Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1903-12-17
CHAPTER VI.
a FENCING BOUT.

military rank aud title drop away D.,
did not let 30 be- known 10 his fellow
citizens. lie promptly called upon IN,
new commander aud made acqunint
arcc with Lieutenant Iitzhugh Bower
lry. who just then was experimenting
The work OF cleaning up an old cannon
ln the fort aud mcudiug some breaks
Boa the stockado.
Helm formed great liking for the
Dix irrnchmau. whose breezy freedom
of manner and expansive good humor
struck him favorably from the begin
Mug VI. Roussillous ability to speak
English with considerable ease helped
the friendship along no doubt. at all
events their first interview ended with
a hearty show OF good fellowship. and
as time passed they became almost Boa.
tcparnhlc companions during VI R0us-
silluu periods OF rest from his trading
excursions among the Indians They
played cards and brcwcd hot drinks
over which they told marvellous stories
the latest one invariably surpa ssiug all
its predecessors
Helm hnd au cyc-to business. aud
thc Indians o. valuable account So
that he soon had very pleasant rcla-
uous with most OF the tribes within
roach of his agents. This gave "a feel.
INK ~ great security TO the people OF
Niucrnncs. They pursued their mar
row agricultural activities with excel
lent results and rcdoublcd those social
gaycucs which. even In hut and cabin
under an the adverse conditions OF cx-
trcme frontier life. were dear 10 the
volatile and genial French tcmpcr-
mput
Lieutenant Beverley found much "
Interest him IN the quaint town. but
Toe piece de resistance was Onclc
Jp.pn, who proved 90 be both fasciunt.
..Aand unmunngcahle-n hard nut to
.st<. yet possessing kernel abso.
lutcly original In flavor. Beverley Wis
ltcd him one evening In his hut-it
might better Doe called n den a curl
ou.ly built thing with walls OF vertical
poles set in "a quadranguiar trench dug
iu thc ground, and rooted with grass.
Inside and out IL was plastcrcd with
clay. and The floor Of dried mud was ns
.uuuth and hard as concrete paving
o one end there was wide fireplace
ermy with SCOT. in the other mere
pcoUholo Tor a window. "a wooden
bench. q bed 81 skins md two or thrcc
stools were barely visible in the glo. m
ln the doorway Onclc Jazon sat whit
fling q slender billet of hickory into "a
rmrod for his long fintlock American
rifle
Maybe yc know simon Kcnton"
said thc old man. after he aud Beverley
had couycrscd FOR awhile, seeing thar
you are from Kentucky -chf'
Yes. I do know him well; he's %
warm personal friend OF mine" said |
Beverley with quick interest. Tor 10 |
surprised him that Onclc Jazon should |
know anything about kenion. "Do yod /
know him, NJ. JazonF"
Onelc Jazon winkod cononitcdly and |
sighted along his rudlmcntary ramrud |
to see n 10 was straight then. quicker !
ing his lips as II on the pant of wills
Ting, made an affirmative noise quite
impossible 20 spell
We'll. I'm glad YOU arc acquainted
with kcnton." said Beverley. where
did yod and ho come together
Ouclc Jazon chucklcd rcmInisccutly
and scratched the skinlcss. cicatrizcd
spot where his scalp had once flour
ishcd
"Oh. several Places he answered.
We see tibet hair a-hungin' there on
The WALTZ lie pointed az dry wisp
dangling under peg ia log barely
visible 10y the bad light Well thcts
my scalp. lie he, he" lie snickcrcd
ls If the fact were a most enjoyable
lokc. Simon kcntou can tell yc about
.Lct little affair. The Indians thought
was dead, and they took my hair; hut
wasn't dead. | was just a-givin' 'om
! possum act When they was gone /
got Mp from whore | was a-layin and
rottcd OF, My head was sore. and,
'ontreblcu. but l was mad! lie, hc,
lcw
All this time he spoke I'm French.
nd the English but poorly paraphras-
y his odd turns OF expression Ills
.rImaces and grunts cannot even bc
tinted.
1t was long story, as Beverley re-
eivcd IT, told scrappily, but with GER {
ain rude art In the end Oncle Jazon
aid with unctuous self satisfaction:
Accidents will happen. got my {
nance at thet Indian who skinned my |
cad, and ies' took bead on i'm with
~ old rifle. can't shoot much, never J.
'uld, but | happened to hit i'm square
the ler eye, what | shot at and it S
AS hundred yards Down he tum- {
les and | runs TO I'm and finds my Il
ime old scalp a-hangin' TO his belt. n
'oii, l lifted Off his hair with my 4
nife and united mine from the belt.
nd then had both scalps-he, he, he! d
@ ask Simon Kenton when ye see f
m, lie was along at the same time, h
al they made i'm run the gauntlet and h
'etty nigh beat the life out Of i'm. 81
d
twilight and moonlight were blend n
s softly when Beverley, on his way "
lck to the fort, departing from a di- a