The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-07-26

ty, SalQ Unat MI would Dr6dK loose
on Saturday at the crossroads, and
that "Old Sledge" or the devil would
have to go under.
On Friday the settlers began to
drop into the crossroads under pre-
tence of business, but really to get the
bottom facts Of the rumors that were
afoat.
Devil Bill knew full we'll what they
came for and he talked and cursed
more furiously than usual, and swore
that anybody who would come ex-
pecting to see "Old Sledge" tomorrow
was an Internal fool, for he wasn't a.
coming. He laid bare his strong arms
and shook his long hair and said he
wished the lying, deceiving hypocrite
would come, for it had been nigh on
to IA years since he had made a
preacher dance.
Saturday morning by 8 o'clock the
settlers began to gather. They came
on foot and on horseback, and in carts
men, women and children, and be-
fore IL o'clock there were more peo-
pie at the crossroads than had ever
been there before. Bill Jones was mad
at their credulity, but he had an eye
to business, and kept behind his
counter and sold more whiskey in an
hour than he had sold in a month. AS
the appointed hour drew near the set
tiers began to look down the long,
straight road that "OId SIadge" would
come, if he came at all, and every man
whose head came in sight just over
the rise Of the distant hill was close
ly scrutinized.
More than once they said, "Yonder
he comes-thats him, shore But no,
it wasn't him.
Some half a dozen had old bulls
eye silver watches, and they compared
time, and just at 1856 o'clock the old
horse thief exclaimed:
q see Tom Barker a risin' of the
hill l hain't seed him for Il years,
but, gintlemen, that ars him, or I'm
liar"
And it was him.
AS he got nearer and nearer, a voice
seemed to be coming with him, and
some said, He's talkin to himself"
another said, He's a-talkin' to God
Almighty" and another said, I'll be
burned if he amt a-prayin, but very
soon it was decided that he was
"singin' Of hime
Bill Jones was soon advised of all
this, and, coming up to the front, said,
"Darned if he amt singing before
aXed him, but I'll make him sing an
other tune till he is tired. I'll pay
him for his onsulting message. I'm not
a-gWine to kill him, boys. I'll leave
life in his rotten old carcass, but
that's all. If any of you'n want to
hear Old Sledge preach, you'll have to
go ten miles from the roads to do it,"
Slowly and solemnly the preacher
came. AS he drew near he narrowed
down his tune and looked kindly upon
the crowd. He was a massive man in
frame, and had heavy suit of bark
brown hair, but his face was clean
shaver, and showed a nose and lips
and chin of frmness and great deter
mination
Look at him, boys, and mind your
eyes" said the horse thief.
Where will l find my friend, Bill
Jones?" inquired 'Old Sledge."
All round they pointed him to the
man.
Riding up close he said: my friend
and brother, the good Lord has sent
me to you, and I ask your hospitality
for myself and my beast, and he slow
ly dismounted and faced his foe as
though expecting a kind reply.
The crisis had come and Bill Jones
met it.
"You internal old hypocrite; you
cussed old shaven-faced scoundrel;
didn't you know that l had swored an
oath that l would make you sing and
dance, and whip you besides if you
ever dared to pizen these crossroads
with your shoe tracks? Now sing
d-n you, sing and dance as you sing"
and he emphasized his command with
a ringing slap with his open hand up
on the parsons face.
"Old Sledge" recoiled with pain and
surprise.
Recovering in a moment, he said:
We'll, Brother Jones, I did not ex-
pect so warm a welcome, but if this
be your crossroads manners I suppose
l must sing" and as Devil Bill gave
him another slap on his other jaw he
began with:
My soul, be on thy guard.
And with his long arm suddenly
and swiftly gave Devil Bill an open