The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-03-26

0@S name the state
in an idle quest
for tourmalines and amethyst, often
found in that locality. A horse dealer
had told us of the place, and Tib inn
mediately took a fancy to loiter about
a few days. 1t was while at Bean
vile that we heard of Tanker's Mills,
IL miles back in the mountains. 1t
was connected with the outside world
largely by heart-throbs, for the rough
country road evidently was construct
ed while the workmen were entertain
ing the delirium tremens.
1T seems that at the close OF the
civil war the only insane asylum in
the state burned down, and that
score of the inmates in escaping the
flames wandered up to Tanker's and
took possession of few deserted
cabins As the commonwealth was
bedridden with debt, and as the little
colony was quiet and gave no trouble
the authorities decided to leave it
alone to market it's own garden sass
In the settlement were several men of
unusual culture, perfectly rational eX-
cept on some one subject, and as they
controlled the weaker-minded and
more perfectly crazy inhabitants, the
taxpayers were glad to be rid of the
whole outfit. AS the years passed, the
colony grew, and the individual
streaks of non compos were relegated
tr1 ~ q nlQnn
oddity. It became the custom when
a man or woman got daffy to take
them up there to board The ruined
shacks had given place to neat frame
houses, and the queer people took the
best of care of any sufferers from the
outside world and often sent them
back cured. Funny graft, eh? Tib
said it was a case of similia similibuS
Curantur. And, mind you, those peo-
pie weren't rank crazy. They averaged
enough nationality to prosper and to
care for an occasionally violent voter.
But they We're peculiar, eccentric, and
Of course every little while some one
would get to telephoning to himself
and cutting up didoes.
Eve are all batty on some one sub
ieCt,' he declared to me. I'm sane
until it comes to shows. Another Is
evenly balanced until it comes to
north poles, and so it goes. I'll bet
these simple folk are more rational
than the average alderman.
ITO cut across lots, we came to
Tranker's at nightfall, and saw from
the brow Of hill scattering settle
ment of white houses. AS we entered
the main street we observed a grocery
store, blacksmith shop and a small
hall And what surprised us was the
husy-bee activity of a crowd of men
bunChed in front of the village
smithy's place of business.
What's doing, fair and merry
4irs" accosted Tib, cheerily, in his old
'ree-andeasy way, as We pedaled up to
the gang.
'Tnstantly they turned, and an old
man with a Chris Kringle beard start
ed back as though faced by a hooded
cobra, and with one dramatic, lean
finger pointed at us, cried. BY my
faith. he has come! 1t is he.'
Odd bodkins. put him to death"
Cheerfully advised an urchin who i'm
pressed my startled gaze as being IS
feet in height.
"'Odd Iooligans! cried Tib. And
why?'
We'll, sir. the old man threw back
his head and pealed out laugh that
sounded about as mellow as a rusty
buZz-saw eating rock-maple knot
and as he chortled in unseemly glee
ne CALCULATED Walked into the trap!
Slap my vtaIs, and had he called on
me ct St James, or Whitehall, | had
no{ been more surprised
From his tone | realized, sir that
we We're about as popular with them
as a safety deposit vault full of scar
let fever germs. Tib was impressed
after the same fashion, for he whs-
pered TO me:
What's up Billy? Have we struck
them at the harvest time of lunacy?
Their speech sayors of We olden time
and good Queen Bess, sith it please
yc.' Then he asked aloud. Kindly
identify us, reverend sir, and then
yourselves.
Monmouth, thou vert ever a
false-hearted knave, but prithee, didst
think to dull my royal eyes by that
disguise?' demanded the ringleader of
the mental alterations in his shril
voice.
Nay, sire, denied Tib looking
back only to behold all escape cut off.
And you are
Your uncle sirrah, King James!
was the stern response.
Strike me purple, Billy whis-
pered Tib, but We are invaders and
if ] recall my history rightly, Mr.
Monmouth lost his head.
I say, old chap, this is getting
tiresome,' | murmured to Tib Tell
en- I'm plain Billy Campbell and a
stanch supporter of the throne.
"A Campbell.' shrieked King
James. 'Ay, smite me bleeding, but
| know the foul Scottish brood! But
Argyle or Campbell, ye shall hang and
change from the quick to the dead
more readily than ever We shifted
aliases
Probably some one has opened a
quart bottle of pleasuroid,' murmured
Tih, 'a.d they are unduly excited for
the minute. Anyway, if they are going
to behave Ike this. | don't care how
soon we desert them. feel like ar
historical romance
But, sir, the minute we tried to
fnrn We were surrounded And what
do you suppose those oddities were
armed with? Pixies, sir, pixies. And
that was what the smithy was busy
turning out. AS rule. Tbs air of
confidence would incite a cowardly
pug dog to throw rocks at an elephant