The Press., 1891-06-18
BILLKINNY, OF DRY FORK

BILL KENNY, OF DRY FORK
 Bill Kinny, of Dry Fork, killed prom inent man of the community, and the authorities, after some little medita- tion, decided that he ought to be arrest ed. But Bill objected, and when three deputy sheriffs called on him he laid a Winchester rifle across one corner of his homestead, killed one of the deputies and so painfully wounded the other two that they strolled back to the Shady Grove court house. Several days later, while Bill was sitting in front of his door, Mark Townsend, the sheriff in chief, walked up to the fence and lazily placed his arms on the top rail. Bill reached back and took up hls rife.
 Good mornin', Bill" f=r~.
 "Hi, Mark" L.s..
 ''Had a good bit of frost last night"
 'Yas, ruther. Which way you trav- elin', Mark?"
 ''Oh, no way in particular. Lowed you mout be lonesome, an thought I'd drap over and talk with you while. Don't make no difference how lively a feller is he's apt to get lonesome once in a while, specially this time of the year ,
 ''I reckon that's true," Bill repliy6 "Some fellers come out here the other day, and one of them got so lonesome that he just natchully had to lay down.
 ''So I hearn,' said the sheriff. '.By the way" he added, "them fellers that you speak about wanted you to go to Shady Grove with them, didn't they?"
 "Yas, they lowed that jedge down thar wanted to make my acquaint- ance."
 You don't say so!' exclaimed the sheriff. Wy, the jedge is mighty big man, an I'd think you'd like to meet him, Bill"
 II would, but you see I ain't in so ciety this year,.
 '.sorter retired, air you?"
 "Yas, thought was a-gettin' leetle too old fur the bright foolishness an val Ter trimmins of this here life"
 ''Yes, that mont be-" the sheriff re. piled. "A feller does withdraw might. fly as he gets along in age: but, say, the jedge is friend of mine an I want you 1 to meet him."
 "No. I'm obleeged to you. I never hankered after these here fellers that pride themselves on their book larnin. 3 "I don't exactly crave them" the sheriff rejoined, "walloping" his tobaccc about in his mouth, "but still I think we ought to meet them once in a while. | But say. Bill, there's man down at Shady Grove that I do want you te meet"
 "Who is hep
 "Sam Powers"
 "He's the jailor, ain't he?' r- "Yes, an the best one you ever seen. ,
 ''So they say," Bill replied, fonding his rife. ''In fact, them fellers that was here the other day wanted me tc meet him." .. "So hearn,' said the sheriff; "but lowed that mebby they didn't extend the invertation in soft and gentle enough way"
 "Oh, didn't have no fault to find with the invertation. jest didn't wanter go an sorter pulled back little, am then one of them laid down an the other two limped nightly"
 ''So hearn, said the sheriff. 'sStill I thought there mout be a easier an smoother way of putin the invertation. Gentleness always pays. You can some. times lead a man with string of beads when you couldn't drive him with 8 hoop pole. You recollec old Wash Bowles, that was once the sheriff of this county, don't you?'
 Mighty we'll"
 "Ah, ha! Well, that old feller had more gentleness and consideration fo1 the feelins of other folks than any mar I ever seen. One time he had to hang a feller named Brice, an Brice sorte1 kicked against it, bein' feller that was hard to please anyhow, so Wash, in that soft way of hisn, stepped pp to put on the rope, an says, 'Brice, you'll please excuse me, but I'll not detain you but a moment So thought that if I'd come here today with strong consideration an smooth gentleness you mout accept the while with him." 1
 "No, Pm obleeged to you. I don't care about goin' today. I've got to gc over the ridge an whip feller tomor Ter, an if I don't do it Pm afeered he mout be disappointed. We'll, now Mark" he added, "ef you ain't got nc l further business with me reckon you'd better be shovin' along"
 l s'But I have got some further busi- ness with you, Bill. I want you to go with me an see the jailer."
 "Wall, Iaint goin'."
 'sI lowed you would, Bill"
 "You don't say so."
 "Yas, an want you to go with me- '
 "How many men did you bring with you?'
 ''None at all, but you air a-goin'."
 "Mebbe; after all these here cartridges is shot off"
 "No, thought you would go with me without having to waste any of the cartridges. You know the price of brass an powder hay rig mighty of late. 3
 "Oh, now here, Mark, I don't care nothin' for expenses. I don't mind shootin' few balls into fe1lg~that wants to put me in jail and afterward hang me-" &-r
 ''I am glad you ain't stingy, Bill. Some of the boys over at the store said that you was mighty economical, but Pm glad to see you ain't. It hurts a man nightly, you know, to have it norated around that he is close"
 'I know that, Mark, and I'm allus tryin' hard to keep that charge from bein' flung agin my reputation" l -. L.