The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-06-01
Iiberius Smith
The Brain Tangle at Tanker's Mills.
Copyright, by Joseph b. Bowles.)
BY HUGH PENDEXTER

Travelling leisurely 'from the far
west to New York Tib and had left
tie au.ocratic porter and his vesti-
buled home at Beanville--I won't
name the state--in an idle quest for
tourmalines and amethysts, often
found In that locality. A horse dealer
lad told us OF the place, and Tib I'M
mediately took fancy to loiter about
few days. 1t was while at Bean.
vile that we heard OF Tanker's Mills,
12 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 n
score Of the inmates In escaping the
flames wandered up to Tankers 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 IL
alone to market its own garden sass.
In the settlement we're 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
to and merged in general plane of
oddly. IL became the custom when
q man or woman got daffy TO take
them up there to board. The ruined
shecks had given place to neat frame
houses, and the queer people took the
bsst of care of any sufferers from the
outside world and often sent them
back cured. Funny graft. eh? Tib
said II was case Of slmilia slmilibus
ccrantur. 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 were peculiar, eccentric, and
of course every little while some one
would get to telcphoning to himself
aud cutting up didoes.
"WeIl, when Tib heard OF the settle
ment the scenario appealed to him,
asd naught would do but we hire bicy-
cfes and wheel up for visit.
owe are all batty on some one sub
ject,' he declared to me. Tn sane
until It comes to shows Another is
evenly. balanced until 1t comes to
north poles, and so II goes. III bet
these simple folk are more rational
than the average alderman
ITO cut across lots, we came to
Tankers at nightfall, and saw from
the brow of hill a 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
busy-bee activity Of a crowd Of men
punched in front Of the village
smithy's place OF business.
whats doing, fair and merry
sirs? accosted Tib, cheerily, in his old
free.and-easy way. as We pedaled up to
the gang,
Instantly 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! II is he!
"'odd bodkins, put him to DEATH
cheerfuIly advised an urchin, who i'm
pressed my startled gaze as being Is
feet In height.
"'Odd Hoollgans' cried Tib. And
why?'
"Well. sir. the old man threw back
fiis head and pealed out a laugh that
sounded about as mellow as a rusty
buzz.saw eating rock-maple knot,
and as he chortled in unseemly glee
he calculated. Walked into the trap!
Sap my vitals, and had he called on
me at st. James, or Whitehall, | had
not been more surprised.
From his tone | realized sir, that
we were about as popular with them