Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-05-05

the bunch kept the village in military attire most Of the
year. and avoided the law when one Of the bunch was
treed
Down along the branch lived peculiar character ma
tre had not been kind him. he seemed have been
forced into the world half made up abnormay gray eyes
that eared with the herceness Of tiger and when mad
was brutal. He had what is known as trigger leg"
and witha very ignorant; he cobbled old shoes and did
chores round about this together with the ducks and
chickens supplied his wants, and by the aid OF cruch,
which was straight stick as thick as your wrst-svith
nail in the end to make OF his bearing he and
came others. but thing all the villagers knew that
It you made him mad had tc look out tor that club OF
cruch his man Luke. Now. those that
knew him can remember when Luke stopped to talk
and wrapped his trigger leg" around that club of
cruch and liled his old >cap and passed his fingers
through his unkept hair and tried to look wise will smile
now as we did when Luke stood before us in the flesh
Now, it UP to the branch BY the town bridge that
spans the creek on the main travelled road lived the other
man. born joker, that had claim Of protection the
bunch" that we speak about To this nature
had been kind in many ways he intelligent appre-
cative d-hearted and easily moved tears by
rectaof the misfortunes Of Others ender-heared and
sympathetic charitable and lover OF music and Aowers
he loved children and enjoyed the presence Of pet
animals, and by Of those splendid qualities his
memory is DEAR and whether his spirit is floating in
white caps the crest gurges in the stream
bursts in foam Of light the shore Of unexplored worlds
love him still and feel the glow Of his personality in the
general acts which memory tOndneSS dWelS.
This mans Jim.
Now Jim would have been exceedingly pious had not
nature bestowed upon him such large dose OF humor.
No exceedingly humorous very pious
and OF course Jim not altogether to blame for his
tricks. Jim enjoyed trade when it his way, and
would traffic around and 10 that end would often visit the
secondhand in Springfield and buy pistols guns.
watches and watch chains and then trade sell them in
the village country round about
Jim had cider mill and shop. and when the
neighbors called to see how much cider hand,
VIXEN The farmer came in with load Of apples TO grind
Jim would call their attention to the fact that he had
dandy gun for sale cheap and when jim got through
describing the article, you felt yog ought 10 have it Jim
had many smooth ways but unfortunate in this, he
had appear the to work OF his tricks while
the bunch always under cover.
In manner-we not called on to explain Jim
owed Luke household three dollars and Luke bethough
himself good chance to get with Jim by turn
ing the account for OF the guns, that was Jms
price Now Jim had few accounts he did propose
settle that way and he prepared tor the emergency
by overlooking OF the guns knowing if it kicked hard
they would not take it. We might have said that Jms
meat shop joined up to the sidewalk that over the
creek and in front Of the shop door the sidewalk
three feet above the ground including the ditch,
and behind the door in this shop that Jim had the
three guns.
We were seated on the old porch when Jim and
Luke met the top Of the HILL ard Luke said:
Jim, hear you have gun to sell
Jim answered: why, yes, Luke, have two or three
for sale. What do you want with gun ?"
Luke To kill dam mnks and weases that after
my ducks and chickens Will the gun shoot shot Z?
jim You bet they dandies. Shoot shot or ball
Luke: Where are they. Jim 2
Jim; Down in the meat shop come, will show you;
take any you want
AT this they started down the walk talking gun. AS
they moved off Jim look, and knew something
going to happen.
When at the shop, Jim said Want to load and
shoot it. so you will know ii won't kick and shoots shot
Luke: You bet do Mr.. Jimmy.
Now. Luke had special love for Jim and was susp-
ciOgs Of him. and said Let me see you load il
Jim poured the powder in the hollow of his hand and
said, Think that's enough Luke ?"
Yes said Luke
Jim handed Luke tie gun and went out the back door
and put up mark and fired, saying See, Luke. she
didn't kick bit. Jim got the mark and showed it to
Luke saying: She shoots all right, don't she p
Luke eyed the ozark and said: You don't play no
tricks me Me- Jimmy | expect you have been shoot-
ing at it Tor week
We'll" said JIM bod blast it. | am pretty near out ol
ammunition, but come in and we Il load again and you
shoot
Suhng the action to the word they went Jim loaded as
before. Luke watching every Jim said, now let
go out and as Luke turned about for the door, Jim
changed in fash. and said Here Luke take the
gum III put your mark He went back through The
shop and put the mark the fence he said All riuh.
Luke cut Slip
Luke did not notice that Jim got behind the shop but
braced himself by winding his trigger leg the cruch.
and took aim. And such roar The gun few in the
air, and Luke rose UP on his cruich and pitched head
foremost into the ditch can see Jim now in ny minds
running the lot through the creek up tie
house. and hear him say You saw it loaded Ican see
Luke climbing on the walk hair on end ard hear the old
crutch, thump thump the cap in the ditch gun the
sidewalk. and Luke shouting, oh. scoundrei viii
get you yet
Luke wanted state warrant but the squire told him