Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-08
HE PLAYED BARBER.
SHAVED A DEAD MooNsHlNeR. AND
 THERE WAS NO aNExT.D


 cling Man Accepted, but Now sells Over Another Route.
 It was in Tennessee, said the trav- cling man, it happened, on one of those back country roads which I was travelling on my way to town where I had a fine list of customers The night was closing in, and was wondering how long it would take me to reach a place where I could spend the night. I knew that 1 was among the moonshin- CTS, for the jug on q stump with the money under it was ill evidence along the road. had no thought of being molested in that country, where the only warfare is against the revenue officers, and no one would have suspect. ed mo of complicity with the govern n1ent.
 A slight noise startled my horse, and I leaned out of the buggy to look into the chamber of a revolver. At the same time I saw two figures, one on each side of me, aud, checking my horse, I tried to assume bravado 1 was far from feeling as I asked:
 We'll, gentlemen, what is your will with me?'
 You can imagine my surprise when boyish voice asked:
 Kin you shave yeurself?'
 1T answered that I always shaved myself. Without lowering his revolver he looked across me to his pal on the other side
 :" He uns will do, Jim. Hop in an I'll lead the horse.
 Having made up my mind not to be dragged off i'll any such ignominious manner, I said:
 "' If you are going to shoot me. 1 suppose l must give up my life, as I am unarmed. If it is money you want, I"- - Tell him, Jim. said the one who was leading my horse.
 t'' Yer won't be killed nor robbed nor nothin, if yer don t try ter give us the slip. Shet your mouth now, mister an you, Il know more right soon.
 We must have gone mile before we came to turn i'll the road that brought us out in front of cabin much larger than any had seen that day in my travel. A woman stood at the door crying
 " Hev yer foun somebody, boyB?' she asked anxiopsly
 '' Yep, norm, an he'll do the job tip slick 'thout askin much pay.
 wondered if 1 was to be compelled to murder some one. The boys were boorjloge ,,,O.,4,t tos,, Ion fo.c l,o1 ,,.ot their type often, but never knew them to be desperadoes.
 "I was shown into the cabin by the woman, one of the boys following with the revolver, while the other waited to fasten the horse to a scrub oak 1 saw a figure stretched on settle, and the idea flashed into my miud that I was mis- taken for q doctor.
 am not q medical man, began to explain, when the woman cut me short
 ''' You uns nd been tew late et you uns was doctor He passed outen afore daylight, an it's mother kind oi job we wanter hev done. Yer. see, We uns is a goin tew hey the biggest fun rel evah was ill these yeah pants, an we wanter hey the ole man shaved foh the fust time, an there ain't man no where areun as slaves hisself or enny body else
 The revulsion of feeling which came over me was not altogether pleasurable for 1 did not fancy the idea of playing barber to dead man, but when looked at the eadaverous countenance ant tangled gray beard of the deceased I felt a sort of professional pride in making him look more like mortal being ant less like wolf. 1 had always been ar abstainer from strong drink, but filled up on crude spirits that would have killed me on an ordinary occasion anC tackled my silent customer with fe verish and hysterieal alacrity This wa in part due to the close proximity O the two boys and their revolvers Bu as soon as I had the old mountaineeI shaved the revolvers were laid aside anC l was treated with the utmost hospi tality The work itself had not beer half as gruesome as I had imagined and 1 had to fight ludicrous tempta tion to pour barber talk into the dea ears. He was such an improvement oye himself when aliye-as judged by tn family lingo-that wanted to ask hin to look in a mirror. declined the fe rendered me by the boy Jim, and sup piled with jug of moonshine whisky was set ill tho right road and per initted to leave.
 " 1 found it true that i'll all that con munity not man had ever been shaved and it was only in deference to whin of the old mountaineer, expressed ol his deathbed, that he was made such curious exception. did not mention my part i'll the transaction until l wa far beyond that county line, for I wa not sure that, precedent being set they might not again demand my serv ices, and another salesman has tha route. Chicago Times Herald Her Foot In His Pocket. Of Princess Pauline Borghese, sIt 1 xrhnen 1ha,.ac Ciapo,,o