Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-08-25
CASE OF UNCERTAINTY.

/. was abOu six o'clock Oh 4 pleasant
spring afternoon as I rode down off Of a
long ridge of the Cumberland noun
ta.nS and pulled up at a mountain house
Of better class. II was a story and half
high, the windows glazed; there was
porch across It's front, and it was two
rooms wide, with an entry between, al
though there were no doors leading from
the entry into The rooms on the side 1t
was II logs of course, but they We're
hewed, and this added further disunc-
tiOn TO it, As / rode up to the gate /
observed that something unusual was
, taking place. Severa! horses were
hiJched along the fence a number OF
men and women were about the front
of the house, and there was an air or
social activity permeating the vicinity
quite out of the ordinary. The people
about eyed me curiOUsly as / advanced
and when 7 reached the gate, and II was
seen that I did not intend coming IN
without some kind of an invitation, a
long lank woman, who had been stand
ing the doorway moved out to the edge
of the pOarch.
Can you tell me. said, bowling from
my horse. how far II is to Harris Mill?'
Whether she could hear me al that
distance. or whether she wanted TO talk
Mt closer range, 7 cannot say, but throw
ing the dish rag that she ned in her
gaud over her head, She came out TO the
gate.
Did you wanter know how fer 'twuz
20 Harris Mill?' she inquired.
If you please. yes, I replied, for
always like TO De polite to q woman.
Air YOU goin' ter stay thar all nights
II I can get accommodation, and l
guess I cantor they Told me at Hogan's
that I could.
oh. yes; thar's mighty nigh a plum
tavern thar senCe thar's been so many
strangers comm thar lookin' fer climber
an lands
She had evidently overlooked my hrs0
question. so 1 pr0pOunded it once more.
How many miles did You say II was
from here?' I yenJureI.
ct reckon | didn't say she smiled.
II wuz thiukin' about sOmethln else, 1
reckon on. Hits four mile, an You oar
10 the left all the way. Thar's only Two
turn-ofS an You can't miss tne ROAD
Having secured the object OF my NlSlt'
50 to speak. | should have gone on my
way. but something in the woman
manner. added % the curiosity felt
IN wanting to know what was going on,
prompted me 20 .nger.
us this your place. ] asked. pulling
my horse around as if about 10 go.
Eyes. that is. mine and my Cd man S.
7 don't reckon YOU know him, do YOU?
He's Jim Nagley. Pears like you ough-
ter know him. too. for Ireckon I've saw
Won down on Poor Fork lO0kln' up logs,
hain't I?'
I've been there in that business. but 1
don't remember 70 have seen you. I've
seen your husband, though, several
times"
may saw ar this point that while 1
had seen Mr.. Nagley several times dur
ing my stay along the fork. u was not
of my seeking. for he had acquired Jhe
Winchester habit, and ne mad been
known % shoe. at his neighDOrs with
more or less painful and permanent re-
sults. Being an outsider attending
strictly TO my own business, and tnat
business i'm no way interfering win MI
Nagleys ideas OF the properties, 1 was
perfectly safe; still / was not anxious
10 commingle with Mr.. Nagley any more
than was absolutely necessary.
Yes She said, I've heern him speak
nv the colonel right many times, an
Ireck0n you're the one he means.
IT hone" ] replied in my suavest
manner. THAT he spoke well Of me.
.Ha did. He SAID YOU WIZ about the
Deartest man he'd saw IN long while.
nour.ains and 7 felt hattered.
Tel him for me. l said with Cnes-
-erfe,dian pOliteness, that l appreciate
his good WILL -
-" faint bad thing to have, / reck-
on" she said sentenJiously. and with
certain degree of pride in her nus
band. "Leastways, folks that knows
Jim don't think il is
/ know him wei enough to realize
what f. is worth. i assure you, madam,
I FASTENED to explain.
She didn't appear to be listening very
closely TO me and there was nervous
mes i'm her manner, N addition, which
rather disconnected me without making
me any less curious and ] continued 10
linger. the people about the front OF the
house also showing some signs OF cUrlOs-
iry and watching MS closely.
As I had been assured that l stood
we'll I'm the good graces Of MIR. Nagley /
felt no alarm, and was determined to see
IL out.
AR You gojn' right straight to Hart S
from hcre2" she asked. after looking
down the road q moment.
Yes, is there anything l can do lor
you mought. an then ag'in you
m0ughn't." she answered, shaking her
head
I'm any eyent-and I bowed some
more-"I am at your service. madam.
We'll" she said. taking long breath,
as if she were about 20 make some I'M
usual effort. and then she changed her
zone and continued, do you know
John Shor-?'
DO you mean Long Jack. the young
man who works al H0gans
Hes the one.
Eyes. I know Jack very well. He's
been with me after logs quite a number
of times during the past year. l saw
him at Hogan's last night. but he left
before I spoke 20 him.
At this point l may explain that this
Mr.. Short also had some reputation as
handy man with a Winchester all
rhough he had not, as Mr.. Nagley had.
made p record: a. least. not such an eN-
teDsive record as was Mr.. Nagleys
You didn't know whar he WIZ go,n
M. I rc,k0n2' she said, half question
inglv
NO"
well. he come here she Went on
hurriedly. land ez You so on to Harts.
IF YOU she'd happen to see Jim 'twiXt