Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-05-02

eyes" Green draW1ed,""T shouldn't
be surprised if you found it little
too interesting at times-particularly
in the Missouri country-that's the
habitat of the James gang, you know"
smiled at the thought of such
doughty villains as the James set
ting upon such a weak specimen as |
looked to be after my long Illness.
"And by the way" Green went on,
Frequently you'll have to carry
lot of cash around with you before
you find a bank where a draft can be
purchased. Carry your money con-
cealed in the simplest way. Under
no circumstances contradict anyone
out there, for the present-day west
erner doesn't relish being called
liar-and if you do find yourself load
ed up with money you have collected,
make il point to get rid of it just rs
soon as ever you can. If you do all
these things 1 believe you'll have a
good time and be greatly benefited
by the change"
| thereupOn left Green and began,
at once, to prepare for my trip. On
the 10Th l saw my employer again in
his office and received from HIM some
final instructions, the nature Of which
I will not state. as they have no bear
ing upon this narrative.
! left Kansas City for Kerr on the
afternoon of November 4 and there
after for ten days hovercd in the Vi
cinity making" the villages and cross
roads on the way to Joplin. My route
took me off the beaten line of travel
and from town to town after leaving
Kerr I made my way by stage, or
oftcner blackboard depending upon
wayfarers in several instances to give
me a lift from point to point. Dis
agreeable as this means of procedure
was ii was augmented by the fact
that until ! reached Joplin ] would
be compelled to carry the sum of my
collections with me. ! reached 4
certain little hamlet-the date I finl
in my diary which 7 found great
interest in keeping up during the
trip-November 18th. I engaged a
room i'm the National hotel. which
belied its name, and experienced a
certain sense of relief in the thought
that the next day would find me in
Joplin at my journeys end and in
touch with a bank which would fur
nish me with a draft in return TO"
the $G40 securely wadded into black
leather pocketbook, at the moment
reposing over my heart in the inside
pocket of my waistcOat. l found my
business easy and speedy of transac-
ton in this little village and when
finished resolved to proceed on my
way at once if a team and driver
were available to take me to Joplin
which lay few miles to the east. !
| made inquiry of the proprietor of the
hotel-who also ofiiciated as clerk,
| chambermaid and waitress-and was
informed by him that l might he
able to get a team at thanks" The
establishment of "Hank" was pointed
out to me and thitber l went to learn
that a team and blackboard was to be
had but no driver.
eHowsomeever," said Hank-a tall,
raw-boned Missourian in homespun
and cowhide boots-"I'm Iookin' fer
Joe back b. swim o'clock-twon't take
more'n three hours t git thar. if We
wanta git move on" | assured him
that l did and he said: "Wall, under
them circumstances eff Joe hain't here
b. seven I'll drive we over myself" a
price for his services and those of the
team was set, which though high,
readily agreed to. I returned to tho
National and bided my time listening
to the landlords stories Of outlaws
who within the year had driven thC
more peaceful element Of that part
of the state almost to desperation OF
more than one occasion. In the
course of the conversation The James
gang was referred TO at which th'
proprietor of the National told me
series of stories of those desperadoe'
of such blood-curdling a quality tina
I NAV say I was in no condition t.
face the darkness of the Joplin road
when a few minutes after seven
negro, with a peculiarly repulsiy'
face thrust his head into the room
bv way of the front door and asked
"Fellah yah t go t Joplin?'
I replied that 1 was the "fellah,
whereupoD the negro said: "Ahm
drive yah over-Hank say yah wants
yo t'ni0ht. Yah a'readV?"
| left the hotel to find a buckboar'
= drawn up in front.
"You know the road weli?" 1 in
ouired. as we set off at a good pace
. Ii was too dark for me to see tn
pegro's face, but l am sure broa'
. grin must have accompanied his reply
: which was. 600 Lor'-know de road
All guess ah does! All done gon
trabelled it mon 100 times. Yah! Yah
G Da's right, massa, mon 100 times"
$ "And you're not afraid?" I asked
= mindful of the landlords stories o
n robberics, murders and the like whic
/ had occurred thereabout almost with
G in the week.
s "'Fraid!" sncered the driver
q "vha's use bein' 'fraid less'n dey gC
/ money" Then he added quickly; "Y
+ got amy money!" 1t sounded like
n command to "stand and deliver" an
It 1 felt my heart rise in my throa
It But 1 managed to calculate as rougI
49, " as possible: "No% a cent"
n The negro subsidized, strangely
s. thought, and said quietly: Den d
II amt nof1in' TO yo' t be fraid OF
,r The which I was not especially gli
,r to hear him assure me for had none
is