The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-05-16
THE
!! SMITH GIRLS SLIGHT.
THE
BY OPIE READ.

JEFF Slogan and old man Mntterson
sat at the kitchen table long after the
remains of supper were cleared away
IL was a night of reminiscence with
the old man, and he told of the bears
and wolves he had slain in the days
when Tennessee was young. 'My old
granddad left me tho rifle" said he,
glancing toward corner of the room.
'and many time I've been advised
t have percussion lock put on it,
b at n flintlock was good enough for
him and it's got to he good enough
fer me. OF course you've seen the
IN, but I'll show it TO you again"
"Its beauty" said JEFF.
"Well, yes, unless you can find q
better word. And let me tell you
something, but You must not say any
thing about it. Granddad was be-
ginning to get pretty old aud little
things had begun to bother him. One
ofhis daughters married no-account
stage driver, and his half-witted son
ci.t fellow all to pieces at n sawmill.
So he fretted good deal. Well, one
hight he was coming home from n
muster, and n man named Bridge
Peters with him. All at once grand
dad stops in the road and says to
Bridge: IF / only knowed which one
of them stars up thar was my unlucky
star, I'd shoot it out. Bridge asked
If he thought his gun would tote that
far, and the old man hooted like an
owl. Don't you worry about that,
said he. Just pick out the star you
think is the cause OF my bad luck and
out she goes.
"Bridge was sort of reckless fell
low, so he looks up, he does,
and says; There she is, that star
off there about ID feet from the
moon. The old man didn't hesitate a
minute. He raised his gun--this hero
old one right here-and she cracked
like a whip-and what do you think
happenedp Out went the star like
snufiin' tallow candle. Bridge he
took to his heels, and it was enough
to scare any man, but granddad didn't
run. He walked off slow to show the
other stars that he wasn't afraid, but
he begins to git sick at his stomach,
and be the time he got home he could
hardly hold up his head. And. sir, he
laid for four weeks, aud then died.
JEFF looked hard at the old man and
said: 81 don't believe q word of it,"
''How do you account for it?"
81 account for it by not believ,
ing IT.; that's how" JEFF was in
q sorrowful mood that night, and was
not prepared to believe even the most
apparent truth.
"What are You thinkin' about,
Jsf?"
Liza Smith and her party"
"Sorter in the dumps because she
didn't ask you?"
"Well, don't like it,"
"Why don't you kill her dog?"
"What good would that do?"
"Why, don't you know that the bes
way to git even with a high head ed
woman is to kill her dog? 1t is
there's sort of q charm about it, and
If you kill woman's dog, and she
don't find out who does it, she'll fall
in love with you. It's a fact; shell
drap right down into pure love. Say
that Smith girl has dog that sh,
thinks the world OF. Why don't you
kill him as you go by there tonight
on your way home?"
"I'm half mind to. Got a pistol?'
mo, but You can take granddad'
gum"
'Is she loaded?"
with double charge OF powde
and a slug an inch long"
'I'm half inclined to do it,"
'I'll bet. the gal draps down int
the purest sort of love. / jest wan
to see it; these amt nothin' puttie
to me than fust rate article of love.
Only when he was out in the roa
did JEFF realize that he carried the oil
gun upon his shoulder. He halte
and, bare of head, sat upon rock h
let the cool air fan him. From owe
, the hilltop came the lark of the Smit
, girls dog. JEFF got up and strod
along until he came within sight {
Smiths house. He could hear til
merrymaking Of the Smith girl an
her guests. Through window
saw the company dancing; and th
Smith girl danced with fellow name
Alb Squat JEFF hated Squat. H
was cross-eyed and low OF brow. II
) thought that he saw her smile /
Squat and he gripped his gum. Br
there was no murder in his heart. H
aspirsd only to sssassinste . dog. Je
saw him coming down the hill.