Evening star., 1895-08-03
CASE OF UNCERTA|HTY
WRITTEN FOB THE EVENING STAR BY WI
LANPION.

ard pulled up at a mountain house Of the
| better class. 1t was q story and hall
high. the windows glazed; there was a
porch across its front, and 1t was two
rooms wide. with an entry between. al
though there were no doors leading from
the entry into the rooms on the side. II
was of logs, of course, but they were
hewed. and this added further distinction
| to 1t. AS rode up to the gate I observed
| that something unusual was taking place.
Several horses were hitched along the
fence a number Of men and women were
about the front of the house. and there
was an air of social activity permeatine
the vicinity quite out of the ordinary. The
people about eyed me curiously as ad-
vanced. and when 1 reached the gate. and
| 1t was seen that did not intend coming in
| without some kind of an invitation. long
lank woman. who had been standing in the
doorway, moved out to the edge Of the
perch.
"Can you tell me-" I said, bowling from
my horse, chow far 1t is to Harts Mill?
Whether she could hear me at that dis.
tance. or whether she wanted to talk at
closer range. 1 cannot say, but throwing
the dish rag that she held in her hand
! over her head. she came out to the gate.
Ibid you wanter know how fer 'twuz to
Harts Mill?" she inquired.
IF you please, yes" I replied. for I al
ways like to be polite to a woman.
Air you goin' ter stay thar all night
"If can get accommodation, and guess
I can. for they told me at Hogan's that
could"
"Oh, yes; thar's mighty nigh a plum
tavern thar sence thar's been SO many
strangers comm thar lcokin' fer timber
an lands.'
She had evidently overlooked my first
question. so propounded it once more.
How many miles did you say 1t was
fv-fvp hnr n
Il reckon 1 didn't say" she smiled. Il
wuz thinkin' about somethin' else, l reck-
on. Hits four mile, an you bar to the left
all the way. Thar's only two turn-offs an
you can't miss the road"
Having secured the object of my VISIT SO
to speak, l should have gone on my way,
but something in the wonans manner.
added, to the curiosity felt I'm wanting to
know what was going on, prompted me to
linger.
rs this your place." asked, pulling my
horse around as if about to 60
Yes; that is, mine and my old mans. 1
don't reckon you know him, do you? He's
Jim Nagley. Pears like you oughter know
him, too. fer I reckon I've saw you down
on Poor Fork lookin' up legs. hain't I?''
I've been there in that business, but l
don't remember to have seen you. I've
seen your husband, though, several times"
l may say at this point that while had
seen Mr.. Nagiey several times during my
stay along the fork it was not of my seek
ing. for ne had acquired the Winchester
habit. and he had been known to shoot at
his neighbors with more or less painful and
permanent results. Being an outsider"
attending strictly to my own business, and
that business in no way interfering with
Mr.. Nagiey's ideas of the proprieties. l
was perfectly safe: still vas not anxious
TO commingle with Mr.. Nagley any more
than was absolutely necessary.
Yes" she said, I've heern him speak
NV the 'celoner right many times. an
reckon you're the one he means"
ner. that he spoke well of me-"
He did. He said you wuz about the
peartest man he'd saw in long WHILE"
Compliments are unusual In the noun
tains and felt flattered.
Tell him for me- said with Chester
fieldian politeness. that 1 appreciate his
good will
"'Tajn't bad thing to have. I reckon,
'she said sententiously. and with a certain
degree of pride in her husband. Least
ways. folks that knows Jim don't think 1t
iS."
II know him well enough to realize what
it is worth, l assure you, madam" hast
ened to explain.
She didn't appear to be listening very
closely to me and there was a nervousness
in her manner, in addition, which rather
disconnected me without making me any
less curious and continued to linger, the
people about the front of the house also
showing some signs of curiosity and watch
ing closely.
As 1 had been assured that I stood we'll
in the good graces of Mr.. Nagley l felt no
alarm and was determined to see it out.
''Air you goin' right straight to Hart's
from here?" she asked after looking down
the road moment.
Yes; is there anything I can do for
you?"
You mought. an then ag'in you mought-
MT" she answered, shaking her head.
"In any event''-and bowed some more
Il am at your service. madam"
WELL" she said, taking long breath as
effort. and then she changed her tone and
continued, ''Do you know John Short?''
do you mean Long Jack. the young man
who works at Hogans?"
Hes the one"
"Yes, 1 know Jack very we'll He's been
with me after logs quite a number of times
during the past year. saw him at Hogan's
last night, but he left before I spoke to
him."
At this point I may explain that this Mr..
Short also had some reputation as handy
man with a Winchester. although he had
not, as Mr. Nagley had, made a record; at
least not such an extensive record as was
Mr.. Nagley's.
You didn't know whar he wuz goin' at, I
reckon?" she said. half questioningly.
well. he come here" she went on, hur-
riediy, 'and you go on to Hart's, eff YOU
shed happen to see Jim 'twixt thar and here
l wish to gracious you'd git him to go back
with you. Tell him some kind NV lie er
other. l amt keerin' what, so longs he
don't git back here tonight"
This was growing interesting and / was
about to take part in it. without exactly
knowing in what role 1 was to appear.
What's going on?'' inquired with such
an interest as a factor in the case had a
right to have.
That's jist what's been a-worryin' me-"
she said. somewhat relieved that she had
found some one to talk with about what
ever it was. You see. Jack and our gal,
Mirandy, has been sparkin fer yer er
two, an Jim amt favorable to it. but
am. Well, Jim went off day before yis-
tiddy to be gone a week, am me and Jack
an Mirandy thought ez how we'd have a
surprise fer him when he got back, but
heern today that he wuz at Hart's and
wuz comm home. Things is all ready, an
I amt a-gon' to spile the rangements eff
I kin help it. After hits all over, I'm un-
dertakin' ter fetch Jim around our way.
but he won't hear to nothin' aforehand,
and thar amt no use talkin'."
"Oh," | said, looking up toward the
house. where little group of women were
clustered together. ''its going to be a we'd
ding, is itS'
A wedding Is always such joyous occa-
sion that I smiled at the mere thought of
1t, and Mrs. Nagiey smiled. too; but hers
was about the wannest smile ever saw.
WELL" she said desperately. "hit's goin'
to be a weddin er funeral, an dunno
which Eff Jim don't git here hits goin'