q little disturbed by thi