The herald., 1894-01-12
RUTHERFORD'S BEAR


Old Steve Rutherford was one of the
most peculiar characters that ever 10.
Gated in Hot Springs, Ark. No ons
knew where his original abode was To-
Gated, and indeed no one seemed to care,
but every one that came within his
range was impressed with his odd per
sonality. He was tall and gaunt and
grizzled. His eyes were afflicted with a
watery sleepiness, but suddenly became
eager at the sight of dollar He kept
sort of roadhouse, which he designat-
ed as Bear Park, near the town of Hot
Springs, and made his living by admin
istering to the thirst and catering to tho
amusement of the wayfaring man, who,
even though fool, often erred therein
erred, say, for the man who drank
the sour beer drawn by old Steve could
not have stopped short of SHINING against
self. The amusement consisted of a
black bear, old, lazy and flea bitten.
This animal, advertised as of most fu-
rious disposition, was kept chained to a
tree in back lot. and at evening, when
the accommodating dusk threw hid
ing shade over the bears most striking
faults. e.. laziness and flea bites
old Steve would announce to his guests
that he was now about to engage in the
dangerous feat of wrestling with the fe-
rocious monster from the Mississippi
swamps. Those who knew the trick
drank their beer in unconcern, but those
who did not paid their 25 cents and
passed into the back lot to see the des-
perate encounter.
One afternoon when old Steve was
sitting on his veranda a man from the
mountains came along, driving a red
mule and white steer hitched to a
shaky and creaky wagon. In the wagon
there were few small cabbages and o
black bear.
"Say, said the mountain man, stop.
ping his team, don't you want to buy
the finest bar you ever seen?"
"No," Steve replied. "Got all the
bar ] want"
"But you amt got no sech bar as
this here one. -
mo, and | don't want no sich kitten
of a thing as that"
"Now, look here, misetr, that amt
no way to do-insult mans bar.
have travelled rs miles with this bar,
and you air the fust man that has offer
ed him insult. That ain t observin the
common courtesies that is due bar
that amt never done you no harm. But
putin that all to one side let me ask
you seriously if you want to buy b ar. :"
Il told you that I've got all the bar
want" old Steve sharply replied.
The mountain man gathered up his
hickory fail as if he would drive on,
but then, with the appearance of hav-
ing changed his mind, stretched his long
neck toward old Steve and said:
when you say you I've got all the bar
you want, reckon you mean that mouse
gnawed and bug eat invalid out yoan-
der in the back lot. "
Steve got up, and through the force
of custom acquired in earlier life dust
ed the seat of his trousers. The noun
tain man again had gathered his hick-
ory for decisive blow at his mule, but
hoarse command from old Steve-a
command unintelligible as to words,
but full of meaning nevertheless-com-
PEELED his attention. Steve, mastering
his anger and attempting to speak in a
quiet way, said, II have been living
here a good while and have learned how
to be smooth in my manners, but when
a man that amt never pestered in no
way comes along hare and willfully in
suits member of my family, why, it's
time for mo to act.
II don't know notnin about yo' fam
lily and wouldn't ther 70 insult mem
Der of it," the mountain man replied.
"You said that this here b ar is a kitten
of a thing, and then said that the bar
over yander in the lot is bug eat, and
! am willin to leave it to any jury that
can be raked up in this town that am
right. know what it is to be bug eat,
and l don't blame the bar, for | don't
reckon he could Help it. ] had dog
once that was bug eat-as kind hearted
and gentlemanly dog as you ever seen
and | didn't hold him responsible.
Say, now, without any mo- foolishness,
Ion't you want to buy barr"
Steve placed his hand on post to
steady himself. He looked at the noun
tain man with all the contempt he could
throw into his watery eyes, and then,
still under so strong a restraint that the
baggy knees of his trousers qulvered,
thus delivered himself:
Il am tryin to make an honest livin,
and hope to join the church some day,
but if you don't get way from here I'll
hurt you, and I'll make 1t a pint of
hurtin you mighty bad. Do you hcar?'
'Oh. yes, hear, and ruther than
have any difikilty I'll harken, but do
hope that befo' you join the church and
befo' the day is over, for that matter,
you may change yo' mind about this
bar. Get ep, boy" He swung his
hickory and dealt the mule decisive
blow.
Business was dull, and Steve nodded
and dreamed as he sat on the veranda.
He was aroused by noise, and looking
up he saw that the mountain man had
again stopped {. the gate.
Look here Steve yelled, now un-
der very little restraint, thought / told
you to go on away from hele.
"You did tell me, and did go away,
but that didn't keep me from comm
back again. l have been to nearly ev-
| aTv nlape in the town and nobody don t