The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-02-16

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ssI ac1s speaRtss to goa" !" nc scid.
position in which Briggs had placed
him. ss0f course you're welcome to
what doin's kev here, but reckcned
these gentlemen, over there, y with a
vicious glance at Briggs, might fix ycu
up somethin better; they're so POW 'fcl
kind to your sort. y
The stranger threw down goldp;eco
on the counter and said, "Fork out
your whisky, then, waited until his
glass was filed, tcok it in his hand and
then drawing en- empty chair to the
stove sat down beside Briggs. "Seein
as you're that kind, - he said placing
his heavy hand on Briggs knee. "mebpo
you kin tell me if thar's shanty or a
cabin at Rattlesnake that I kin get for
a couple of weeks. I>saw an empty one
at the head Of the hill. You see, gen
tlemen," he added coni6entially as no
swept the drops Of whisky from his long
mustache with his fingers and glanced
around our group, .sI've got some busi-
ness over at Bigwood (our nearest town),
but as a place to stay at it amt ny
style y
WHAT'S the matter with Bigwood::''
said Briggs abruptly.
.sIt's too howlin, too festive, tco
rough. Thar's too much yellin and
shcotin goin on day and night. Thar's
too many card sharps and gay gumbolion
cavortin about the town to please me; !;
too much permiskous soakin at the bar
and free jimjams. What I want is a
quiet place whar man kin give his
mind and elbow q rest betwixt grippin
his shoctin irons and crookin in his
whisky; a sort OF slew, quiet, easy
place Like this. .
Veal stared ct him, Percy Briggs as
fxedly as any, but there was not the
slightest trace OF irony, sarcasm or pc
cUliar significance III his manner. He
went on slowly:
When I struck this here caGp3 mln-
it ago; when I seed that thar ditch
meanderin peaceful Ike through the
street, without g hotel CT free saloon OF
express Office on either SIDE, with the
smoke just a-curlin over the chinbly Of
that log shanty and tie bresh just set
fire to and a-s,nolderin in that potato
patch with Kind Of old time stingin
In your eyes and nose AID few wom-
ems euds just a-fntterin en- a line by
the fence, i says TO myself: sBulger,
this is peace. This is wot you're loolzin
for, Bulger; this is wot you're wantin;
this is vet you'll hev!' -
.sYou say you've business over at
Bigwcod. What business?" said Briggs.
cts a peculiar business, young fell
low, returned the stranger g1avely.
tThar's different men as has different
opinions about it. Some allows it's an
easy business; socne allows it's rough
business; some says it's sad business;
others says it's gay ard festive Sone
wonders as how I've got into it, and
others wonder how I'll get out Of it.
It's a payin business; it's a peaceful
sort Of business when left to itself.
.SIt's peculiar business business
that sort of b'lonss to me, though I
amt got no patent from Washington
for ia business that's my own. He
rose and said: "Lst's meander over
and take look at that empty cabin, and
if she suits me, why, I'll plank down
slug for her On the spot and move il to-
morrow. I'll pick up suthin in the way
of boxes and blankets from the grocery
and if thar's a corner whar kin stand
my gun and nail to hang up ny re-
volver, why, I'm ali tharn'
By this time we were 10 longer as
tonished when Briggs rose and not on
~ ACCOMPANIED the sinister looking
stranger to the empty cabin, but assist
ed him in negotiating with the owner
for fcrtnight's occupancy. Neyerthe-
less we eagerly assailed Briggs Oh his
return fer so-ne explanation Of this sii-
gular change in his attitude toward tic
stranger. He coolly reminded us, how
ever, that while his intention of exciud-
ing rufianly adventures from the camp
remained the same he had 40 right to
go back on the strangers sentiments,
which were evidently in accord with
our own. and although Mr.. Bulger's
appearance was inconsistent with them
that was only an additional reason why
we should substitute a mild firmness
for that violence which we al deprecas-
ed, but which might attend his abrupt
dismissal. We were all satisfied except
Mosby, who had not yet recovered from
Briggs change Of front. which he was
pleased to call "crawfshing. . Seem