Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-22

- was late arriving; at the grounds all
the seats in the tabernacle were filled.
so I strolled around to one side and
Joined party Of "the settlement boys
who were here and there gathered in little
knots talking. AS I drew near they be-
came silent and seemed to regard me with
sullen suspicion. I addressed them with
the remark: "How's things with you,
gentlemen" one replied: "An right, how
do you do yourself?''
I gradually drew them into CONVERSE
ton and told them my latest joke at
which they heartily laughed and we were
henceforth fast friends.
discovered they were waiting for one
''Lias" Mullins and 1 judged from their
conversation he was a ruling spirit
amongst them. expressed regret that
we could not get seats under the taber-
nacle. All smiled and said they didn't
want no seats, they had come to be
coming and all the gals looked like mas
on the platform singing and their preach
er wasn't there. The conversation drift
ed 10 the merits and dement's Of their
horses and the latest dancing frolic at
Hodge GOthard's, where Las Mullins had
give jim Fossett a dollar not to play
Rye straw" on his fiddle, just to worry
Ned Blackshear; and give Mandy Simp-
son pound Of snuff to slight Tom Dobbs.
While they were thus speaking some one
said. 'Yonder comes LAS now
On looking up saw a horseman coming
at a rapid canter. He Hoped up close to
u crowd, dismounted with a conse-
quential flourish, tethered his horse to
swinging limb of a tree. put his bride
reins back or his saddle. bowling his
horses neck thereby, cut him about the
TANKS with a switch and said. YEA, sir"
His horse was thin sorrel with two
r~NH "a Ind LON .sanT HrFH av,I
very thin name, a white face and one
glass eye. His saddle was of the high
horn. raw hide variety with heavy leather
stirrups; his bride was brown leather.
the brow band OF which was wrapped
with red and yellow flannel and tied in
bow knot at the headstall just beneath
the horses ear and was pinned with
large Terrell campaign button. He came
towards us and as he advanced 1 took
occasion TO observe him closely. He was
rather tall and slender, his closely knit
frame was Indicative of great strength
and agility. his movements were quick
and decisive. His face indicated charac-
ter; his eyes fun. lie was welcomed by
his friends. I was introduced. He wore
rather heavy boots with very high heels
on each Of which was strapped a brass
spur. He wore a light checked suit; his
shirt was a delicate blue flannel with
red embroidery down the front pleats,
turn down paper collar with a reversible
bow cravat. the color Of striped stick
candy on which there was pinned a gauzy
looking metal fly, straw hat with a red
speckled blue band about completed his
costume. At his vest he wore a heavy
brass watch chain from which dangled
a miniature green cucumber pickle of the
Hynds variety and helpless small white
stone elephant with a brass rod through
its body.
He only glanced at the tabernacle. I
was requested 10 tell him my joke, which
he enjoyed. LAS influence over his
friends was absolute and they looked up
on him IN a spirit OF love and admiration,
for which I could but admire him. He
then spoke 20 Us as follows: We'll. boys.
you Jest orter been with me er FRIDAY