Morris tribune., 1900-06-30
A LUCKY ASSIGNMENT.
BY A. E. BELL.


after separation Of more than dec
ace. After the experiences OF eacE
ellad been recounted at some length one
of them related the following story tc
a coterie of newspaper men who were
present:
1T was back in the eighties that
held a desk as city editor on the stan
of the Pottsville Pa.) Democrat.
had been working pretty hard, and my
health was failing, so one day the chief
advised me to take a month or two off,
go into the country and recuperate. He
further advised me that if l wished to
take the vacation l would be placed on
fnN pay On the condition that | write a
Better each week which might be of in
zferest to patrons of The Democrat.
Il had a friend located in a little
town in Washington county who was
engaged in the publication Of weekly
paper, and at once made up my mind
to go down and pay him visit.
- arrived at my destination in good
time and was effusively welcomed by
my friend and his estimable young
wife and made to feel at home imme-
diately.
Il Iounged about the town, which
had population of about 1900 souls,
and struck up quite large acquaint-
ance within a short time.
~"One morning, after l had been there
probably week, I sauntered into the
Office of my friend and found him in a
dreadful stew. His local man had tax
en- suddenly ill, and there was no one
else who could take an assignment that
had been mapped out for that days
work.
At seems that a man named Barron
had died at his home, about five miles
from town, and, as his father had been
a man of wealth and he. had gained
Considerable notoriety as a local char
acter, it was deemed a good idea to get
an extended obituary of the deceased
Barron The man owned property In
the mountains of a township that had
been named after his father and was
somewhat difficult of access.
Il was feeling well that morning
AMI. thinking a trip in the country
would do me good, offered myself as
tsnb on the occasion.
The offer was eagerly accepted, and
within a short time I was en- route in
buggy for the scene, which was des-
tined to prove lucky assignment, al
though I was not aware of the fact.
'tBy making numerous detours and
7 o+ T
able to reach the Barron home. 1t was
located between mountains which form
ed bowl shaped depression about the
house, which could be reached only by
"a narrow pass.
What an excellent location for
robbers rendezvous thought as l
passed along the narrow lane. Here
handful of men could Withstand regi-
nent of soldiers drove up to the log
cabin, which was built against the side
of the mountain in the farthest corner
of the depression, and stopped. A half
dozen dirty looking children were play
ing about the doorway, and they all
dropped their play the instant they
caught sight of me and ran inside the
hut.
II walked leisurely to the door, which
stood wide open, and raped. A sharp
featured woman made her appearance
after had waited a few moments, and
i stated the purpose of my visit.
81 was invited in, and chair was
pushed forward for my use.
The woman disappeared through
low door at the rear of the hut, and /
took the opportunity of making a few
observations of my surroundings. The
hut was furnished with a couple of
beds, rusty cook stove and a. rickety
Dld table, and everything denoted pow
erty.
'"The woman returned by the time 1
had taken look around and was fol
lowed by middle aged man with as
viIlainous a countenance as you would
care to see. He was younger brother
OF the deceased, and he began to give
me some facts regarding the life of the
Hlan whose obituary | was to obtain.
while was taking notes another
man came in and when l was through
with the task in hand took a look
around the hut. AS quickly as my eyes
fell upon the third person it struck me
that had seen him somewhere. He
was of rather nice appearance, had a
sandy mustache and was well dressed.
II had surely seen him at some previous
time and, with an object in view, in
quired if that was a son of the deceas-
ed. was gratifed to know that his
name was Barron also, for at that very
x1n0ment it flashed upon me that / had
seen him in police court in Pottsyille |
n1y a few weeks before under arrest
Tor passing bogus money.
81 began to make some inquiries Of
i'm, and he told me that he was en-
1leyed in Pottsyille and was at home
or the funeral Of his father and in
ended going back to his work the next
ny.
Having nothing else to detain me, |
fook leave of the people and started
Lack to town. drove slowly down the