Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-14
WARNING" "

<A 1A4<4N l. ~ ON w 4AAt4 49, M
Late one afternoon in September /
reached the cabin Of John Hungerford,
in a cove Of the Kentucky mountains.
The family consisted of father, mother
and three small children, and there were
many comforts about the place. Hun
gerford was an Industrious, hard work
ing man, and one of unusual alintelligence
for mountaineer, and the wife and
children were far above the average.
They extended right royal welcome,
and we had been visiting away for two
hours when woman rode up on mule.
The beast was badly blown and wet with
I,;ssiisf;;a I;ssiisf t.;;e.. and the woman must have
come with important news. Now was
developed trait peculiar to all the
southern mountaineers. They are game
to man-and woman. They are the
coolest people in the face of danger one
ever saw.
"Howdy, John?" queried the woman
as she drew rein at the door, and as Mrs.
Hungerford appeared she added, ''And
howdy, Mary?'
Both answered that they were well,
and John inquired:
"How are all you'uns, Sarah."
"An able to dig. thankee, John"
"Corn an taters turnin' out wellf"
Reckon they be, what little we've
got, but barks and roots pays better.
Chilling any this fall, Mary?"
''Not bit, Sarah"
Haven't heard from them uns,
reckon" queried Hungerford after
long pause, during which the woman
tried to size me up.
''Mebbe Who may he'un bea'
Stranger from the MOTH
-'sSartin2"
tiTm shore"
"Will he back with ye-stand to your
back in case of troubleY"
Haven't mentioned, but reckon"
'sWell. then, they'uns is coming up to-
might to put on the hickory"
Hui Who said it,"
Heard it at the corners. It's shore.
Bassett is gwine to lead em. Are ye pre-
pared, Jim3'
Reckon"
''And Nary"
@'She'un is prepared"
s'Well, then, that's all I've got to say.
Hope you'll hurt they'uns till they'll be-
have themselves. Good-by, John-good-
by, Mary"
She was off with that. I had dim
suspicion of what was meant, but the
GOODNESS Of tho trio puzzled me. When
she was out of sight asked:
SIS it troubled"
Stranger" replied Hungerford, as he
pulled a twig off a bush and bit at it,
S'rve been warned awayl"
''How-whyT'
"Took sides with the Oldhams against
the Bassetts, and the Bassetts have
warned me to leave"
'And as you have refused to go they
are coming to take you out and switch
your"
'Exactly-if they kinr'
land are they coming tonight"
81 reckon
-''And you?"-
IL shell be ready"
We sat in silence for moment. |
looked up at Mrs. Hungerford, but she
was sewing away and trotting her foot
as placidly as if danger was at the other
end of the world. The children soon
began game of tag, and the husband
softly whistled as he switched the twig
over the ground.
"Great heavens! but you take it cool
iy," exclaimed as noted everything.
Stranger" answered Hungerford as
he turned to me, 81 need somebody to
back with me tonight. This amt your
fuss You don't know the Oldhams
from the Bassetts. Deed you may have
stayed with an Oldham last night. You
don't wsat to mix in, and yeti
81 don't want to kill or be killed, but
can't help you some other way?"
"You kin. He'un is all right Mary,
I knew he'un was"
-'Glad ont" she briefly replied, not
even looking up from her knitting.
Hungerford took the whole matter as
coolly as if it was an ordinary business
transaction. There was only one way
by which his cabin could be approached
1t was arranged that l should secrete
myself in the cowshed on the one hand,
and his wife in the smoke house on the
other, and at the proper moment this
flank fire would have its effect.
Hungerfor1 was to hold the house, and
she was the only one who was co shoot to
kill. AS he said it wasn't my fuss. but
lit wasn't human nature to leave him to
tight mob alone. When all had been
arranged we went into supper, and after
the meal double barreled shotgun was
got down and loaded for the wife. The
husband had his army musket, which he
loaded with buckshot, and had my re-
volver as weapon. AS we finished our
preparations and sat down on the door
step the wife carelessly inquired of he1
husband
'sGwine to shoot to kill, JohnT
1'Reckon orter," he replied.