Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-05-31
THE MAJORS STORY.

Eyes, my hair is white for a man Of
my years" said he, running his shapely
fingers through the snow white locks.
but, then, Ihave seen a great deal Of
the world, you know. Sometimes 1
think it would have been better if 1 had
not"
"But what caused your hair to turn
so white? Il cannot be age, for, if l am
q Judge, you are not ove 90. The ma
jor laughed.
"No. / was 40 ON my last birthday,
and my hair has been its present shade
for the last ten years"
Come. major, I'm sure there is a
story here. Let's have it"
Again the major smiled, but this time
a perceptible tremor shook his frame.
II never like to think of that time"
he said. ''But be it as you will.
when Twas 80 years old, l was en-
ployed by Uncle Sam to scour the coun-
try for moonshiners. Ny territory lay
mostly in the southern states. 1t was
in 1881 that / received an order from
the chief of the division to go into the
Tennessee region and locate several stills
that were turning out kegs Of illicit liq-
nor near Little Tuoksoe. Twas Of a light
hearted, daredevil disposition, and usu
ally such an order would have spurred
me to my best, but on this September
morning, when, leaving civilization be-
hind, / struck the trail leading up the
side Of Little Tuoksoe, a strange feeling
of foreboding came over me. Tho birds
twittered over my head, and the purling
brook rippled beneath my feet. All ma
ture was at her best, and yet a feeling
of Understandable dread oppressed me.
ION 1 stumbled, deep in my gloomy
m%editations, when suddenly / nearly fell
over a girl, clad in a single calico gar
ment, who was kneelipg beside q haw-
berry bush filling a pail with tine fruit.
The surprise was mutual, and she start
ed up like a frightened fawn. Without
disparagement of the sex l can safely
say that no palmer women exist on the
continent than tho average female moon
sinner. As the girl turned, however, she
displayed q face in pleasing contrast
with the characteristic high cheek bones
and 'ague' complexion Of that section.
Her oval features, brown as a berry, but
regular in outline, set of by a pair of
ruby lips and jet black eyes, would COM
pare favorably with those of any FASH
ionable belle.
"'Wha' be you goip?' she asked with
a startled air.
I am an artist, 1 replied, como to
sketch some bits Of scenery. / am look
ing for Jerry Bowman
"'Wha' you want wi him?'
I am going to board at his house. ,
Hull Then you un wants ole
Hoss?'
IT was uncertain, but nodded. By
this time I had drawn a packet from
my pocket and began making hurried
marks on it The girl peered over my
shoulder and asked:
How long be you un goin ter stAy?'
just over night, / replied.
''She gazed at tine scrawl and said:
WAL, / guess you un can como
on
up the tortuous path, twisting now
TO tLe r.1Lt and now to the left, we
Went. till suddenly the girl pushed aside
the thick underground aud darted along
a trail leading directly into the heart of
the forest said not a word, but did
considerable thinking as now and then
a protruding hawberry brier tore its way
into my flesh, or a stiff tWig, bent fer
ward by my guide, with a zip flew
back, striking me across the face Sud.
denly / heard a bowling Shrek. The
girl gave a low, peculiar whistle, and
the next instant four large ours were
paUins at her feet and in a ruost uncom-
fortablo am smiling at my heels.
"'This is pap the girl whispered.
this is Ole Hoss, the man you un is
a-lookin fur.
Whence no came and how no got
there ] was never able 70 explain to
myself, but there he was. armed to the
teeth, a large hunting knife in his belt.
q shotgun on his shoulder and the
mountaineer's grin on his face.
"'Wha' do you IN wantF no demand
4 am an artist, Ireplied, and Jim
Bludsoe, whom ! met In the village.