Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-08-02

| IN the haIL JWlilShI anu "'NS" '-4O
man in the open doOrHay if ne could
| furnish me a place to sleep that nighG
| noticed that he half hesitated and
| peerod at me clcsely before making re-
ply. ,.-
"Yaas. r5iner. we kin, but l kinder
reckon tibet yum may fin ct ruJher HVeIy
times hyar bouts tween naoW an morn
in: weuns hes he'd notice NV spr-se
party sarved on us an themuns II more
nor likely putty nigh do IS 'em pleases.
When | had convinced the old man
that their caperswould not Bother me
in The leaJt. that the left was g0od
enough for me, and that | was tlred
enough to be rocked TO sleep by an
eartbouake he seemed highly pleased
and disappearing into the darkness OF
the cabin returned with jug.
"Podner. let's likker. This hyar dew
ccme frum way up on Leatherwood an
is ther best make in Their mountains.
Goes cl'ar down 20 yer toes
He filled a pint cup nearly full and
handed it TO me.
"Beggln yuh p2'd0n, stranger, I'll up
end ther jug; hyars luck and fine sleep
in"
For nearly minute only the soft CUR
gle of the fiery liquor cours.ng down
the old mans throat broke the supreme
stiffness of the scene He smacked his
lips in evident keen enjoyment and
pushCQ back with earnest protest the
cup from which had drank only small
, pcit.Jn of the liquid.
& .4.I.,,.. t,,,,r~r ,-,rb bpen r1ipniu' q
tibet dunn like uh rabbit, take uh good
sV-ig ct ell DO yuh good. sides yuh may
need uh nerve comic fore mCrnin'.'
The old man replaced the jug in the
house and a minute later came out with
a Winchester which he proceeded les
urely TO examine in the rapidly failing
light. trying the hammer, the trigger
and finishing with leading the maya
zine full up.
Ever been in Their mountings much,
s;ranger?"
Yes. I've covered the better part of
this end OF the State the past several
years
seen much fightin?"
Eyes. and Occosionly took hand"
The old man cast a sharp shrewd look
of inquiry at me.
"Whut might be yer blzness, podner?'
"N1.h.ng in particular at present;
used 10 sell goods for a Louisville whole
sale house. Just looking over the coun-
try now"
Peers tub me I've seed youens SOM
whar."
Possibly, I've been over to Harlan
often
Harlan. Ell? Say stranger wuz yuh
at airy one uh lhuh shCoun matches
thar bout TO yolhs ago?"
"Ye., | attended one OF them one
time; won half beef.
AN ned tub fight fore yuh gcE ct,
eh?"
so you recollect the incident" it was
my time to look sharply and in careful
question, and Of course recognize me,
though | cannot place you as yet
"Lemme see, yo' war huntia' sinners
then: whut mought yuh be huntln
naow, Stranger
He still fondled the Winchester idly,
but there was a cold, keen CLEAN in MS
eve that bespoke wary caution.
a murderer" | answered. paying no
attention to his manner. i've parted
WAYS with Uncle Sam, and am after a
man that so far as | know was never
in the business. though he Is Aldlns
with gang of sinners now.
"pe he in these ere parts?
81 an, told he is with the Kingsleys;
in fact Is leading them. HIS haine IL
Talt Martin.
"Thuh hell''
Nv hand involuntarily dropped to my
beIt and the old man noticed the acton
"vorv bin uh need uh tibet, stranger
ToI, Martins no fren' tuh me. facC
be,s tuh lead thuh s'prise party hyar
,,,i.,bf an I've he'd warnin' thet !
ba bnz2ard meat tmorrer. Praps aW
n,,ght take uh han in his captur nun
lie helms our contrect's sort uh same
iil,e Ole woman an thuh KIDS eS over
t,,L or noighbors. cross thuh mountLs
&C. niles and mebbe we'd better TAX
thuh bresh: no tellln' when they Il 'u' Il
nm" meaning Martins men. =,
After I had taken my horse at Tue olN
mans direction and fastened MN Sc
onrolv in q small fenced LOT in the IA
tive some distance back OF the mousse
,ra took our positions behind a rocky
torrior on the hillside directly oppo--
ei ',i rho deserted building and prepares
Cor Tho attack. We had several hours
- wait hut finally the beat OF hoots on
,ba hard mountain trail came ecnolnS
do,vn the gorge. AS they reared the
ootin tbpv drew up and came more
slowly. as if feeling their way fres-
emily when within easy range OF 'he
building. a shot rarg out and the sharp
sound of the bullet tearing through th5
cIanboard roof could be heard easily.
..HnIio thar yelled a mufiled voice.
We made no answer. but the OLD man
nrTgcd me and whispered: "Thets TAFT
Martin" .no,
The PARTY came nearer, so near that
we could hear all they said.
"The old skunk's turned tail an LEFT
lest o. said he would. an thu drinks ez
on yuh, jenkins
WAL. we won't drink EN- tell we're
sure about ct. Bet yuh half uh gallon
tbuh ole mans hidin' out, walJln tuh
git a bead on yuh.'
Talt Martin never lived 10 realize tne
full truth of that remark. Al my shoul-
der came the sharp crack of a Winches-
Tor and the leader rose in his sdrrups.
threw up his hands and fell heavily
! forward off his horse.
instantly there was intense excite
ment in the gang below us and a rattle
Of shots that but for the warning hand
Of the old man that pulled me down
would certainly lave caught me nap
ping.
Get ont yer weepins, stranger, we've