Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1901-03-22

reScOoS nln from turr BILE deathr
"Ive read them stories" said the
post trader.
"But You don't believe 'em." said the
old bullwhacker. ''You amt sanguine
concernin the good that there Is In your
Teller man. II you git bad deal. you
decline TO chip In an lay down your
hand instid OF calm fer cards an draw
In to the ace"
81 don't draw TO no two spot In the
hope OF conpletin a fiush."
well my the'ry is that there Amt
no gaioot so low down but II you treat
him with kindness an keep him close
herded he will show the good that's In
him. Did 1 ever tell you about old
man Haines an Gus Minnlck? Wen.
1t goes to prove what l wuz a-sayin.
Old man Haines lived out on Blue
creek apiece above where Il empties
Into the Platte. opposite the mouth OF
Ash Hollow, where Harvey cleaned ND
the Sioux. He wuz Jest about the most
benevolent old duck that ever ripped
up tough sod with balky team of
bulls. Long sufferln wuzn't no name
fer him. He had two boys that wuz
Jest like him. an his ole woman wuz
worse'n he wuz
Zone fine, cloudy evensu Gus Minnick
an Todd Blakey comes along an rustles
ten head OF old man Haines' ponies
an wuz hikin south with 'em when
they met up with q crowd of inquIrin
strangers who were driftin back down
Prairie Dog into Kansas after an on
successful pursoot OF some north bound
boss thieves. The boys had too many
brands In their bunch, an one Of the
strangers reckernized Blakey, so they
tied their feet under their horses
bellies an headed fer the nearest tim
Der. They give Blakey the first swing
in an wuz adjustin the grass rope to
Gus neck when old man Haines comes
up with his biggest boy. Arch. They
had been hot an close on the trail all
the time.
"As soon as they explained who they
wuz an identeried their ponies, the
boss stranger allowed that there
wuzn't no reason why the ceremonies
shouldn't perceed, an he throwed the
other end OF the rope over the limb.
soy NAAC OAN IAttDt YOU
goin to hang that poor boy. air your
i reckon I am says the boss stran-
gler, cheerful an gay.
~ don't believe Ii helps n man TO
hang him. says Haines. you Jest give
him up to me, an I'll take him back to
the ranch with me an surround him
with moral Influences an keep him out
of bad company. He's got good In him,
an I'll bring II out OF him an make n
useful citerzen Of him.
swell, the long an short of 1t wuz
that he begged so loud that they let
Minnick go, an old man Haines started
back with him. On the way he talked
TO Gus like father an told him how
wrong II wuz TO rustic cayuses when
he could get 'em himself by workin
honust fer 'em. He made Gus n pres
ent OF the ten that he had stole as n
starter an offered him good wages to
work on the ranch.
Gus staid there fer two months, an
then he got inter argument with the
biggest boy about breakin n colt an
slot him up an lit out. Old man Haines
wuz real provoked about 1t, but he
S0AR(0 OA a hOlct puL OUT
Minnick an overlook him at Box FL
der. AS soon as Gus seen him he
throwed down on him with n Winches-
ter, but the old man told him to behave
himself an quit monkeyin with fire.
arms.
sh'd think you'd seen the evil OF
them sort OF actions after KILN Hem
ry.' he said.
Ibid kill himT says Gus.
"'Yes, you did, says the old man as
severe as he knowed how. AN sh'd
think you'd be ashamed OF yourself. I
don't wonder you felt as IL you didn't
want to look me In the face after sech
actions All the same, don't want
you stragglin of where you'll get inter
bad comp'ny, so you jest come right
back home with me. We've got to have
them colts broke, an we're short hand
ed now
"Well, Gus knowed how forgivin the
old man wuz, an he went back, an they
all avoided the subjec' OF Henry, SOS
not to hurt his feelln's. He staid on a
month longer, an then because the
old woman burned his cakes fer him
AO uCI Wllll the Skillet. The
other boy told him that that wuzn't no
way TO do, an Gus got mad an mas
sacred him with the butcher knife an
then set fire to the house an lit out.
when old man Haines got back an
found out what had happened. he said
that Ii wuz enough to make man lose
patience, but he wuz sot in his ways.
an he said that he would make a good
citizen OF Gus In spite OF hill an high
water. So he went out after him again
an coaxed him back. an everybody
said that Gus was a changed man from
that time forward, as meek as Moses
an honust as the day"
'Are they Twin there together YETI"
inquired the post trader. with some in
terest.
The old bullwhacker took a large
chew Of tobacco before replying. Then
he said: 81 wuz hopin you wouldn't
asst me that question. becuz It might
seem to milertate against my the'ry.
The truth Is that the old man sent GINS