The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1897-02-19
No Robbers on Murder Crock.


A stranger travelin through the set
tlement one day last week along the
old Federal road got skeered out of
about seven years growth and happi-
ness by Red-eyed Bill Travis down
there in Murder Creek swamp.
You see they are bui1din of a rail-
road through there and from the way
they laid the plans off it strikes the
big road for some two or three hundred
yards along there in the swamp. They
have now throWed up high bank and
put down the crossties ready for film
and finishin the railroad. The main
public wagon road had to be cut out
new and it makes circle of somethIn
better than q mile around through the
swamp.
Red-eyed Bill Travis is what you
mought call an all-around white man.
but his eyes are forever and eternalIy
red so as to make you think he has
looked too long and lovingly upon the
early runnins of the corn. And Red
eyed Bill lives right there ON the old
Federal road in sight of the Murder
Creek swamp. i
was out at the lot pushin his plow hands
off to the field and had his six shooter
buckled on in plain sight OF anybody.
Out of pure goodness and pity for the
stranger Bill stopped him and told him
he would better go the new cut road
around through the swamp, as they had
tore the reglar road up terrible in
buildin a railroad. The stranger made
out like he was powerful glad and
thankful, but he had took particular
notice of Bills personal experiments
and the weapon he was wearin. So he
driv right straight on down the main
road to1. ard the swamp.
"Look at that burned Internal idiot"
says Bill. "I'll bet, by gatlins, he thinks
I am drunk and tried to git him to take
the new cut road around through the
swamp so I could follow him and rob
him. will go and see him safe acrost
the swamp"
With that Red-eyed Bill called for his
saddle horse and mounted and rid on
down the road. He caught up with the
stranger jest as he driv up to where the
railroad works put in and come to
halt.
'I have come to let you know, dad
burn you, that when told you to take
the new cut road around through the
swamp it want in my plans to follow
you and kill you and rob you" says Bill.
which he was still red-eyed and had his
weapon on him.
The stranger he was jest as pleasant
and polite as basket of chips to Bill
and lowed he would turn around and go
back and take the new cut road.
'No, I'll be doubly dad burned il
you WILL" says Bill. 'Durn your fool
pictures, will have to learn you the
difference between a southern gentle
man and a highway robber, and amt
got a blame thing to do but stay right
here and make you drive on. Crack your
whip now and drive right on acrost the
swamp"
"But how in the round created world
can / drive on over these railroad
works without smashup?" says the
traveller.
Don't make a continental durn bit
of difference about that" says Bill, lay
in his hand on the butt of his weapon.
"You drive on"
And bless your sweet soul, honey, the
stranger he driv On, whilst Red-eyed
Dill stood by to see the show out. When
the traveller landed on the other side
his horse was goin on three legs and one
wheel of his buggy had went slap to
pieces.
"Now you can go your way and viii
go mine," says Red-eyed Bill, as he
waved a last farewell at the traveller, 'sbut
the next time you pass this way keep it
in your remembrance that we don't
raise no highway robbers on Murder
creek"