The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-09-22
HE PLAYED BARBER.
SHAVED A DEAD MoONSHlNER, AND
THERE WAS NO "NexT."


The Job rendered. with Some Emphasis,
by Friends OF the Deceased--Thc Trav-
cling Man Accepted, but Now Sells
over Another Route.
"It was in Tennessee, said the trav-
cling man, sit happened, on one OF
travelling OH my way to a town where /
had fine list of customers. The night
was closing in, and l was wondering
how long it would take me to reach a
place where could spend the night |
knew that 1 was among the moonshin
ers, for the jug OH stump with the
money under it was In evidence along
the road. had no thought Of being
molested in that country, where tie
only warfare is against the revenue
officers, and no one would have suspect.
ed me of completely with the govern
ment
"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 l saw two figures, one on
each side of me, and, checking my
horse, tried to assume bravado
was far from feeling as asked:
"'Well, gentlemen, what is your will
with me?'
"You can imagine my surprise when
boyish voice asked:
Kin you shave yoursefT
IL answered that l always shaved
myself. Without lowering his revolver
he looked across me to his pal OH the
other side.
He uns will do, Jim. Hop in all
I'll lead the horse.
Having made up my mind not to be
dragged off in any such ignominious
manner, said:
"'f you are going to shoot me. I
suppose must give up my life, as nm
unarmcd If 1t is money you want, r.
"'Tell him, Jim, said the one who
was leading my horse.
"'Yer won't be killed nor robbed nor
nothin, IL yer don't try ter give us the
slip. Shet your mouth now, sinister. an
you'd know more right soon.'
"We must have gone mile before
We came to turn in 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. boys?' she
asked anxiously.
"'Yep. norm, an he'll do the job up
slick 'tbout askin much pay
81 wondered IL was to be compelled
to murder some one. The boys were
beardless mountain loafers-I had met
their type often, but never knew them
te be desperadoes
81 was shown into the cabin by the
woman, one OF the boys following with
the revolver, while the other waited tn
fasten the horse 20 scrnb oak saw a
figure stretched on settle, and the idea
aashed into my miud that was mis-
taken for doctor
i am not q medical man. began
% explain, whea the woman cut me
abort.
"'You uns nd Q bsen tew late ef
you uns was doctor. He passed outen
afore aylieht. al it's mother kind Of
job we wanter hev done. Yer see, we
uns is a goin tev hev the biggest fun'rel
eTah was In these yeah pnhts. an we
wanter hev tho ole man shaved foh the
inst time, an tanere amt q man no
where aroun as shaves hisself or emmy
body else.
"The revulsioa of feehng which came
over me was not altogether pleasurable,
for did not fancy the idea Of playing
barber to dead man. but when looked
ut the cadaverous countenance and
tangled gray beard of the deceased felt
Q sort Of professional pride in making
him look more like mcztal being and
less like wolf. I had always been an
abaainer from strong drink, but filled
ny an crude spirits tha& would have
killed me on an ordinary occasion and
tackled my silent customer with q fe.
verish and hysterical alacrity. This was
in part due to the close proximity Of
the two boys and their revolvers. But
as soon as I had the old tnountaineer
shaved the revolvers were laid aside and
/ was treated with the utmost hospi-
tality. The work itself had not been
half as gruesome as I had imagined,
and had to fight ludicrons tempta-
tion to pour barber talk into the deaf
ears. He was such an improvement over
himself when alive-as judged by the
family liugo-that Iwanted to ask him
to look in mirror. declined the fee
rendered me by the boy Jim, and, sup
piled with jug of moonshine whisky,
Twas set in the right road and per-
mitted to leave.
II found it true that in all that COM
munity not o man had ever been shaved.
and it was only in Difference to whim
Of the old mountaineer. expressed on
his deathbed, that he was made such q
curious exception. I did not mention
my part in the transaction until was
far beyond that county line, for was
not sura that a nrecedant hain1 sat