The Mena weekly star., 1897-11-17
A SOUTHERN CHARACTER,

port, was neFe Fccchtiy, He in run # ming conversation told of a tvuie, back woods southern character in < manner quite entertaining.
 His man tive will call him Joel livsa on the line of the K. C., P. & c. Rv k and the road run through his placs When the grading contractors cam. along they tore down his fence and re. fused to replace it to keep stock ont Joe reconstructed, but got no satisfae. ton, and one morning when the con. tractor went to his work he found tn. fence replaced and Joe sitting with his Winchester across his knees guard ing it in very business-like manner Not wishing to have any blood splt Flournoy was sent for, being friend of Joe's, to see if he could patch up !. truce.
 Reaching the place he went to Joe and asked: What is the matter JoeY
 Matter 'nough," said Joe, sthev tore down my fences, Jet stock destroy my craps and told me I could sue th, comp'ny. I'd look purity suin' the comp'ny. I can't read ner write, an I'm jest goin' to be me own jestice uv the peace and render me own decision, 'an thet is, the fust man thet teches rail uv thet fence is ded man"
 But can't we fix 1t up in some way, Joe?'' asked Flournoy.
 ''Sartin' we can," says Joe. ''pay me S2O damages, fix up the fence long the line and put in cattle guards to keep out stock an it's all right"
 The money was paid and 'Jestice" Joe adjourned court, having won his case.
 At another time a teamster was in the habit of tying his mules so that they would get loose and go into Joe's field 'jes as tho it twas a paster," says Joe, "an toie him one day thet the nex' time they cum in my lot would lock them up in my barn Shore huff. nex' day I found them ar mules in my lot jest tho twas pas. ter, an l locked lem up in my barn Mex mornin' the feller cum ter get his mules an I wouldn't let him have 'em. He then went back to camp an kem back with pistul to foce me ter give up his mules jes tole him to. go back an git shot gun an if he did not hev one to go to Neighbor Jones an he'd loan him one. I was feard the corper's jury might not let me go eff hurt the man wen he had nothin' put a pistul in his hand"
 At another time Joe found grader taking soil from tract of land Joe had charge of, and outside the right of way. Shouldering his Winchester he walked over to the grader and asked him what he was doing on that land. The grader replied that he needed some dirt for fill and was taking it there, to which be replied: Lest you've got papers to show your right here. get those teams and tools right tiff this land and quick
 But, says the grader, ''I am willing to make it right with you"
 Well" says Joe, ''the way to make it right is to do it right now, by payin' the cash "
 But I have not got the money and must give you an order on the company at Texarkana, says the grader.
 No yer don't" says Joe. ''I hav'nt time to go to Texarkane to collect it. sides they might git me eff went there. l cut up some when l lived in thet state, an if you haint got the hustle out and borrer it, and thet right quick, or git your teams off this yere land"
 It is perhaps needless to add, says Mir. Flournoy, that the money was paid and the work of grading con- tinued
 Joe had two brothers, and the three always pulled" together when occa- sion required. One day Joe met his friend Flournoy and said: "I was up town 'tother day and got into a game of poker, and they ''fiim- damned" me, 50 tho't I'd even up on 'em. went 10 town with my two brothers and they jest stood eround with their Win ,hesters. Purity soon we got ter playin' ergin, while my brothers jest ;fnnG arnnar,d mill, 4L AL. N.Y. Aa 4a..r