Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1910-04-15
I'M POLES
TAVERN

problem to such an extent In that part
of North Carolina" said John Gilbert.
the travelling groceryman, that had
become shy Of tackling 1t. and one
day meeting on the road darby who
was on his way somewhere driving .
bull hitched to a wabbly wagon ON
which were loaded dozen or SO sticks
of lightwoo6, I thought 1t might be
we'll to see II he couldn't give me
some information as to the probable
fate that might be in store for me at
the inn lying in wait at the mountain
town | was approaching. l stopped
him and asked him II there was
good hotel there.
THE darby leaned forward with his
elbows on his knees, looked at me.
cooked one eye up toward the sky az
If he was pondering on the subject |
had brought forward. and then coming
back to earth gave his bull whack
with the CAD he carried and exclaimed:
"'w'oa. 20 p'intedly oil hoodoo.'
1.-THE bull hadn't stirred since the
darby stopped him in the road and he
didn't stir under the whack Of the
CAD; so I assumed that this little
show Of disciplining was but divert
ing habit of the bulls owner. was
on the point of pressing my question
when the darby rested his elbows on
his knees again. and turning to me
said: I reckon yo' nevuh did know oil
ledge Gillian. wat kim frum ovuh yon
in de Chowan kentryT
II replied that had never known
Judge Gillian.
but co'se yo' done heah bout
him?' said the darby.
mo said l. I never heard about
him either
THAT seemed to surprise the darby
not little.
"'Shoo!' he exclaimed after staring
at me while. 'Whah yo' done come
FUN. sah?'
81 told him I was from the north.
and even that didn't seem to excuse
me for not having ever heard Of old
Judge Gillian. The darby sat In
bordering attitude half minute or
so. and then looking at me again as
If was something of curiosity. he
gathered up his lines preparatory to
starting on his way and said:
"'Jim Pole, he done kip hotel up
yon, subj
but hold on said. ! don't care
who keeps the hotel Is 1t good
one? And what has old Judge Gillian
got to do with it,?
THE darby leaned forward with his
elbows on his knees again and he
grinned as he said:
~ nevuh did stop at Jim Poles,
sub. in my life, but Of ledge Gillian
one time he kim ovuh hyuh to lay
down de law du'in' de cote time. an
he stow hesef away at Jim Poles.
lone O. de baddes' nigguhs dat
bean 'roun' hyuh den he bean fotch
up befo de oil jedge. Dat nigguh he
bean a bad un. too. an dey fine him
guilty de wuss kyne.
"'Or ledge Gillian he bean stoppin'
den. two. free days at Jim Poles. He
lookin' desput sot in he mind Wen
dey fotch in dat po' nigguh wat dey
foun' guilty.
""Stan' up dab. yo' nigguh!" he
say.
HE stan up. mos skeeuh to def.
""Nigguh," de OIL jedge say, dis
hyuh a monst'us ting yo done bean
foun' guilty TO-! My haht it bean des'
lack stone ag'in you an l mighty re-
gretful to find dat de law an de con-
s'itution. dey standin' in de way O. my
'fictin' on yo' te'ble punishment des'
pinin' to give yo'.
""Ef de law an de constitution dey
didn't stan in de way O. my dom 1t.
l shore done sentence yo' to stop one
whole week at Jim Poles tavuhn, des'
sho's yo bo'nl Ez case it done stan.
> dahfo," de oil jedge lay it down to dat
po' shiv'n nigguh. II CANT do it, an
to de pentenshry TO- ten yeahs!" de
Of jedge say. an dey done took dat
bad nigguh away.
The darky on his load of light
wood rolled his eyes up at me. while
his grin spread wide across his face,
| and continuing, he said:
D "'Co'se, / nevuh did stop at Jim
t Poles in my life, sub, an so | CANT
5 say wevvuh de hotel bean good un
or no, but l heah folks declar. many
: times, dat oil ledge Gillian he sutten-
v ly do let dat nigguh off mighty lucky!'
e with that the darby started up his
J. bull and went on his way. AS gazed
after him he glanced back and heard
him say:
"'Nevuh did heah of oil ledge
I Gillian! Sho! Dat shore bean mon
sous queeuh'
n There was another tavern In the
place. and | didn't stop at Jim Poles.
y but, relying on the darky's tale Of old
s Judge Gillam's opinion. II this one
o wasn't branch Of Jim Poles. then
the proprietor must have learned ho-
tel keeping from Jim Pole. and d
have been willing to bet on It."