Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-04-27
A KENTUCKY EPISODE.

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culiarities, which differ not only among
individuals but in localities. On the
western frontier, they are generally
men who enjoy a reputation for deeds
Of daring and have been engaged in
perhaps more than one bloody encoun-
ter. In the east where life is held more
precious and perils are not so frequent
they are brave but are not reckless,
more conservative and thoughtful OF
consequences. The southern sheriff is
unlike any OF his brother officers He
/ Is perhaps as determined, but slower
in his methods and more disposed to
view the situation leniently.
! While not criminally or unprofessiOn-
ally careless, he is generous in spirit
| and seldom severe. unless there is a
/ necessity for severity, then he can be
as unrelenting as any of his fellows.
/ But the southern sheriff OF to-GNy diff
fers essentially from his prototype Of
ante-bellum renowL In northeastern
Kentucky. long before rival hoStilities
were dreamed of, there lived Uncle
Buck Z -. who served his country
very acceptably in the capacity Of sher-
IN. On one occasion he was called
upon TO escort certain Larkin Lane 10
the penitentiary at Frankfort.
Lane had been sentenced TO two
years by a jury of his fellows for bit
ing off the lip of one McAvoy. The
two had engaged in some dispute over
their cups. insults were exchanged and
blows ensued. In the tussie Lane fast
ened his teeth in the protruding under
lip of his adversary. and when the two
were separated 1t was found that he
had borne away the neither portion of
McAvoy's mouth.
The crowd which had gathered to
witness the fight was summarily dis
perSed by the explosion of a powder
horn. which some tipsy on-looker, in a
sort of fiendish fun. had thrown into
the fire.
In due time the case was tried in the
circuit court The defendants friends
notified him that If he would leave the
state and forfeit his bail the prosecu-
ton would be dismissed. This he most
peremptOrily declined to do. SO the
case proceeded and as the facts were
undeniable Lane was found guilty
of mayhem and sentenced TO hard
labor for a term of two years. Ii then
became Uncle Bucks duty to see the
penitentiary.
why. Uncle BA.k." said he. my
crop amt gathered. my hogs amt kill
ed and amt got a cord OF my winters
wood cut nor hauled. Do you suppose
I'm gwine to leave my family in that
FIX"
well. Larkin." replied Uncle Buck.
"it does look pretty hard. | tell you
I1lr 40 9 ,-o,,@I rrfy-a mo Wpr word
of honor as a gentleman to meet me In
Frankfort by the middle OF November.
I'll trust you and let YOU go .heme- SOS
you can fix your folks up comfortable.
But mind. you're to be thar. dead GER
tain. on the 18th Of November, shore
as your names Lane-you promise?'
$50 help me God. I'll be thar. Uncle
Buck" And they shook hands over the
agreement.
With the aid OF his neighbors Lane
set to work with might and main and
completed his preparation several days
before his allotted time. His friends
again urged him to fee the country,
but he disdainfully replied:
80 long as I've got blood in my
veins I'll never go back on my word
nor on Uncle Buck"
His wife with tears and entrcaties.
appealed to him. "Larkip.' said she,
"'pears to me yer think mighty little
o. me and the children to go of and
leave us for two years. besides the dis
grace o. bein' in the pcnitentiary, when
yer can jos cross the line into Ohio,
or 20 south fifty miles and hide your
self in the mountains. NObody1l be
any the worse for it II you do get off.
and It'll about kill me to see you go
to that place"
"Marthy Jane" said Larkin. do you
mean to say that you and the children
would ruther hev me tell pint blank
lie and stink around like sheep-killing
dog. afeared ter look people in the face,
hidin' from everybody know. then to
take my punishment like a man and
keep my word? S'pose I did chaw the
lip off o. that ornery cuss and have ter
90 to the penitentiary for II. that isn't
as bad as to turn liar and sneak around
an lie rest of my life, / vow. Marthy
Jane. I'm ashamed TO think you'd want
me to do it-but women never did have
no sense bout keeDin' a contract"
Thus rebuked. the wife wept and
counted the days as they passed, and
then the hours as they went by 80
swiftly and relentlcssly. And now the
time had come when the goOdbycs
must be spoken. for, as he was to walk
across the country. he had 10 set out
several days in advance Of the one
specified for his arrival in Frankfort
Larkin Lane was a man Of splendid
physique, a tall. sturdy mountaineer.
standing six feet two or three inches
in his stockings; strong and athletic,
in the full vigor Of manhood. Five
counties lay between him and Frank
fort, with hill and dale forest and
stream, town and hamlet The au-
tumn landscape was in it's full glory
Of color, nature had put on her most
gorgeous attire. subtle sense Of her
beauty crept into his cultured soul.
and made II conscious, in a large
measure. Of the loss he was about to
incur Heretofore he had looked on
green fields and wooded hills winding
creeks and lovely valleys and had the
right to wander when and where he
would, as a matter OF course.
But now all was TO be changed.
These were to be shut out. four walls
would inclOse his world, and he, the
free mountaineer. must come and go
at the nod and beck Of others. AS he