Arizona republican., 1893-01-08
PEDDLER'S PERIL.

The sun sank Dehlnu the western
aonptain peaks, and the short twilight
,ortbern ATTITUDES came on apace.
s,.r time the man of the house came
lie was tall and thin. Two ferret
H. ewes cleaned sharply upon the ped
r,r from amid a shaggy tangle of white
lair and beard
Ve nIaced his long rifle in rack over
No door, unslung his shot pouch and
on seated himself and gazed gloomily
70 the fire, without vouchsafing either
erecting to the stranger or word to
own family. Nan, passing by, whis-
bered to the peddler;
"Don't We mind uncle; he's got one of
is had spells on now, but if he amt
bothered it'll pass off by and by"
The pedd!er nodded, and began a tale
eorcerning one of his adventures in
r. He was soon interrupted by
Aunt Whey.
IN "Sit up, stranger" said she, eve
aaipt rot much to eat, but such as II is
sou're welcome.
The old man ate his supper in solemn
.;,encp. after which he took his hat and
bruptly left the cabin. Aunt Whey
Ataw fit to explain.
"Mose, my old man, hain't been ex-
.ctly like hisself since the revenoo men
farried his son John off five year ago
last April.
"'SulHn spose:'
ayes. nd top Of that he shot one Of
n lem while they were tryin to take him,
hid they put him in pen'tensh'ry at
3NashyiIlef5r ten year. -
II The peddler remained silent for mo-
,nent or two. But when the dishes were
washed and put away he again enter
,taincd the two women by relating sun
tdrv "reminiscences of his own career, and
3also describing the wonders of certain
n great cities he had visited.
4 After awhile Nose again stalked' ST.
3lentlv in and took seat in a far corner.
aWhile the peddler talked he continued
to eve him closely, as if suspicious that
the stranger was not just what he
should be,
"Speakin Of the telephone" continued
the peddler, "some folks in these noun
4 tains don't believe that people can talk
to each other, nd them hundred or
more miles apart, but tell ye it's fact.
I've seed it done myself"
I've knowed Of men hollerin across
from one mountain to another said
Aunt Whey obviously. 'Mebbe they
could make themselves heard a matter
Of two miles. But a hundred she
shook her head disapprovingly.
ITS so all the same, though. " sot
nd heard 'em talkin JUS as we be now"
That's as big lie as ever was told"
exclaimed old Nose, rising and making
for the door.
He seized his rife as he passed, threw
ameuaciug glance at the peddler and
once more left the cabin.
odd mans little touched in the
head, amt hc:' asked the peddler, who
seemed to take no ofTense whatever at
the old mans rude behavior.
Ever since John was took off he's had
queer spells that come over him every
now and then. | must say he's more'n
apt TO be 'spishus Of strangers when they
come around. He's always thinkin Of
reyenOO spies | dessay that's what
makes him act so toward you. But you
mustn't mind him. never knOw'd him
TO succeed in hurtin any one yet"
1t was Nan who replied, for Aunt vi
ney was making preparations to retire
ior the night. When the girl and the
peddIer were left alone the latter seemed
somewhat curious about this son John,
VINO Tor so many years had been under
the ban Of the law.
John was always good to Uncle Nose
and Aunt Whey, nd that's one reason
Uncle Nose takes it all 50 hard now"
Il spose, bein as you're kin to 'em,
you must a felt powerful bad when
they took him Off"
lie eyed Nan closely as he spoke, and
go "A''-llCh ollSuNlJ.
Il amt no real kin to EN-" said She
MY folks is all dead, nd they raised
NE from little gal, but John nd me
was always good friends"
"Nothin moreY"
4he girl looked at him reprovingly.
ITS about bedtime" said she coldly.
onan I Ishowyou were you're to sleepY
Inc peddler rose, took up his pack and
1nolIowed her into the little shed room.
Inere was an open window by the bed,
through which the full moon was shin
ing.
You won't need no light, reckon"
sue remarked. Then, bidding him good
u'ght, she returned to the main cabin
anu went to bed herself.
Out Tor some reason she failed to
s9Ieep' The bright moonlight, the rasp-
.ns cry Of katydids from the trees with
y. Uu' ana the discomforting nature of her
thoughts kept her awake. She felt
W vp,SSue!y uneasy about Uncle Nose.
mere was he? Very likely at the little
4 I, still up Bear hollow, half a
mt1e away. He often spent the night
.uere engaged in his illicit toll. She re-
- his unfriendly treatment of
we oao Peddler, whose heavy breathing
rouiu now be heard through the thin