The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-04


ming since, folks say. They thought
be would die, sure, but lead can't kill
him.
/ remembered the incident, for
had chanced TO ride in the stage with
his mother on her way to see her son,
whom she believed to be dying my
Pally," she called him, and told me
that she herself had named him Pales-
tine, "bekase hits q good Scriptur'
name She was curioualy proud Of
her boy, although disappearing his
crimes; sorry that he did as he did,
but admiring his hardihood and power.
had seen Seagraves himself once.
He had galloped by me, frightening
my horse with his reckless speed aud
yell, and turning toward me as he
passed a pair offearful eyes. Whether
he was light or dark. wore a beard or
not, could not recall, but could not
forget those eyes, and / knew that
should know him again If ! ever saw
him.
By this time the thought Of Pal Sea-
graves had well-nigh absorbed the lit
tie part Of my lecture that was devoted
10 other aspects OF the liquor problem.
/ had no thought Of naming ham, but
/ knew that every one would know
whom / meant, aud i was quite willing
they should know, inasmuch as he was
at q safe distance And so the lecture
began.
was a boy Of twenty, cultivating
my frst mustache. and the minister
who introduced me told the people
who filled the schoolhouse not to de-
spise my youth, for, said he, 'Ireckon
he'll talk well, and / know he'll give
You the best he's got.
was through with my introduction,
and had started we'll upon the body Of
my lecture, and had reached the topic
Of intemperance and crime.
had just got into this when the
door opened, aud IN came Pal Sea
graves. He had q companion before
whom he was evidently. wlnded to
show of. and botL we're more or less
drunk. Respectful room, was made
for them, and they sat we'll toward the
rear, bat In plain sight, and their
coming sent q perceptble chill over
the audience. and worse than a chill
over me. i tried not 70 look that way.
but turn as would TO this corner aud
that, saw nothing but those eyes. I
talked on from sheer inability to stop
I could not forget what / had TO say.
I could not change it. had 10 go on.
/ confess I tried 10 soften down
some Of my illustrations, but It seemed
10 me that every such attempt brought
the statement out ia all the more IN
compromising form. I grew almost
desperate.
I soon saw that Seagraves recog-
nized his portrait, aud counted it q
good joke. He winked st his COM
panion and nudeed him. Then be
laughed, first softly, then aloud, and
then a coarse. defiant laugh. This ire
ritated me and steadied my nerve
somewhat. and began 70 say 10 my
self that he should hear the truth
about himself once. anyway. 50
gave myself more liberty, and went
straight ahead.
His laughing mood did not continue
long. He scovied; be scuffed bis
feet on the rough floor; he made some
discourteons noises; and all the time
I talked on as IL driven by fate, every
word sounding harder and more sting
ing than / had meant it 10, even when
I supposed that be would be absent.
AT length he rose and started to-
ward ne. walking unsteadily, partly
because he was drunk. PATTY because
such is the custom Of human centaurs
when compelled 70 use their own legs
Il vas not because / wanted to that ]
looked him straight in the eye. /
could not help III And talked on
because I could not STOP Perhaps
my looking At him had an effect; per-
haps he counted me small game; for
he turned on his heel and went out.
Many mountain scho0lhoases have
no glass windows, but this one had.
aud at one ] soon saw the hideous,
grinning. angry, drunken face OF the
desperado. There are few faces that
lock well through 3 window at night.
but am willing % affirm that no face
ever looked less attractive than bis
did to me. It was plain that be was
undecided what to DO. for Tconldread
his Thought Ia his drunken features
AZ times he seemed tempted 10 shoot
me through the glass and again, he
remembered apparently that 1 was a
boy, and that to Kill me would be
little out Of his line. and could dohim
little good.
A before. I kept my eyes on him.
aud every eye IN the schoolhouse was
fixed with mine on that pane Of glass
His curiosity soon overcame him. and
be came in again. apparently q little
more sober, and partly restored 70
good nature hy the fresh air. And I
found means about that time to draw
nay Lecture 60 a close.
In that part Of Kentucky the min
listers descend after a service. aud the
people come forward and shake hands
with them. I was q sort Of brevet
minister, and the preacher and i
stepped down. The first man to come
up and extend his hand, which he did