Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-09-04
HE Pix III BARBER.
SHAVED a DEAD MooNsHlNER, AND
THERE WAS NO "NExT."

Or1FN = - ~ CL-etC NlOOiNSl i''NG's, wv
THERE WIS NO "NExT."
The job rendered. With Some Emphasis.
by Ericn,.s of tho Deceascd-The TRAY
cling Man accepted. but Now Sells
Over Auo,hc: Route.
1T WAS in Tennessee, said tho tray
cling man. lit happened, on one of
those back country roads which I was
travelling on my way to 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 tho night l
knew that | was among tho moonshin-
orS. for the jug on Il stump with the
money under it WAS III evidence along
the road. | had no thought of being
molested in that country, where the
only warfare is against tho revenue
officers, and no one would have suspect
cd mo OF completely with the govern
mcnt
"A slight noise startled my horse.
and I leaned out of the buggy to look
into the chamber of revolver. At the
same time [ saw two figures, ono Oh
each side of me, and, checking my
horse, I tried to assume bravado [
WAS far from feeling as l asked:
"'Well. gentlemen, what is your will
with me?'
you can imagine my surprise when
a boyish voice asked:
Kin you shave yourself?'
Il answered that l 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 al
I'll lead the horse
Having made up my mind not to be
dragged off in any such ignominious
manner, | said:
If you are going to shoot me. l
suppose must give up my life, as I am
unarmed If it is money you want, p
TEL 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 Shot your mouth now, mister, an
you II know more right soon.
We must have gone mile before
we came 10 turn i'll the road that
brought us ont i'll front of 4 cabin much
larger than any had seen that day in
my travel y 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 aslin much pay
u 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.
II 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 scrub oak. l SAW a
figure stretched Oh asettle, and the idea
flashed into my mind that 1 was mis-
taken for q doctor.
1 am not medical man, began
to explain, when the woman cut me
short.
.'You uns nd been tew late eff
you urs was doctor He passed outen
afore daylight. an it's mother kind Of
job we waiter hev done Yer see, we
uns is goin tew hey the biggest fun rel
evan was in these yeah paints, an we
wanter hey the ole man shaved foh the
fust time, an there amt man no.
where aroun as shaves hisself or emmy
body else.
1.-The reyulsion 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 cadayerous countenance and
tangled gray beard of the deceased Ifelt
a sort OF professional pride in making
him lock more like mortal being and
less like wolf | had always been IN
abstainer from strong drink, but filled
up 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 revolvers were laid aside and
I was treated with the utmost hospi
tally The work itself had not been
half as gruesone as | had imagined,
and had TO fight ludicrous tempta
tion TO pour barber talk into the deaf
ears He was such an improvements over
himself when alive-as l judged by the
family lingo-that WANTED to ask him
to look in mirror declined the fee
rendered me by the boy Jim, and, sup
piled with jug of moonshine whisky,
was set III the right road and per
mitted to leave
Il found it true that in all that COM
munity not man had ever been shaved
and it was only in Difference to whim
of the old mountaineer, expressed on
his deathbcd, that he was made such a
curious exception 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.
Cid Leprosy Laws.