The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-11-02
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Shet up, Jed Bungay, cut In his
better-half, sharply, and as she spoke
she caught the little man unceremoni-
ously by one arm. and thrusting him
roughly to one side strode heavily
forward until she paused in the centre
Of the room facing US with her arms
akimbo.
Now I'd fist like ter know" she
said savagely, who you uns be,
breakin' into a house. and a KILN a
dorg, an a eatin up everything We
uns got without so much as a saytn'
by yer leave er nuthin'. | reckon as
how you uns don't take this yere
cabin fer no tavern?'
Madam" ! said with a low bow,
1T is misfortune. not desire. which
has caused US to trespass upon your
hospitality We will very gladly pay
you literally for any damage done. |
am an officer in the Confederate SER
vice, and the breaking down Of our
horses compelled US to take refuge
here In order that this lady might
not be exposed to Ianger from rowing
gangs OF guerillas. The dog attacked
us in the dark. and we killed him In
order to save our lives"
1.-The deep-mouthed bloodhound's
heavy bay resounded up the rocky
way" calculated Bungay with dan
J cling eyes.
"Drat yer potry, Jed Bungay! ye
I dew make me tired fe" suah." She
turned back to us, and from her first
words it was plainl; evident she had
been impressed with br1 one sentence
OF my Iabored explanation.
Did you uns say as how ye'd pay
fe whut ye ct ant fer thet truck ye
! busted?" she asked doubtfully,
Certainly, mada- /, and | took
some money from my pocket as evil
dence of good faith. What would you
consider due you?"
The grim. set face relaxed slightly,
while she permitted her husband to
edge his way a little more into the
foreground.
"Wal, stranger, sorter reckon as
how bout four bits ill sQuar' things
dorgs is mighty durn cheap hereabout
enyhow. Give me ther four bits,
mister, an | reckon - how 1t II
be all right"
l glazed at Mrs. Brennan, and the
amused twinkle in her eyes led me
to say heartily, I'VE had not entirely
completed our meal, but imagined we
saw ghosts"
"Ghosts!" He danced around ap'
prehensIvely,- ION Heaven and on
thy lady call, and enter ne enchanted
hall! Wus ther ghostJ ye saw over
+har?" And he pointed toward the
wall opposite.
! nodded.
Then | sorter reckon as how
Mariar and me wus them ghosts" he
continued, grinning. "We sorter reck
oned az how we wanted ter see who
wus yere afore we come in. I'll
listen TIA my fancy hears the Clang OF
swords, the crash of spears. These
yere is tough times, stranger in these
parts, an man whut has ter perfect
a lovely female hes got ter keep his
eye skinned"
Maria shifted contemptuously.
"Ye're no great shakes at perfect
in O. me, Jed Bungay Now you sit
down thar an begin ter fill up.
reckon as how ther Cap an his gal
will kinder jine with US fer manners,
She seated Jed with such extreme
vigor that / looked for the chair c
collapse beneath him as he came
down, but the little man. not In the
least daunted, picked up his knife and
fork with sigh of relief.
30 woman! IN our hours of ease
uncertain, coy, and hard to please
he murmured. Come, sit down
stranger; sit down an share q
soldiers couch. soldiers fare Not
as I'm a sojer," he FASTENED to ex
plain, "but thet's how it is In thel
book. Say, old woman. kint ye kinder
skier I'D some coffee fer we uns-
leastwise whut Us Confeds call cof
fee?"
Without much difficulty ! induced
| Mrs. Brennan to draw her chair once
more to the table. and / sat down
beside her.
You are Confederate, then?"
asked, curious to know upon which
side his sympathies were enlisted In
the struggle.
He glanced warlly at my gray
jacket, then his shrewd, shifty eyes
" w.ndered to the blue an yellow cav
airy cloak lying ON the floor.
wal, jist don't know, Cap" be
said cautiously. continuing to eat as
he talked, "as I'm much O enything
in this yere row. First ther burned
gray-backs they come sroopin VI
we're, an run off all my horgs: ther
ther blame blue-bellies come Ions
ar cut down every lick o my corr
fodder, so thet I'll be cussed If AIM
bout ready ter fight either side. Any
how amt did no fightin' yit worth
talkin' bout, fer Mariar is pow'fu
feared Id get hurt"
Maria regarded him scornfully.
Hiding out, suppose?
"Wal. t amt very healthful eel
us ter be stayin ct hum much o
ther time, long with that thar Rec
Lowrie, an Jim Hale, an the rest Q
thet cattle round yere.
"Guerillas pretty thick now in thu
mountains?"
| Wal, / dunno; heerd as they wu
doin' somethin' down BY ther bricl
church, but thar's no great shakes o
EN- jist round yere. ! reckon as hoV
they knows 'nough ter keep way from
Jed Bungay-Td pitch 'em far a
ever peasant pitched a bar"
"You he.~ no fear Of them. then?
"Whut, mel" The little man 50
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