The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-22

right here in Grafton for the present. Get
a good nights rest, put on your roustabout
buds and sail ill.,"
Such were the instructions received
one night after cordial greeting. upon my
arrival at hotel IN Grafton. w. Va. from
my employer, who had written me to join
him at that place. He was middie-aged,
Btocky- built man. dressed In suit of loose
fitting, pepper-and-salt mix. with clean
Bhaven face and pair of grey eyes that
usually wore an expression of Kindness. In
fact. his whole appearance. to casual OBJ
server, was that of q we'll contented. we'll
to-do man. happy with his lot in life and at
peace with the whole world.
Now, it may seem strange, without
further Introductory reference. that he
should give such instructions TO a young
chap going on a perfectly peaceful and law
full mission as looking for tan-bark and
hoop-poles But every word be said was of
the greatest value to me, and to the success
ofthe enterprise was to engage in.
The kind. benevolent-looking old chap
was none other than the famous Joe War
rem. an internal revenue officer, whose
name became terror to the Illicit distill-
the hills and mountainous regions along
the borders of West Virginia and Mary land.
AS for my self, well, was young chap,
it Is true scarce twenty two years old. yet
was not brought up In hot-house. but In
the changeable climate OF different latl-
tudes | was stout, WHY, and 11eet OF loot
and flattered myself that possessed lib.
eral amount of that quality called nerve"
but never mind that now. Suffice it to sey
that when / received instructions from
Warren 10 meet him In Grafton one day
late in the fall of year, L surmised
what was up. and the first train
out of Wheeling found me passenger.
mentally resolving that L would dIstin-
guish myself If old Joe started me out
again with half chance. / hoped he
would detail me by myself on some mis-
sion. or with, at least q very few. so that
could have achance to realize my ambition.
was very much elated. indeed. when he
gave me his instructions, and i said 10
yself. as went to my room for the night.
That 1 would show old Joe that If i were
"a mere stripping" as he called me. was
a"whole show and hand-organ" within
myself.
Next morning met Joe down stairs He
greeted me pleasantly, and, turning to the
landlord. and a few others. told them was
his young nephew. a stripping. whom he
brought from school to tramp around
for him q bit. he was a little
lame from rheumatism. This was the first
intimation / had that that he limped
or carried cane, out every BODY
seemed satisfied. and soon OLD Joe and /
were quietly strolling towards the out
skirts of the city. lie gave me few final
instructions and we parted, for the hills
and ravines, or runs-as they are called
down there, and old Joe limping back TO
town.
Dressed in coarse suit of brown cordu-
roy. somewhat worn. heavy stOgy boots
and soft felt hat. l plunged into the hills.
climbing over, trsmping around by some
little path, but hills hills and deep gorges
all around. On plOdded. with no definite
stopping place. depending entirely on
chance TO bring me mp somewhere. and car
ing little, Just so ! could have adventure OF
some sort. something exciting.
About sunset that evening L met, be-
iieve, the homellest woman ever saw. She
was accompanied by two children and
three or four lean lank hounds. She was
tall, hOllow-eyed, that is one of her eyes
was, the other was missing but out of her
one eye she stared at me with look half
wonder. half fright and half starved ex-
preston, while the children peered from
behind her TO see what manner of man had
invaded the almost perfect solitude of that
region. i began the conversation by ask
ing her If she lived near there and was her
husband az home. She liked the gaze of
her one eye on me steadily, but made no re-
Spouse. standing still a statue and hold
ing q long-bladed butcher knife in her
hand. which she had been using In her
Thinking she might be defective in hear
ing as we'll as in. eye-sight, | raised my
voice and repeated the question in a differ
ent form.
where Will be likely to find your hus-
band. ma0am"
She began to open her mouth. drew
back step or two. ana then there came
forth long drawi, so peculiar TO the
mountaineers:
BE We lookin for BenP
'Suppoeing Ben" WAS the happy mortal
who could lawfully claim her his wife, 1
replied that was.
wall. ye cgupt see 'im" she replied
"Leastwise not In these diggins."
The gentleman IS not Mt home, then. at
present" yentured.
WALL. scaselv" t9iving one of the hounds
kick) ben dead two gears"
Too oad." replied. Left you with
those two little ones. | suppose!'
Had to-" was the laconic reply.
Are there other gentlemen at your
housed" asked, trying to keep q sober
countenance.
Nav"
"Whers will find a mani" asked, grow
ing somewhat desperate.
Over on Little Wildcat.
Over the hill. l presumed said, point
Ing on ahead. To which she only nodded for
reply, and went climbing the hill,
from the top of which looked back upon
the gronp still standing as had left them.
gazing after me.
lt was nearly dark when ut the foot of
the nil on which l had left the 'seng
hunters saw a cabin. at the end of which
che blue smoke curled up from a pile of
stones that did duty q chimney 1 went
mp 10 the door and was greeted with the
yells. growIs and barks of n half-dozen
dogs that came piling out and surrounded
me. followed by tall. swarthy-complex-
toned mountaineer. who began TO dance n
vigorous cam can among the dogs kicking
them right and left until Quiet was sniff
GENTLY restored 10 allow me to give the
usual salutations ana inquire if could get
q bite TO eat and be allowed to remain over
night.
wall. i reckon We can. stranger; we be
powerful DO. Whar ye gwyne?"
told him | was ont prospecting for tam
Dark and hoop poles; that had left Graf
Ton that morning. and was very tired.
as: right smart STEP" he replied.
wall come in" he added, leading the
way by landing n few well-aimed kicks
among the dogs
Becky. this am a stranger who be out
from Grafton hunting poles and bark"
Turning 10 me, lie continued: Take seat;
you be purity much petered out"
Becky. pale little woman. came from a
dark corner in the room. with baby IN
her arms, busted herself and soon sat be-
fore me some corn bread, fat pork and
coffee. While was doing ample Justice 20
this homely bill of fare. mine host. whom
Becky addressed as Joshua. talked quite
freely. and / learned that the sphinx
met and left on the hill was his sister. n
widow. whose husband had been killed i'm
coal mine mewhere. which probably
explained why Ben had TO" leave his wife
and children, aud Joshua had provided