The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-03-08
A BUNCH OF GRASS.
In the quiet dusk Of Il summer even
ing half u dozen men were seated In
front Of u ramshacKle old building that
bore this sign:
:STORE AND POST OFFICE :

One Of the men had been telling q
story. This man that went down to
Fresno" he was saying, felt mighty
bad because the girl wouldn't marry
him, and did all he could to boom the
liquor business. One day he ran into
u fortune teller, who told him he must
steal hair from the tail OF d blue
roam horse, between midnight and day.
light, and carry the hair in his vest
pocket. Then he would have good
luck for year, and any girl he fell in
love with would marry him right
away.
"Now, blue roam horses are not SO
plenty, but one day the man sees one
and thinks he'll get good luck in
stanter. So he holds out q twenty dol
lar gold slug and asks the man driving
the horse for hair out the horses 9
tail. The man that owned the horse
catches his breath after awhile and
allowed that he couldn't spare hair
out Of that horses tail 3; that new hairs
didn't grow when old ones were pulled
out but maybe he might, as a favor,
spare q small one, If the man would
come up with another. So the man got
the hair, but [ guess 1t didn't BRING
him much luck, because 1t wasn't more
than a month afterward till he had q
difference of opinion with the Sheriff
OF Fresno, and tho Coroner said the
Sherif was right
So, you see, that's what he got for
buying the horse hair instead OF steal.
ing it, like the fortune teller told him
TO do.
You amt going already, are you,
Will ?" the speaker asked as q tall
young man, Will Markham by NAME
rose and stretched himself.
Yes" the latter replied. I've a
good twelve. mile ride, and | guess
better start"
He went to the fence for his horse,
mounted, waved his hand to the group
in front Of the store, and then rode
out into the deepening shadows of the
night. And all through the long and
lonesome ride he kept wondering if
there could be any virtue in carrying
hair from tho tail of o blue roam
horse.
Early in the morning two mon were
conversing in Sheriff Houstons spare
room. The muscular and portly
Sheriff, or Squire, as most far western
Sherilfs are called, had been speaking
earnestly to the other man, who was
seated in a massive arm chair, ono Of
those oldfashioned concerns built for
uuraDlllCy ana comfort.
How long do you reckon it'll be.
Squire" asked the younger man, be-
fore ynu-" He seemed at II loss for a
word to properly express his idea.
Not more than couple OF hours, u
said the Sheriff, anticipating him.
80 We must have witnesses, you know"
Oh, yes, Of course. But being as it
can't be done legally more than once,
and as it's to last forever, you might
say thought that"
Never mind what you thought"
interrupted the Sheriff. rs if his au.
thority or ability was being questioned.
Z" | can tie the knot as tight as any
other man, can't ?"
Don't doubt that, Squire"
"Then don't think any more about
it. AS for your bejng little nervous,
that's natural {; hccn shat way myself.
Why, | remember the night l got
married, | was 80 skeery-"
amt nervous or skeery, squire" "
objected the younger man, as he
Strengthened himself in his chair.
Then don't say anything more"
said the Squire, decisively. You are
in for good now, and there's no back.
ing out. That settles it. Would You
like drink of water ?"
Wouldn't mind Squire"
Sheriff Houston went into the next
room and returned presently with a
half-filled tin dipper, which he held
up to the mans mouth, fitting IL gent
ly as the contents diminished. Then
he placed the dipper on the table,
crossed the room, looked out into the
yard and said " We'll, I've got to
feed my stock. Hope you won't weak.
en- while I'm gone"
No fear OF that Squire"
The young man leaned back in his
chair and became very thoughtful of
the deed about to be performed. He
was thinking, thinking, thinking. The
big clock over the fireplace ticked OFF
the seconds, and his thoughts kept
time to their beat A rooster crowed
Justify in the doorway, aud he frowned
at the interruption. The big clock
toiled the hour, and he counted the
strokes without looking up, then fell
again to thinking. Finally he was half
aroused by q voice asking
" Whore did you come from ?"
He raised his eyes and saw little
girl OF nine or ten years, clad in q
calico slip and minus shoes or stock.
ings. He noticed the frCcklcd, tomboy
face and tousled hair, but made nc
reply. The child eyed him closely for
You're o horse thief !"
A hot flush Of shame spread over the
mans face as he shook his head.
Then what have you got those or
for ?" And she pointed to the hand
cuffs that fastened each wrist to the
arms Of the heavy chair. The mans
head dropped upon Lis breast. nc
have been caught in the act and be
forced to ait there and wait for the
hangman was bad enough, but to be
taunted by a talkative child seemed tot
much to endure.
The little girl now saw she had hurt
his feelings, and realized that no mat
tor what the mans crime had been II
was wrong for her to mock him. She
sought to make amends by changing
the subject, and coming closer, whis
pered, as If telling secret, " Cal
write"
The man came back to life slowly
Bet you can't"
Yes, can. III show you.' AND
she ran to get pencil. "B But | ain
got no kFriting paper."
"That's too bad. Here put you
hand inside my vest. There's lette
there's you can write on the back of thu
envelope"
4 l. ntk