Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-23

~ &
"Here's a man who Is all right or a
scamp"
looking man who stood back to the stove
scared me. 1 have not looked into such
eyes many times in my life. I saw signif.
canoe in the attitude of the tall man. His
only sign of nervousness was the motion
of warming himself before the fireless
stove and the exaggerated slowness of his
splitting. They all seemed to wait to see
what l would do. 1 leaned against the
counter, keeping my right hard in my
pocket. did not design to do this. 1 in.
tended to seem composed. and I succeeded
in appearing dangerous.
1 was facing six or eight rough and dan.
geTous men, probably criminals. They were
all between me and the door. 1 felt in my
bones the chill of approaching trouble. but
! kept my voice as steady as possible. My
hat brim concealed the anxious look
probably had in my eyes.
Yes, I'm looking for a nice, fresh water
melon 1 said in wondrously frank and
I'll try somewhere else"
l Strengthened up as If to go, but my
guide, who stood between me and the door
said
Il guess. now I've run up agin you, I'll
see you through"
Several OF the men rose at this as at a
signal 80 = -
The guide said to one of the younger
men: Bill. You see if Begss has got any
Well wait here
"Oh, thank you.' put in. 81 can go my
self. Don't trouble"
mo trouble tall" said the tall man. who
locked like one of Miss Murfree's noun
taineerS. Il reckon it's our dooty to kind
o sea a stranger through. They's a man
out on the aidge O. the town that raises
watermelons. L reckon he'd give We one if
We went ont there
There was no misunderstanding the COW
ert threat in these words.
We've just been plum worried to death
over men lookin' for watermelons, an
reckon we'd just better turn in and hunt
some up fer ye."
They closed in upon me silently, -lazily,
as If interested in my talk. They all eyeo
the silver star and crescent on my coat.
l kept my hands in my coat pockets be-
cause my arms were too numb to take
them out. I was also not In hurry to
tempt the darkness of the street till had
made my peace with these fellows. l made
bold sally. Look here, my friends.
you're on the wrong track. I'm not spy.
I'm travelling man, and off here for the
night ASK Reed" This was a wrong
shot.
I'VE don't go much on Reed. and we
know the kind O. travelin' man you be.
What's that badge on yer coat?"
It's a society badge. Do you think I'd
be fool enough to wear a badge If I was a
spy?' That was a center shot. 1t made
every man recoil a step.
That's a fact two or three said.
I pushed my advantage. eff you don't
believe what say. send up to Reeds and
bring down my baggage and open it-or
send some one up with me. I'm not look
ing for trouble; I'm plain, everyday bus
mess man"-here l grew bolder But I'm
not going to be interfered with. I'm to
take that o'clock train, and I'd like to go
to bed early"
There was discussion among them. They
talked little, but they had signs which
served for expression-a veritable sign Ian
guage. l waited, with both hands in my
pockets, again assuming a careless air. The
tall man took couple of his companions
aside. My guide stood near, studying me
intently. I remembered how far the store
was from any other shop, and that 1T was
getting late. l reflected on the probability
of the support of every disreputable in the
town. l was a prisoner at the bar.
At last the tail old man came back. He
held out his hand. --..-y-
Il guess we've made a mistake, stranger;
the joke is on u.s..
l shook hands, keeping my left hand In
my pocket.
That's all right. No harm done so far"
bill, see him safe up to Reeds" my
guide said.
"All right Bige. I thought he was square
only 1 thought you ought to know
Jest a secont!' commanded the tall man
Bige. 81 wouldn't say nothing about this
If was YOU He spit lazily. I'D jest lei
the thing slide. 1t was our mistake, an sc
jest let 1t co.
"All right I said, cheerily. Its none
O. my concern. 1 was just after melon
as I said"
My guide laughed and the rest Joined In
and while they guffawed we got out into
the night. My guide chuckled for a block
At last he said
said, confidently. Jim, there. is sellin' beef
without a license, and the boys are little
owly when a stranger comes round. Pro-
hibition keeps the boys pretty wide awake
It's all right but, as Bige said, / wouldn't
mention 1t to Reed If 1 was YOU
"Oh, l won't: AS 1 say, don't live III
the state. and it's none O. my business"
He warmed in admiration. THE boys
rather liked your grit. too. The way YOU
KEEP yer hands on yer guns kind O. made
'em careful"
Then for the first time I saw the signif-
canoe of my habit of carrying my hands in
my overcoat pockets. I was quite willing
TO pose as a brave man-at that distance
from "Bige." I said. quietly:
II wasn't 1ookin' for trouble, but. OF
course, any man takes care of himself"
My guide laughed again. well, It's all
right now; the boys are as glad as you are
that it didn't come to a brush. Somebody
would "a got hurt sure. There's Reeds
light, so I'll leave We. Goodnight, cap"
"Good-night.'
1 heard him chuckling as he went down
the crazy sidewalk. and as I turned to
cross the road l found my knees were
shaking, and there was a queer tightneSs
across my chest. The shake did not leave
my limbs for an hour, and all night long
argued the case with that tall old man
with small, fierce eyes.
1 took the early train, and 1t drew out
into the cool sweet September morning
that experience in the saloon seemed like
a bad dream. 1t seems so to me now, yet
here is the paragraph.
My friend handed me the clipping. II
was Geographic dispatch.
BLANK. Iowa, November 20.-Deputy
Marshal Williams has succeeded at last in
his efforts to apprehend the moonshiners
of Appanoose county. Last night he made
a raid on Coon Creek and captured 'Bige
Miller and his two nephews, Hank and Bill
after desperate struggle"
"And the tall man was .BigeT" said.
Undoubtedly. And when I read that
paragraph 1 had a chill; it could so easily
have been another mysterious murder in
a saloon,'" etc, etc.
"Moral?' l asked.
Keep on the lightest side of the street.
he reDlied