The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1906-05-18

In the mountings2 They say there IL
no bIg money i'm 'stillin' whisky an not |
a-payin' of the high tax on II. It's a
resxy business. or will be when the
Yanks get themselves settled down
into possession, like, but | kin see
you're game fer resks, an ef you want
workin' pardner I'm your man.
There's a water power just little way
down the mounting in "A valley that one
good man with a rifle kin defend.
"Thank you for your offer. answer
cd Duncan But I'm not thinking OF
settling in the mountains. I'm going 10
the west If can get there Now, to DO
that I must cross the valley. ana
must have some provisions. Can you
sell me a side Of bacon. little bag or
meal and little salt|
what kin you pay with. misterT
"Well. | have no money, of course,
except worthless Confederate paper,
but | have two pairs of Colts navy
six revolvers, and I'd be glad to give
you one pair Of them for my dinner
nv horses feed and the provisions l
have mentioned"
''NOw look a-here, mister" broke In
the mountaineer, rising and straighten-
ing himself to his full height OF six
feet four. when you come to my door
you was mighty hungry. You axed FER
q dinner an boss feed. an I've done
give 'em to you free, gratis an fer
nothin'. No man on the face o Gods
vearth kin say as how he ever come to
81 Watkins house i'm need Of a dinner
an a boss feed 'thOut a-gittin both.
An no man kin say as how 81 Watkins
ever took cent o pay fer a-entertaln-
in of angels unawares, as the preach
ers says. But when IL comes to fur
nishin' you with a side o bacon an
some meal an salt, that's more differ
enter. That's business. There's mighty
little meal an mighty few sides o ba-
con in these here parts, but | don't
mind a-telin' you as how my wite's
done managed to hide a few sides o
bacon an a little meal from the felers
what come up here to collect the tax in
! kind. Ef you choose to take one o
/ them sides o. bacon an little meal
an salt an give me one o. your pistols,
I'm quite agreeable The gun mout
come in handy when | git a little still
a-goin' down there in the hOler.'
I'll do better than that" answered
Duncan. "I'll give you a pair of the
pistols, as | said
Hold on! Go leetle slow, mister,
an don't forgit nothin'. You promised
to gimme the par O. pistols fer the
bacon an meal an salt an fer yer din
ner an boss feed. I've done tole you
as how ST Watkins don't never take no
pay fer dinner an boss feed SO you
can't offer me the par o pistols 'thout
offerin' TO pay fer yer entertainment o
man an beast. an won't have that,
tell you"
VERY we'll" said Duncan. 81 didn't
mean that. I'll give you one of the
pistols in payment for the supply OF
provisions That will end the business
part Of the matter Now, I'm going tC
do something else with the other pisto
the mate of that one"
With that he opened his pocketknif'
and scratched on the silver mounting
OF the pistol butt the legend To )
Watkins. in memory Of Il visit From
GuifOrd Duncan. Cairo, Ill
Then handing the inscribed weapon
to his host. he said:
Il have right to make you y little
present. purely in the way OF friend
ship, and not as pay for anything a
r all | want TO give you this pistol, an
/ want you to keep it. | don't know
r where | am going to live and work 1
the west and don't know why wrot
D Cairo, H. as my address. 1t simpl
Q came to me to do it, Perhaps It's
8 good omen Anyhow / shall go
! Cairo, and If leave there I'll arrang
}. to have my letters forwarded TO IN
: wherever may be, so If you're in trou
bic at any time you can write to me q
Cairo. I am as poor as you are now
= yes, poorer-but l don't mean TO sta
poor. If you're in trouble at any tim
! I'll do my best TO see you through, jus
9 as you have seen me through thi
time"