Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-15
TWAlN'S EMBARRASSING FIX.
What He Suffered for Forgetting thu
Face of an Old Friend.

Several years ago, while Mark Twain was col
lecting retrospective materials for his Life on
the Mississippi" he stopped one day at Arkan-
sas City. He had years before known the place
as Campbelrs Bend, and naturally had desire
to poke about unattended by persons who
would be likely to break in upon his musings;
So avoiding the committee that had been ap-
pointed to receive him, he wandered off into
the woods. He thought nothing of the distance
he was traversing. There was music among
the tree-tops, and flowers, rich in deep cooring,
perfumed the air, says the Arkdnsd,o IrdreJer.
After long walk he came to a cabin. and upon
entering found an old and tangle bearded man
sitting near the empty fireplace. The old fell
low glanced at Twain. and then, springing be-
tween the vi sitor and the door, snatched down
a gun, cooked it and said:
80 I've got you, have I?'
II don't understand vou!' Twain gasped
"Oh, no. reckon not. Err man never under
stands thing when he don't wanter Didn't
stop your steamboat down yander below the
bend the other day and steal six sheep that be-
onged to me, did you?"
Il will swear upon the honor of gentleman
that did not. 1 haven't been in this neigh
borhood before in twenty years."
''Set down thar" Twain obeyed. The old
man continued: 1T mout have been a good
while sense you was here before the other day,
but you got here just in time ter steal the
sheep, an I'm going to have your skelp. Hear
me?"
my dear sir, you are laboring under
frightful mistake. l never owned a sheep in
my life"
an mon that, nobody else amt apt to own
nary one whar you hang out. Yes. sab, come
right here an tuck my sheep, an ermong
them wuz er pet lamb that my little gran
daughter loves better'n she does her life, an
she amt slep er wink sense for cryin' about it.
Oh, you needn't blink, fur I'm goin' ter hold
you here till my little gal comes, and then
I'm goin' to blow yo' head off. 1t won't be
long TO she comes, eff you've got any pra'rs
that you reckon oughter be said, why, you bet
ter say EN-, that's ALL"
'My dear sir"
Don't dear sir me. I've got you, an I'm
goin' ter use you"
But how do you know that stole your
Sheep"
"You know how know it. You know that
jest ez soon ez you seed me er comm you
showed off, an mon that you know that when
Jumped In canoe an started ter paddle out
ter you, wy, you shot at me. You know all
that well enough"
"Yas, sab. var; that's erbout whut lowed.
but the boat pulled on away
A stick snapped outside. "Great heavensl"
Twain thought lis the girl coming?" No, it
was only calf. The expression on the old
fellows face grew harder. There was a cruel
twitching about the corners of his mouth
"Oh, don't you fret. she'll be here Directly"
"My friend" said Twain. with an effort to
be calm, ''if you will go with me over to Ar
kansaw City will prove to you that would
not steal sheep"
Il don't want no proof that comes from that
place. You tell lie, an them fellers over thar
would swar ter it. l see my little gal comm
through yander. Ez l said jest now, eff you've
got any pra'rs you want said, wy, reckon you
better say EN-"
"Would Won commit murder2n
"Would you steal Sheep"
''Surely not"
"Ah, ha, an sholy I wouldn't be committin'
murder by KILN SIGH er Teller ez you air. Don't
move now, for eff you do I'll drap you. Come,
quick, now, befo' the gal comes tell me eff you
know who did steal them sheep, that is eff you
didn't
Il think do" Twain quickly rejoined, and
then. remembering the name of steamboat
engineer whom he had known before the war,
he added, ''Jo Billings stole your sheep"
piled:
'Air you shore?"
II am certain"
WAS you on his boat at the timer"
"Yes, and tried to keep him from stealing
them, but could not"
will you help me find him2"
wall, then, scoot. Quick, befo' the gal
When Twain reached Arkansaw CITY he
found the perplexed and disappointed commit
tee. He was nervous and depressed. While he
said: OAo
mt. Clemens, you used to know 10 Billings,
didn't your"
Twain felt an uneasiness crawling over him.
"Yes, he replied.
There he is"
Twain looked around and started. The old
fellow who had held him in the cabin came
forward, snorted and then said:
"Sam, l oughter shot you fur not KNOWN
me, but reckon I've changed some. sheer
why, never had one in my life. Haw. haw'
Come, fellers, here's ter Sam an his erbilitv
ter still hedge on er truth"
A STREAM OF Hor AIR PROM UYpERoaousp
A curious phenomenon has been discovered in
the hills OF Dry Run, Ohio. by fire CLAW dig
ger. Tuesday he was digging and when about
or feet below the surface o stream of hot
air broke out Of the ground like spring. The
heat impaired Is sufficient to produce steam