Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-05-28
A PLAIN MAN.
CHAPTER ". ON rHn rRxHTTY RrvHR
Br J. B. surrLnn.

ON THn TRINITY RIVER
 The Gregorys settled down to the new life with great cheerfulness. About six miles distant was the little county town, with its weekly mail, small but very fierce weekly paper, three stores, a drinking saloon, gambling hell and about fifty residences. There was of course the usual complement of me chanics, and a cotton gin and grist mill In the vernacular of the country Lawsonville was a right sharp" town.
 It was great loafing resort, and on Saturdays hundreds of horses would be tied up to the racks and fences, and the owners of said horses would be busily engaged whittling sticks, chewing to- bacco, drinking whisky, gambling and talking politics. Of course, not all of them doing these things, but some of them at each of these engaging pursuits.
 Col. Gregory when in Georgia had not mingled much with the mixed mul. titudes who congregate in small coun- try towns, but in time 0 lack of com pany and a social disposition led him towards Lawsonville quite frequently, until finally it came to be a pretty reg ular thing for him to ride over Satur- day and spend half the day, at least. His kindly ways made him many friends, and the promptness with which he knocked down a bully who was dis posed to be offensive won him the re- spect of these people, who worshiped personal courage. His great stroke was made one day when a noted bully had attacked a smaller and weaker man; a crowd was standing around, but afraid to interfere where such desperado was concerned. Gregory came up just as the smaller man was beginning to be severely punished, and without stop ping to think rushed in and separated them. The desperado, Bill Nuckolls, had taken one or two drinks of vile whisky, which, with the conflict just interrupted, had fired him to the pitch of murder. With an oath he drew an ugly-looking bowie knife and rushed on Gregory, who had no weapon except Q stout cane in his hand. He had, how ever, lost none of the strength and vigor of his youth, when he had been the athlete of his regiment. So he held his ground until Nucl1olls was fairly within reach, when with a dexterous thrust he brought his stout hickory down upon Nuclsolls' right wrist with such force as to shatter the bone and send the knife flying many feet.
 The colonel walked away with great coolness and the defeated bully sat down and believed with rage and pain. From that day forward Gregory was the strongest man in the county.
 On the plantation big, roomy log house had been built, and with the aid of the furnishings from the old Georgia home had been made quite comfortable. The negro quarters had all been put in good shape, and Uncle Jim with his sturdy laborers had deadened the tim Der and planted hundred acres the first year, and was widening his bor- ders at great rate. The lands were very fertile, and Uncle Jim was in great spirits over the abundant crops.
 The boy, John Hewson, had dropped into a curious position about the place. A little room had been added to the house, as a special place for him, and this he had fitted up very snugly. He was the best rider, best hunter and best