The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1898-05-14

made grand stand play of drop
ping the knife he had used in picking
the walnut into his coat pocket with
the blade open. The rnse was effect
i've and the old man went over into
the court park and sat with bowed
head in deep meditation for a long
time. Seroggs was hidden but where
he could watch the unfolding of his
scheme, and when he appeared ON
the street, the old man hailed him,
as Scroggs had anticipated, for a
conference.
'Mr. Seroggs, you have done me
up in the dicker, but you traded
squar' l wouldn't take that beast
ly crowbait home and let my folks
see him for the best farm in Arkan-
sas. Can't you help me to trade him
off,"
/ Scroggs scratched his head and
was lost in profound meditation long
enough to create the desired impress
sion. and then said
why, Uncle, there Is a fellow in
town who has a purity good mewl
and he might trade for little money
to boot, but you'll have to trade
sight unseen, for he would want to
fight you sure, if he seed your boss
first. I'll go and see him. You stay
right here till come back, and don't
say a word to a Twin soul"
So Scroggs, who was himself own
er of the said "mewl"-the poorest,
sorriest and most utterly worthless,
blind old brute in the eounty-post-
ed off to a see a certain blacksmith,
ID crony, and between them they laid
the plan of campaign.
Seroggs says he had to retire from
the blacksmith shop repeatedly to
keep from exploding with laughter
at the bantering on both sides, and
that he shall remember until his dy-
ing day chow eloquently that good
old man did lie in describing the
strong points of the "hoss." The
trade was made-sight unseen-the
old man giving a silver watch and
So so ito boot" The three went to
get the mule and it was noticed that
the old man turned pale as he OBJ
served they were approaching the
Scroggs stables. When the old man
saw the result of his last venture he
sat down upon log, broke into
profuse sweat and famed himself
vigorously. He denounced Scroggs
in the most horrible profanity ever
heard in Boone county, and then
begged and prayed alternately for
some one to escort him safely out of
Harrison. But Scroggs was not
done yet He wanted the old mans
halter. He said: Take your cussed
mewl often my premises, The
heads of families around hyar are
raisin' Cain on account of their vim
men folks seem him and you must
take him away" He got the halter
to release the old man, who swore
that he would die before he would
ever LAY his hand on a strap of
leather attached to such a stinkin
brute" The last seen of him he was
trudging YEARLY homeward carry
ing his saddle and muttering,
"What'll Becky say3"
Don't bear down too hard on us
because of this letter, Herald. you
have the waste-basket handy, and
the waste-basket in newspaper
Office often yawns for the best of
things there.
But-between us-is "Scroggs"
any meaner than the merchant who
lies to his customer about the cost
price of his calicos, or about the pi-
Gus farmer who weighs the wheat
short, the jolly miller who Sights the
weight in turn, the mining shark
who salts a mine, or the newspaper
which deliberately seeks to give
prominence to man socially, know
ing him to be a rascal inherently?
The parade of the "Clendenin Ri
fees, under the command Of Captain
John Newman, on Saturday last,
was splendid exhibition of skill and
discipline and the old soldiers are
loud in their expressions Of surprise
and pleasure thereat. We are proud
of our military company from Cap
tain Newman down to the shortest
private in the rear rank. Newman is
editor of the TINES, a newspaper sec
ond to none in the state in editorial
strength and typographical neat
ness. He is organizer and director
of the Harrison Silver Cornet Band,
of seventeen pieces, and it has scarce