Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-08-02
THE FEUD ENDED.

OIQ JAKE Miller ana OlQ haQ Blank
ership were two of the most promi
nent citizens of Magoffin county,
eastern Kentucky. Old Jake was
more prominent than popular. He
was a money lender. For the sec
ton of the country where he lived
he constituted the financial center
Poor men who were compelled Ito
make the most of a little money
could get it from old Jake, but the
conditions would make them writhe
and groan much before they could
be brought to submit to them. A 25
per cent interest was always exact
ed, and it must be secured by a
cruel "cutthroat mortgage
Strange to say, he posed as a great
philanthropist and would often de-
clare in the most public manner that
''he didn't know what would become
of the country if it wasn't for him. >
AS it was, he often assisted poor fel
lows to pay the taxes of their little
homes for a year or two, and later,
to save all further complication, had
them assessed in his own name. He
was mighty rich," but he didn't
feel himself too good to mingle with
his unfortunate fellows.
Often at Thompson's store he
would sit, the center of worship
ing group, and tell in a condescend-
ing manner how he had made every
dollar he had hisself, and that early
in his career he had worked for a
bit a day"-less than half what he
now paid good hands. His boast.
conjoined with sundry and copious
drafts of fierce, white ''moonshine, "
would tend to temporarily blow up
the embers of hope in the dull brains
of the fiattered, sycophantic listeners.
Each would resolve to emulate the
great man, and the resolutions would
last as long as the Frightening ef
fects of the drains.
Old Rad Blankership was popular
as well as prominent. There were
numbers of men who would lay off
their coats and roll up their sleeves
to defend old Rad against a tongue
of SANDER. He was man for whom
numbers would willingly get up 'at
the hour of midnight" and expose
themselves without a thought OF
compensation. He was a whole
souled, bully, good ole feller." In
brief, he was the leading "moon
sinner" of the section. By his kind
heart he had won enough friends to
enable him to laugh in scorn at all
attempts of the deputy marshals to
capture him or destroy his property.
"ThaI never wuz a better ole
man." said Tom Latimer, with af-
fection in his tones. II never go ter
him fer a drink, money or no mon
ey, without gettin it. spent $40 at
his still last week, an when l went
ter leave, all broke up an busted, he
give me a big gourdful ter drink
afore l started an quart bottle full
besides to take home. I'm goin back
ag'in iist as soon as my next pension
check comes. He knows how ter
treat er man white, he does.
1t is needless to state that old Jake
and old Rad got about all the money
that filtered into that section. They
were therefore enabled to live in ex-
cellent style and educate their Chill
dren. Old RaA had a daughter.
Frances, whose beauty gave JOY to
the ewes and despair to the hearts OF
all thu young men of the county.
From the time she was IA young
pumpkins began to array themselves
in the most striking rural hnery-all
for her sake. To attract her eye
new boots with brilliant yellow or
red tops were worn.
Well oiled heads were set OF with
new white hats, the crowns encircled
by yellow cords. For her sake crowds
would collect at the meeting house
doors when shed go in or out, and
many, many smart things" would
be said by said crowds that she
might hear and by hearing admire.
Many threats would be made by said
pumpkins to the effect that each in
tended at no distant date TO ''back
up to her" and ''see her home" But
all action in the matter was post
poned from day to day and from
year TO year The little beauty was
not of their kind. This they instinc
lively understood They knew when
they would look at the matter in the
proper light that il was ridiculous
the idea that either could ever hope
10 win her. Every curve Of the face
and figure, every movement, every
word, every tone and every look-aii
proclaimed her superiority 20 the
herd Of uncouth. ilhterate young
Sters around her .