The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-04-20

"A damned fool on the outside"
 "You know what mean. Who were you talkin' to when we came up7"
 "Talkin' to myself"
 "Well, you open this door or we'll break it down"
 "Look here, children, do you know whose door this is2"
 "No, and we don't care"
 "Well, you'd better This door is the prop erty of Tobias Patterson"
 "What! Is that you, maior?"
 "Yes, this is the old man, a-settin' under his own fig tree"
 "You say you arc alone, major2"
 "No, not alone, boys. was jest jokin' with you about that My wife is here with me-"
 "We arc sorry to have disturbed you"
 Not a tall. Goodbye. Turkey and patridges but 'possum lays over everything. Why, suh possum grease will cure all ailments of the stom- ach?"
 "Have they gone2" asked.
 "Who?"
 "Those men,"
 "Oh (with chuckle), they've been gone some time. Jest draw up your chair. Yes been gone some time They know that the major wouldn't tell lie. Eat, my son." he added becoming seri- ous. "They won't come back, for in the first place they believed what said, and in the second place they don't want row with me. Thar used to be fellers, my son, that thought they could run over Tobey, but Tobey's rule was always to make feller take off his boots before runnin' over him. How does the 'possum hit your"
 "l have never tasted better meat"
 "Look here, you air a smart man. Ought to be practicin' law right now. l tell you that when a man shakes off the vanity of this world and gets right down and acknow ledgcs that 'possum is the best meat, why he's got the judgment that ought to carry him right up to the supreme bench. Now here's piece that would make a saints jaws fly apart"
 The old man kept up an almost continuous talk during the meal, stopping only to chuckle to listen for the recurrence of some fancied noise out side. "Now," said he when the meal was RnisheSl, yOu pile right on to that bed there and go to sleep and it don't make difference how late you think it is, don't git up till tell you. Got to sleep if you expect to do any ythiDg in this world. If was gon' to be hung and had but two hours to live, I'd sleep one hour so I'd be in good shape to meet my engagement. Don't you be skit- tish a-tal now, but go right to sleep, for Pm gon to set around here-and let me tell you, my son. 1t is said all over Shellcut that man is never in any particular danger SO long he's Pattersons guest"
 soon fell to sleep, and when 1 awoke the was shining. The table was set and a cOffee-pot gurgled on the coas. The old major sat in a large rocking chair, made of hickory sapliDgs.
 Awake, eh2 Well, you may get up now, still you've got plenty of time, as it's only twelve o'clock by the sun and nearly that time by your watch Step right to the door and Pll pour a gourd of water you can wash. Been thinkin' about bringin' wash pan up here, but then in a place of this sort reckon it's better not to have any of the evidences of pride" He chuckled with a far-away sound, and, dipping water from large, green powder-can used a bucket, followed me to the door with the leaky gourd.
 "Has anybody been here7" asked, when we had sat down at the table.
 "Haven't seen a soul. My nearest neighbor lives right smart ja'nt away, and don't reckon thar's any visitors in the community that's got any par ticular business with me- I have been a. -thinkin' to the best place for you to go until this affair blows over, and have come to the conclusion that if was in your place I'd go way across the hills, cross the Cumberland river and engage board with some family that lives putty much 0uten the world. Change your name, and thar won't be much danger of you bein' found out"
 "A good plan, have no doubt," answered. "Yes, think so and, to see that you git out of this neighborhood all right, Pl ride with you till sundown. By ridin' putty much all night, you reach the river by mornin, and after yon cross