The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-02-16


rank of second lieutenant hence his present title of
major.
81 want you TO make yourself at home, here
sub" he said when he had conducted me to nv
room. "This country is something of a boom
at present, he added, when he had placed lighted
candle the bureau. Coming out of the kinks
very peartly, sub. Did you come with the idea of
locating among us?"
When had planned that | was going out to
the Osbury farm, he said
"Ah, | know the old colonel mighty well
Smart, sab; smart as q whip. lie can turn his hand
10 anything. Tell you what he done Took a
notion some time ago that he would write. Pitched
in and done ii like FASH
successfully" | asked.
"IIe did, and nothing shorter, sub. He showed
me what he had wrote one day, and wush may
die dead eff | couldn't read il mighty nigh all
without my specks. Oh, tell YOU what's a fack
Osbury is remarkable man. Well, he's got
chance to be. Got fust- rate farm and money out
at intrust, | reckon So you're going out there?
Sorter kin to the old man, mebbe"
mo, am not related TO him"
"Iteckon you air some printer that has come
after his writin. Well, you'll find him mighty
'commodatin man. The local option people have
sorter got this town by the horns. Don't reckon
you've got a bottle with you" lie snuflcd the
candle, grinned at his reflection in the looking
glass of the bureau, grinned at me- broke out into
sort OF wheezy laugh, sort of damaged chuckle,
and then said If you've got bottle you neenter
be ateerd To pull il out where am. The Lawd in
heaven KNOWS That L wouldn't report YOU, he
impressively added when | assured him that had
no bottle.
Early the next morning the major came TO my
room, and with another one Of his damaged
chuckes told me that he had secured bottle after
long persuasion with an old fellow who had come
in town to serve as iuryman. lie made no refer
ence to whisky brandy, If such broadness of
speech in i'll comport with his established
delicacy OF expression but seemed to think that the
mere mention of "bottle" should give entire satis-
hen | IN at | had
the use OF intoxicating liquors, he drew his hand
across his face as if he would wipe off disap-
pointed preston of countenance, and said
"Well, if that's the case | reckon the best thing
you can do is TO come down and eat q snack"
After breakfast | asked the major il he could
send me out to the Osbury farm. BLESS your lite"
said he, with an air of regret, 81 don't see how
can. If had knowed yesterday mornin that you
was comm, could have send you out on my buck
board, but hired it out to a land hunter"
There's livery stable N town, suppose"
Ulster be one here-one of the best in the coun-
try-Owned by gentleman named Dobbins. Had
bay team that would have suited to II Them
bays could trot tell YOU Bought them from old
Anthony Philpott when he sold out to go 10 Texas
in seventy -One. Got them at a bargain, tell YOU
Stable burned down about two years ago, and the
bays got burned, along with Dobbins' brother and
a young Teller named Hanks that was asleep on the
hay. Dobbins never did git over the loss. Sence
then he has been town marshal. well, sab, ;" he
added, with another chuckle, "it's the nachulest
thing in the world Tor after he's been in the
livery stable business TO run for town marshal and
he's elected mighty nigh ever time. If you want
to see If you ken git team I'll go round town
with you"
81 have about decided to walk" replied
"Well, now, that amt bad idee. You'll find
good deal along the road that's inerestn' to man
that likes nature and good artickle of spring
water. The pike runs all the way to Osbury's and
stops little beyant there at the foot of the ridge
Ever now and then, before you git there, you'll
think the pike is goin to be stopped by the spurs
of the ridge and knobs that air scattered around
but keep on and you'll find that the pike winds
around somehow. Wush | had nothin' to do, for
I'd like TO go with you, but you Pm kept on
the jump here all the time"
so much attracted the attention of the villagers