Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1905-11-07

the sugar was handed to him he re-
sumed his seat on the floor and once
more gazed earnestly about him After
several minutes had elapsed he again
rose to his feet and once more asked
for a pound of sugar. When the or
| der was filled he resumed his seat
and again gazed about the room
The entire forenoon was spent in
this manner, the old mans orders for
pound packages of sugar alternating
with his visual inspections, and finally
just as the bugles were sounding for
noon in nearby military encamp-
ment, he gathered his packages OF
sugar together in his blanket and with
a grunt that was intended for good
day" took his departure.
Each of the 20 packages of sugar he
carried away with him weighed a lit
tie over a pound, for as the weighing
went on he stood by the counter each
time and insisted on being given
"down weight"
But old Jacob permitted his success
in Overreaching the trader to carry
him too far Reasoning that the ex-
cess of weight in his neighbor's pack
ages was rightfully his own by virtue
of his personal efforts. he punctured
the packages and deftly distracted a
morsel from each When the fact be-
came known among his neighbors 1t
awakened much Indignation, and was
quickly followed by formal demand
for restitution
The old man denied the charge and
fastened to explain that holes had
been rubbed in the packages while
they were being carried in his ban-
ket, causing some unavoidable loss
This explanation, however, found lit.
tie credence among the people and ii
was proposed at last, in order that
fair solution OF the charge might be
had, to hold "chalenge feast" in ac-
cordance with an ancient custom
among the Sioux when proof of some
evil deed was desired So a fat dog
was killed one day and its flesh used
in preparing a kettle of soup for the
feast When all was ready the peo-
pie gathered about the vessel and
after listening for awhile to an old
medicine man, who urged upon them
the Importance of telling the truth,
especially on so serious an occasion,
and who invoked in closing some ter
rible maledictions upon those who used
"forked tongues the ceremony began.
At first several women whose repu.
tations were in question took advan-
tage of the occasion to seek vindica-
ton, and coming forward one after
the other, extended cup for a small
serving of the soup, the act being un-
derstood as a challenge to their ac-
cusers. No one appearing against
them old Jacob next came forward and
extended his cup for a serving
At this moment the trader made
his appearance and, pushing his way
through the crowd, began TO speak.
1t surprised him. he said, considering
the way in which the packages were
carried, that all the sugar was not
lost on the way II was fortunate. he
asserted. that any was left But that
the people might sustain no loss, he
graciously promised he would add a
handful OF sugar TO the next purchase
each OF the complainants might make
When the trader ceased finally to
speak. one of old Jacobs neighbors
offered him his hand In token Of salts
faction Others quickly followed. and
the old man, now fully vindicated.
FASTENED TO drown the recollection OF
the serious charges made against him
in a cup OF soup generously forced
upon him By the servers.
II. n. BRINKERHoFF.
Col. u. g. A.. Retired