Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-01-04

Madam" | said with a low bow,
ut is misfortune, not desire, which
has caused us to trespass upon your
hospitality. We will very gladly pay
you literally for any damage done. l
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 LANCER 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 sresounded up the rocky
way" calculated Bungay with dan
cling eyes.
"Drat yer potry, Jed Bungay! We
dew make me tired fer suah." She
turned back to us, and from her first
words it was plainE evident she had
been impressed with brt one sentence
OF my labored explanation.
did you uns say as how ye'd pay
fe whut We ct anC fer tibet truck ye
busted?" she asked d%oubtfully.
Certainly, NADIA il, 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.
Wa, stranger, l sorter reckon as
how bout four bits ill squar' things
dorgs is mighty durn cheap hereabout
enyhow. Give me Their four bits
mister, an | reckon y how it 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 WI
saw ghosts"
"Ghosts!" He danced around ap
prehenslvely,- ION Heaven and OF
thy lady call, and enter t4e enchanted
hall!' Wus Their ghosts We saw owe
thar?" And he pointed toward tn
wall opposite.
| nodded.
Then | sorter reckon as hoy
Marian and me wus them ghosts" b
continued, grinning. I'VE sorter rech
oned az how we wanted ter see VIII
wus yere afore we come in. III
listen tnl my fancy hears the clang o
swords, the crash of spears. Thes'
we're is tough times, stranger, in thes'
parts, an a man whut has ter pertec
a lovely female hes got ter keep hi
eye skinned"
Maria shifted contemptuously.
"Ye're no great shakes at a perfect
in O. me, Jed Bungay. Now you 81
down thar an begin ter fill up.
reckon as how Their Cap an his ga
will kinder jine with us fer manners.
She seated Jed with such extrem
yisor that / looked for the chair :
collapse beneath him as he cam
down, but the little man, not in tn
least daunted, picked up his knife an
fork with a sigh Of relief.
40 woman! in our hours of cas-
uncertain, coy, and hard to please
he murmured. "Come, sit dow
stranger; sit down an share
soldiers couch. a soldiers fare M
as I'm a %sojer," he fastened to e:
Il plain, but thet's how 1t is in the
book. Say, old woman, KNIT We kindt
8 skier up some coffee fer W. uns-
t leastwise whut us Confeds call co
fee?"
d without much difficulty / induce
Q Mrs. Brennan to draw her chair ono
/ more to the table. and I sat dow
n beside her.
l. you are Confederate, them"
asked, curious to know upon whit
!! side his sympathies were enlisted
k the struggle.
Ii He glanced warily at my grf
Jacket, then his shrewd, shifty ey'
q wandered to the blue AM yellow ca
a airy cloak lying on the floor.
oval, list don't know, Cap"
said cautiously continuing to eat
q he talked, "as I'm much O. snythil
d in this yere row. First ther durn'
gray-backs they come sroopin' !
we're, an run off all my horgs; thu
Their blame blue-bellies come lol
IL ar cut down every lick O. my CO
a. fodder, so tibet I'll be cussed II air
bout ready ter fight either side. An
o. how | amt did no fightin' yit wor
talkin' bout. fer Marian is powf
feared Id get hurt"
Is Maria regarded him sc~ornfully.
Hiding out, ] suppose"
T. wal, t amt very healthful :
us ter be stayin' ct hum much
q Their time, long with that thar r
b, Lowrie, an Jim Hale, an the rest
le tibet cattle round yere.'
10 "Guerillas pretty thick now In t
ID, mountainsg
Wal, / dunno: / heerd as they W
". dom somethin' down by Their bri
" church, but thar's no great shakes
'em jist round we're. reckon as hi
~ they knows 'nough ter keep way fr'
1t Jed Bungay-rd pitch 'em far
a ever peasant pitched a bar"
as you hR-~ no fear Of them. then
e. 'Whut. me?" The little man
W. bolt upright. and glared 'ercely acre
ID the table as though he would res'
n. an insult. II list tell yc Cap,
10 reckon thar amt no guerilla a 60
ct ter poke his nose round yere u
a he's a lookin' fer sudden de"th: tina
ep mighty few q EN- amt heerd o J
he Bungay- Whut in t~hunder's u
"a matter viii yer sal'"