The St. Johns herald., 1897-11-27
HE PLAYED BARBER.
SHAVED A DEAD MOONSHINER, AND
 THERE WAS NO "NExT."

4b Wdc LII cd4u bA1O e40N- cling man, "it happened, on one of those back country roads which l was travelling on my way to town where l had fine list of customers. The night was closing in, and I was wondering how long it would take me to reach a place where l could spend the night l knew that was among the moonshin- ITS, for the jug on stump with the money under it was in evidence along the road. I 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 complicity with tho govern ment.
 "A slight noise startled my horse, and leaned out of the buggy to look into the chamber Of revolver At the same time l caw two figures, one on each side Of me, and, checking my horse, l tried to asspue Q bravado l was far from teelug as I asked:
 Well, gentlemen, what IS your will with ne?'
 You can imagine my surprise when 8 boyish voice asked:
 Kin you shave yourself!
 "I 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 in any such ignominious manner, 1 said:
 "'f you are going to shoot me. l suppose l must give up my life, as am unarmed. If it is money you want, I''-
 "'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 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 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
 'I wondered if l was to be compelled to murder some one. The boys were beardless mountain loafers-I had met 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. saw a figure stretched on settle, and the idea flashed into my mind that I was mis- taken for doctor.
 T am not a medical man. began to explain, when the woman cut me short.
 "' You Uns Ud a been tew late of you uDs was a doctor He passed outeu afore daylight, an it's mother kind oi job we wanter hev done Yer see, we uns IS a goin tew hev the biggest fun'rel eyah was in these yeah paints, an we wanter hev the ole man shaved foh the fust time, an there ain't man mo- where aroun as slaves hisself or enny body else
 "The revulsion of feeling which came over me was not altogether pleasurable, for did not fancy the idea of playing barber to dead man, but when looked at the cadaverous countenance and tangled gray beard of the deceased l felt @ sort of professional pride in making him look more like mortal being and less like Q wolf l had always been an abstainer from strong drink, but filled up on 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 revolvers were laid aside and was treated with the utmost hospi- tality The work itself had not been half as gruesome as 1 had imagined, and had to fight ludicrous tempta- tion to pour barber talk into the deaf ears He was such an improvement over himself when alive-as judged by the family lingo--that Iwanted to ask him to look in a mirror l declined the fee rendered me by the boy Jim, and, sup piled with jug of moonshine whisky, l was set in the right road and per mitted to leave
 ''I found it true that in all that com munity not man had ever been shaved. and it was only in deference to whim of the old mountaineer, expressed on his deathbed, that he was made such curious exception. l 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 foute. Chicago Times Herald