San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-04-19
A RESEMBLANCE.

|
blance seemed to battle the inquisitive eyes of
old acquaintance.
1t happened not long ago to a friend of
mine, civil engineer in the employment of a
great railway company, to be most awk-
waTdly mistaken for fugitive from the
primitive justice of a mountain district in
ArkanssA His adventure was exciting and
full Of danger, and seems worth relating.
Conrad Hurting, though young man, is
one Of the most efficient engineers in the en-
ploy Of the NJ r. and P Railway company.
He belongs to the locating CORPS" and his
work Is in "preliminary" and locating
surveys" Last winter he was sent alone
upon an important mission which required
tourney through the state of Arkansas, a
tourney not by rail in Pullman sleeper, but
ON horseback over three hundred miles OF
mountainous and swampy country, much of it
little better than wilderness
Ths Missouri, Rio Grande and Pacific direc-
tors, jealous Of a competing line which was
building an extension pointing in that direc
ton, determined to forestall it in occupying
Arkansas territory, and Hurting was sent out
to look over the ground in advance of pre-
liminary survey. In fact, he was to make
sort of preliminary" by the aid of his eyes,
his powers Of gathering information from in
habitants, q sectional map of the state and
certain charts which he carried upon which
to trace the route and all prominent land
marks and water courses.
It was about the LIST of December that he
set out from the mountain village Of Ozo,
where he had purchased a horse and saddle
for the journey. He had attired himself in a
rough corduroy suit, broad brimmed white
hat and a pair of high top hunting boots, He
carried a revolver in pocket of his saddle
bags, which also contained his maps and
papers, with room for a noon lunch.
The first days travel led him into wild
and picturesque region Of the Ozarks, rough
country of rocky peaks and ridges, Of deep
ravines and yawning gulches, the home Of
not few suspicious moonshiners, and, if re-
port were trustworthy, Of some other char
acters still more unpleasant to meet.
However, the young engineer was well on
his guard be knew the characteristics Of the
inhabitants generally, and was usually pos
sessed Of the lucky faculty of making him
self lat home with everybody" in other
words, of winning the strangers confidence.
The weather was fine, and for several days
the traveller found his leisurely journey pleas
ant and full of interest The few inhabitants
with whom he met and conversed on the road,
or at occasional cabins where he put up for
the night or stopped for meal, seemed well
disposed, and generally gave him such infor-
nation as they had about the route he pro
| posed to take.
Some Of the more intelligent Of them were
very hospitable upon learning his errand, and
| evincod much enthusiasm at the prospect Of a
"shoTe 'nough railroad" and "cyars" running
past their very doors,
Il knowed Id see a engine a-humpin' up
this valley some O. these yere days" said one
| shrewd old farmer, IAN that's jes' the reason
| why tuck n sot myself en- my family down
on this yere piece O. Ian wat | got pachelly
fenced, en- ben alvin on hit ever sence the
J wah Hit air boun' ter be valleyable piece
o. prop'ty, hit air."
| Conrad passed an enjoyable evening at the
| old mans cabin, where a large family of
overgTown youths Of both sexes sat with
them about the fireplace conversing, after the
first shyness had worn of. in their uncouth,
roundabout dialect.
For several days he pursued the route
marked out for him through the valleys of
deep watercourses, through mountain passes
| and over plGteaus, or bench lands" and
without adventure of an unpleasant sort.
Occasionally he met with surly or suspicious
mountaineers, who eyed him askant, and
spoke to him guardedly or not at all
But on the sixth morning, at a creek
crossing" he met upon the bank of the
stream q lank, leather faced man, in coon
skin cap and leather leggings, bearing long
rifle upon his shoulder, with half dozen or
more squirrels strung upon the barrel, and
the lean hunter stood, as he rode up, gaping
at him in undisguised amazement.
Somewhat surprised at the hunters broad
stare, in which there seemed such extraordi-
nary interest, Hurting drew rein and saluted
the gazer.
"How dye doT' he said pleasantly.
"Tol'ble,g answered the hunter, with an
unpleasant grin. "How air you-unsw and
Conrad noted look of cunning upon the
leathery face.
"Wel," said the engineer, "I'm getting on
all right, but III be much obliged to you If
, you'll put me on the right trail on the other
side Of the creek there. 1 see the road forks
and want to 90 through Horrigan's gap"
The hunters grin became enormous as Con
finished.
"Waal, Dave" said he, drawingly, 81
z al'ays kuowed ye were right peart in u
: makin'a up but ye CANT projeck ole JAKE
r outen the youst Nv is eyes. reckon yedont
d knOwed which road air the best fer ye tel
take afore ye coined nigh hyar."
80 you take me for somebody who's beer
here before, ehF' said Hurting. well, MI
good man, you re Off in the matter Of eyesigh
l for onco in your life, I've never been here
II before, and am very certain | never saw
Y your face"
g The old man grunted half angrily: Don
r ye DO lettin' on ter be a plumb fool, De- =
! Ye nachelly CANT 'rSsyrlan unvvavss With ma