The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-07-02

s'Now, THEN, ZEB WHITE, CUM OUT YERE!"
from Alabamy, I believe, and he let it
be known powerful soon that he was
q hefty man in a scrimmage. He talk
ed so loud and blowed so high that ev-
erybody was skeart Of him. and he
Jest went around steppin' high and
bossin' the roost. That critter used to
cum down to my cabin and brag and
blow and tell how many men he'd
licked, and one day gin him plain to
understan' that didn't believe his sto-
ries. That made him mad, and he
went away sayin' as how he'd wallop
me fur his next victim. He knowed
was in pore health and couldn't fight
fly, but every two or three days he'd
cum down and stand in front Of the
cabin and yell:
".Now, then, Zeb White, cum out
yere and git the awfulest wallopin'
human critter ever received. I'm no
hand to brag, but I kin tie both hands
behind me and then chaw yo' up in
two minits. I've licked forty-seven
different men and never got my nose
skinned. Either own up that yo' dasn't
fight man OF cum out and be wal
loped.'
That's the way he'd talk to me-
continued Zeb. land I'd git so mad
that I cried like a child. Bimeby I
begun to git a leetlc better. and one
day when he was calm on me to cum
fo'th and be walloped I told him that
if he'd show up week from that day
I'd tackle him. He went away crack
in his heels and whoopin' and rejoic-
in, and the old woman sez to me- sez
she:
"'Zeb White. If yo' was a we'll man
yo' could waliop that critter befo' l
could make a hoecakc, but yo've bin
down the banks all summer, and yo'
can't git we'll in q week. I'm sorry
yo' passed yo'r word, but bein' it's
passed We'll hev to abide by it. III
cit whisky and roots tomorrer and
brace yo' up"
"And did you get better:" asked.
"No; got wuss Whisky and roots
didn't do me no good. When the week
was I'D, l was in bed and too feeble
to walk across the room. That pesky
critter knowed jest how it was with
me, and yit he cum and stood in front
of the cabin and shouted to the ole
woman:
"'Ar' this the dwellin' place Of a
yarmint named Zeb White?
"'She be-
"'Calls hisself the possum hunter OF
Tennessee, don't he?
"'Yes; he do
"'Has wrassled with bars ard Wild
cats and painters and thinks hisself
powerful on the fight?
"'That's my Zeb.'
"Then l hain't made no mistake.
Would yo' do me the everlastin' kind
ness to tell him to step out yere While
I chaw his ears off and stay my hull
ger
Hes sick abed just now, but it
yo'u cum back arter dark he'll make
yo' eat grass and bellcr like calf
".Then yo' kin be lookin' fur me,
Widder White. I'll be kinder sorry to
see death take him from yo', but l
must hev him fur my forty-eighth vic
tim. Good AFTERNOON, Widder-White;
| good arternoon.'
That's how they talked" said Zeb
| as he heaved rock at snake sun
ming itself on rock, "and Of co'se l
heard every woid of it. jest couldn't
help weepin' WIN my madness. How
was l 10 90 out and fight him When
| couldn't git outer bed? That's what
l asked the ole woman. and she sorter
winkcd and smiled and sez to me. seZ
| she:
| ".Zeb. doan' yo' worry no mo- bout
this walIopin' bizness. but leave it all
to ne. If that varmint shows up here
tonight. he'll he the wust licked man
in all Tennessee bcfo' he gifts away
! Blu who's gwinc to lick him:
! "'Ncver yo' mind
"She wouldn't say no mo-" contin-
ucd Zcb. "and l was 100 feeble to fig
ger it out. cried myself to sleep, and
it was artcr dark when woke up.
That thar varmint had cum back.
'corlin' to promise. and was in front
of the cabin a-shoutin':
"'Zeb White, the time has cum FUR