The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1892-03-11
A TRAVELLING LIAR.

One afternoon in September, as was
toiling over rocky trail in the Smoky
mountains, which range of the Blue Ridge
separates Tennessee and North Carolina
for many miles. girl about ID years of
age, bareheaded barefooted, and having
on a single garment made of cheap stuff,
suddenly jumped into the road few feet
ahead of me. fell down, rolled over, lost
her hold ON a bundle of roots and barks
and was up and off like a shot. She
passed nc without seeming to see me,
and next minute bear came rolling out
of the bushes upon the spot she
bad covered | had a big revolver,
and had it handy, and bruin was dead
before he could suspect how my hair stood
on end and my legs wabbled. He wasn't
& fteen feet away. and he looked as big as
yearlng calf, and even if | did shoot
with nv eyes shut he would have been
ashamed of me if had failed to kill him
with six bullets lie was kicking his last
when the girl came back, regarded him
with bulging eyes for a moment, and then
said:
"Lordyl but thought was goner.
Who be you un?'
"Oh, i happened along here. Why
cldn't you screamY"
Couldn't. hadn't wind 'nulf."
GLOW far did he chase your
"a right smart.
"Wcll, who arc your"
"Susan. Come up to the house"
She picked up the lost bundle and
started on ahead. and n quarter of mile
Above we came to a cove and the newt
able mountaincers cabin Tho cove was
the same-cabin the same-surroundings
In g. 81 a.,
gaunt. miserably dressed woman stood in
the door, two children rolled on the
ground. and big dog slouched out of the
cabin and growled lercely at the approach
/ of a stranger Susan lcd me straight 20
the door. and as we halted on the thresh
old she exclaimed:
Bar was chasin' me. He un killed it
with his pepper.
As soon as the matter was understood
the three of us went back. made litter,
and after n hard tug got the bear to the
cabin. We had just arrived when the
husband came homs, having been off on Il
hunt, and the girl braced up, got u rest
for her back against the house, and told
the story as follows:
Got my roots tied up. Bar cum for
me- Took O run Met he un. He'un
never run tall Heard him shoot-popl
popl popl Went back Bar was dead.
Told he 'un to come up and see we 'uns.
Gin him yer paw. pap
Stranger" said the man as he came
over to me with outstretched hand put
it tharl Reckon you saved that gal s
life fur suah. Nam, give him yer paw"
"lzo thankful, shore am, she said as
we shook hands
wanted to 30 five miles further up the
trail, to Uncle Joe Billings place, but
there was a general protest on the in
slant, and the mountaineer exclaimed:
Stranger, do you un think we 'uns ar
heathens? Yves pore and forlorn an
shuckless but wc's got feelings. You've
got to stop right yere till tomorrow"
Deed he hasl" added the wife. mo.
body as saves our Suse from q bar is
gwine to walk of like that.
II thought | was dun gone when
heard him 60 popl popl popl" said Susan,
IAN the bar fell down in heap.
Then there came a period Of silence
with every one looking full at me.
knew what was coming. 1t had come Q
dozen times in q fortnight The man was
uneasy, while the vito looked puzzled
BY and by the husband hesitatingly
! began:
"Stranger, we 'rns is thankful to you
uuS Oub-Dtb --
1T don't mako no difference, sayl' ex
claimed Susan.
Yes, her do, replied the father as h
pulled a piece Of bark from the log
Stranger we 'uns want to know if
if
/ He couldn't get It ont.
you want to know what I'm doing
! here, suggested.
That's it,.
"Well, I'm travelling for health ana t.
] see how you people live.
i "Whar' fromY'
: michigan
"Then you 'un is q YonkP"
Eyes
"And you cit into the wara"
. eyes"
, "And you walloped us?"
S eyes"
f "And you haint no spyr'
: Never
stranger. believe you'll Put it thar
Nobody who lit into the war would b
mean nuiT 20 come spyin'. Jist feel RICH
e to home. All we've got belongs TO you.
; In the evening thrce or four mountain
), GERS dropped in. ono of whom was occor
! panied by his wife. The women use
o their snuff sticks. tho men lighted thei
5, pipes. and as q starter the host turned {
mo with:
Stranger. vhar' is that MichiganH"