The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-09-14

the gov'ment. Two days war all
they give me to take my last fare
WE'LL" he said, slowly rosining his
bow.
"What did you come up here forG"
ITO git out Of civilization, /" re-
sponded the stranger. I'm dis
gusted. People lie so thar's trouble
everywhere, n the only man you re
sure is anywhar near square with
the law is the feller jest out'n jail. J"
There didn't seem to be any use
of asking further questions OF the
newcomer, but 1 thi,ak the opinion
was general that to him truth was
stranger than fiction. he laid his
fiddle on the log and looked atten-
lively at his mule.
eff it wasn't for helm so Uneasy
about Jeremiah, who needs a drink,
1 might play a little tune on the fd-
dle," he said. Edgerton took the
hint and q bucket and went down to
the creek.
A triffe Of a glow in the western
sky was all that was left Of the day
when Home, Sweet Home" round
ed up the performance. Hooked at
Edgerton, who was lying with his
hands clasped behind his head, and
thought l saw tear in his eye; see
ing but dimly myself. I wasn't GER
tain. But then and there, Lone
Star adopted Ezekiel and Jeremiah.
We told him of deserted corral
q mile up the road, and he became
one of us. Some days, when he felt
unusually energetic, ne would run
a rocker down by the creek for a
time but he preferred to play or
sing, and the camp approved'of his
judgment
think that Scroggins was the
most unpleasant man who ever saw
the sun set in the Pacific. He was
80 mean that he would quarrel with
himself when no one else was
around, and strangers passing by
his cabin used to pause and wonder
ut the one voiced row within. He
married Castiian, who was very
fortunate and died a few years aft
az the wedding, leaving their daugh-
ter, Nita, alone with the old scoun-
irel. The blackest pirate always
has the greatest treasure, and Nita
was as pretty as her father was ug-
ly, as good as he:was bad.
On acclaim adjoining Scroggins'
lived Atkinson, who was q hard
working young fellow, with title
to plenty Of pay dirt. OF course
there was new edition Of the old
yarn of the fervent youth and the
lovely maid. AS soon as Scroggins
suspected the attachment, he began
to concentrate his enmity, which he
had hitherto directed impartially
against all men, in Atkinson's d.
rection. After he found other plans
ineffective, he began seeking way
to reduce Atkinson's earthly neces-
sities to pine board coffin.
Adjoining claims furnished pre-
text for a quarrel One morning
scroggins eased his revolver in its
holster, shouldered his shovel and
went out. Instead Of stopping on
his own property, he deliberately
walked some 90 feet over the line
and went TO work in Atkinson's ter
ritory. Atkinson looked at him in
amazement, and Scroggins stopped
shoYeling to return the gaze.
"M you think, Bob Atkinson, that
ashadder Of a skeleton like yerself
hez patent ter all the pay dirt in
these diggin's. ye're way of yer
level. Jest take up this trail, ef
ye'1e lookin fer trouble All We
want OF you aroun hyar ez yer
tracks. Sabei"
Scroggins made mistake. His
temper was quicker than his hand,
and he opened the battle before he
brought up his artillery, for as the
sight Of his revolver left the hol-
ster he heard a little click and rails
ed his eyes to look into the mouth
of Atkinson's weapon. Edgerton.
coming down the trail, heard Bob
speak sharply: "Giti And il you
ever set foot on my place again
you'll have to be carried Off"
Scroggins looked into his eyes and
then backed slowly and sullenly
away.
That afternoon Jerry and John
son. on their way up from the val
ley, stopped to rest at Cayuse Bend
As they stood the silence was bro
len by the clatter of hoofs, and
around the bend, side by side, came
two horses. The riders were Bob
and Nita.
"Goodby, boys" said the former,
as he reined up. "Nita and are on
our wedding journey to happier
times, we hope. May we ask that
you say nothing of having met usi
Luck go with you.
The mist crawled upward through