Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-07-25
CHAPTER l.

~ '" an SuiohN morning early IN NO
vember, 1S-, when a gaunt, weather.
beaten mountaineer made his appear-
ance in the little village of Matewan.
de wore long Scissors tailed coat.
which looked as if it had known better
days; pair of homespun jeans trousers
and an old "dirby," which tried to rest
on his sloping shoulders. His shoes. or
moccasins-for shoes they could hardly
be called-were of the rudest type, and
In all probability had been made by
their wearer. On his shoulder he car
ried long mountain rifle, and a wicked
looking dirk hung loosely at his belt.
His tawny hair it would seem had never
known comb, and a shaggy growth
of whiskers hid his face almost from
view. In short, he was a typical Vir-
ginia mountaineer.
He cautiously made his way into a
little grocery store, where were collect
ed number of Tug Valley mountain
GERS, who have always been famous for
their many bloody feuds.
He entered almost unnoticed. and
pushing his way through the group of
'toughs who were seated on empty
boxes, he soon found a seat on an un-
occupied box in the rear of the room.
and began to gaze earnestly into the
crowd.
In short time another mountaineer
entered. He looked somewhat younger
than the first, but armed and dressed in
the same awkward manner. except that
he wore the well known coon skin cap.
He soon elbowed his way through the
men, who fastened their searching
gaze upon his heavy-built figure as he
seated himself by the side of the first
stranger.
The tall mountaineer again turned his
eyes upon the molly assemblage for a
few minutes, when grim smile passed
over his rugged features He turned
red and then CHASTITY white. 1t was
evident that he recognized an enemy.
"HaYe yer found him, Jim?" whis-
pered the heavy-built- man, whom we
shall hereafter know as Reuben Nelson.
Eyes, " replied Jim Sampson, the tall.
gaunt fellow who first entered eyes.
1 think l shore have found the object of
our arch this time; and if / know'd fer
sartiD, he'd never git out'n here alive. 1"
Show the rascal ter me-" whispered
Nelson.
Don't yer see that old slab-sid
cuss, with them red whiskers. settin'
over thar on that box in the corner?
Thet's the targit I've been wantin' ter
try this here rifle gun on fer a good
long while"
The subject of their discourse was
seated on box, smoking a long-stem-
med clay pipe, aud seemed deeply alb
sorhed in thought He probably was
not aware of the presence of the stran-
gers.
The remainder of the crowd were dis
cussipg some topic of grave interest,
which our two friends had not vet
caught; but after a few minutes they
found it to be fight which had taken
place on election day, in which two or
three had been killed and several others
seriously injured.
The old man with the red whiskers
seemed to take no interest in what was
being said. He knocked the ashes from
his pipe, and put it in a small leathern
pouch which he carried under his arm.
de then took from his pocket large
twist of green looking tobacco which.
after two or three long pulls at with his
teeth, was again deposited in his pock-
ct. He then picked up his short, heavy
Winchester, which before this time had
been unobserved by the two strangers.
and prepared to depart. AS he rose
to his feet and took hasty survey of
the crowd, he caught glimpse of the
uncouth figure of Jim Sampson, whose
eyes seemed to flash fire. He next
turned his gaze to the open door and
began moving toward it. He made
slow but steady step, and reaching the
door, paused and glanced back, then
started up the road at rapid gait.
After his departure no body spoke for
several minutes, then Jim Sampson
broke the stiffness by asking:
Mister, addressing the storekeep-
er,-"do yer know that old gentleman
that left just while ago?"
II hardly know whether do or NOT. -
Pete Randolph, the store
keeper. "He has been seen loafing
around here for about two weeks, but
no one knows his business. Some say
he is the notorious outlaw and feudist.
julie Stiles, or, as some call him, the
Copperhead,' on account of the color
If his hair and beard. Now, can't say
positively that this is correct, but to
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