Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-23

plants stand sentinel inside the gate, and
are. perhaps, the largest you have ever
seen. There is also ragged hedge of priv
ct, which seems to lack thrift.
little later you will discover why mat
ters and things at Mrs Pruett's are order
ed somewhat differently from those that
prevail al other mountain homes with which
you may chance to be acquainted. Mrs.
Pruett herself is not native and to the
manner born, though you would never dis
cover 1t until she told you and this infor
nation will not be long delayed You will
find that she was born in Jasper county.
that her father moved to the Cherokee
country after she was grown and that she
married Mr.. Pruett. who, after many ups
ard downs. settled on Tray mountain IAN
done mighty we'll tell the government got
to begrudgin' poor folks the little bit er
money they made by turnin Their apples an
Their grain into sperrets.''
But this is running ahead faster than the
boy did, and you can't do that comfortably
in buggy drawn by a tired and hungry
morse. The most you can do is to drive
within easy hailng distance take off your
hat to the motherly figure on the porch, and
inquire If you can get bunch of fodder for
your horse and a glass of buttermilk for
Yourself Mrs. Pruett will turn first to the
right and then to the left. Seeing no one
but the children, she will call out, in pene-
tratinG but not unpleasant voice:
Where on the face of the yeth is Sary's
Tom Forth from the house will come the
boy you met on the road. Cant you
move? Mrs Pruett will say. "Yander's
the stranger a-wonderin' an a-reck' min
what kind of place he's come to. an here's
ever body a-Standin' aroun' an a-star-gaZ-
in an a-suckin' Their thumbs VIII you
STIR 'roun'. Tom. er shill l go out an take
the strangers boss? AK i'm to come right
nan here! you Mirandy! fetch out that
big rockin' -cheeri'
1t is safe to say that you will enjoy
everything that is set before you: you
Will not complain even if the meat is
Tried. for the atmosphere Of the noun
tam hts the appetite to the fare. If Mrs
Pruett likes your looks you will catch
her in an attitude of listening for some
thing. Finally, you will hear shuffiing
sound i'll one of the rooms as if a man
We're moving about. and then, if it is Mrs
PructtS odd man''-and she well knows
by the sound-shell lift her voice and call
out: Jerd. what on the face of the yeth
air you dom in there? You'll stumble an
break some er them things i'll there threck-
~. Why don't You come out an show
yOurSe 1! ou main afcard or notlln' ner
nobody. | hope.
WhereupOn Mr.. Pruatt will come out
a giant in height. with a slight stoop in
his shoulders and pleasant smile on his
face. And he will give you a hearty greet
ing. and his mild blue eyes will regard
you so steadfaStly that you will wonder
why Mrs. Pruett asked him II he was
afraid OF anybody Later. you will dis
cover that this inquiry is a standing joke
with his wife. for Jerd Pruett is renowned
in all that region the most dangerous
man in the mountains when his temper is
aroused. Fortunately for him and his
nelghbors, he has the patience OF Job.
You will find on closer acquaintance
with Jerd Pruett that he is a man of con
siderable information in great many
directions. and that he is possessed of a
large fund of common sense. Naturally
the talk VIII drift to the murder of the
young woman by Toog Parmalee II you
don't mention it Mrs. Pruett will, for she
has her own ideas in regard to the tragedy.