The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-11-17
HE PLAYED BARBER.
SHAVED A DEAD nooNsHINER, AND
TaERE WAS NO "NExT."

GEhC Wa W. tN|sN
The job rendered. with Some Emphasis.
by Friends Of the DeccAsed-The Tras-
cling Man Accepted. but Nov Sells
Over Another Route.
ut was in Tennessee, - raid tie trav-
cling man, cit happened, on one OF
those back country roads which was
travelling on my way to a town where
had a fine list of customers. The night
was closing in, and I was wondering
how long it would take me TO reaSh
place where could spend the nigf< l
knew that I was among the moonshin-
ers, for the jug on a stump with the
money under it was in 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 me Of completely with the govern
meDt
"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 / saw two figures, one ON
each side Of me, and. checking my
horse, ] tried 20 assume a bravado l
was far from feeling as asked:
well, gentlemen, what is your will
with meY
lyon can imagine my surprise when
a boyish voice asked:
Kin you shave yourself?
81 answered that / always shaved
myself Without lowering his revolver
he looked across me to his pal on the
other side.
"'He uns viii do. Jim. Hop in an
III lead the horse
Having made up my mind not to be
dragged of in any such ignominious
manner. l said:
If you are going TO shoot me. !
suppose must give MP my life, as am
unarmed- II it 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, if yer don't try ter give US the
slip Shet your mouth now, mister. an
you'll II know more right soon.
We must have gone a mile before
we came to a turn in the road that
brought us out in front Of a 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 'thout askin much pay
Il wondered if l was 20 be compelled
to murder some one. The boys were
beardless mountain loafers-I had met
their type often, but never knew them
10 be desperadoes
81 was shown into the cabin by the
woman, one of the boys following with
the revolver, while the other waited 10
fasten the horse 10 q scrub oak. saw
figure stretched on settle, and the idea
flashed into my mind that / was mis-
taken for q ctor.
al am not q medical man, I began
10 explain. when the woman cut me
short
You uns 'ud been tew late eff
you uns was doctor. He passed outen
afore daylight, an it's mother kind of
Job we wanter heY done. Yer see, we
uns is a goin tew hey the biggest fun rel
evan was in these yeah pahts, an we
wanter hev the ole man shaved foh the
fust time, an there amt a man no
where aroun as shaYes hisself or emmy
body else.
''The revulsion of feeling which came
over me was not altogether pleasurable,
for did not fancy the idea of playing
barber 20 dead man. but when Hooked
at the cadaverous countenance and
tangled gray beard of the deceased l felt
a sort of professional pride in making
him look more like a mortal being and
less like wolf / had always been an
abstainer from strong drink. but filed
mp ca crude spirits that would have
killed me on an ordinary occasion and
tackled my silent customer with a 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 / had the old mountaineer
shaved the revoivers were laid aside and
was treated with the utmost hospi-
tally. The S'crk itself had not been
half as gruesome as l had imagined.
ard had to fight ludicrous tempta-
tion 20 pour barber talk into the deaf
ears he was such an Improvement over
himself when aliye-as judged by the
family lingo-that wanted TO ask him
TO look In a mirror declined the fee
rendered me by the boy Jim, and, sup
piled with jug of moonshine whisky,
was set in the right road and per-
mitted 70 leave.
Il found it true that in all that CON-
munity not a man had ever been shaved,
aud 1t was only in Difference to a whim
Of the old mountaineer, expressed ON
his deathbed, that he was made such a
curious exception I did not mention
my part in the transaction until was
far beyond that county line, for was
not sure that, precedent being set,
they might not again demand my serv-
ices. and another salesman has that
route Chicago Times Herald.