The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-05-21

always swors he would die with his
boots on. and they say when the doe
tor told him be had only a few hour
leeway, he made his slaves dresg him
completely and prop him on his horse
Ihey galloped out 20, negro on
either side Of him. II was a stormy
night. black as the Earl of Helrs rid
ing-boota, with wind and lightning
and he rode cnrsing NJ both. There's
an old blaek-gum tree a mile from
mere that they still call Devil John
tree They were just passing under
II when the lightning struck II. Light
ming has no effect on the black gum
you know The bolt glanced from the
tree and struck him between the two
slaves without harming either OF
them. II killed his horse, too. That's
the story. To be sure at this date
nobody can separate fact from fc
ton. Possibly he wasn't 10 much
worse than the rest o. his neighbors
not excepting the parsons. Other
times. other manners"
they weren't any worse than the
present generation" said the doctor
maievolently. Your four bottle men
then knew only claret nov they pun.
iah whlskey-straight6
The major buried his nose In his
lulep for long moment before he
looked at the doctor biandly. Il agree
with you, Bristow." he said. but it's
the nrst time | ever heard you admit
that much good OF your ancestors"
Good" said the doctor belllgerent.
~. "Me7 | don't! said people now
were no better. AA for the men OF
that time, they were cheap swagger.
ing lot OF DULLES and swash. buc kiers.
when read history I'm ashamed to
be descended from them"
II desire to inform you. sah." said
the major, stung. that | too am a de-
scendant OF those bullies and swash-
buekiers, as you call them. And |
wish from my heart thought we. now
adays. could hold q tallow-dip to
them"
You refer. no doubt" said the 4uc.
tor with sarcasm. TO our friend Devil.
John and his ideal treatment OF his
wifel"
No, sab" replied the major warm
~. I'm not referring to DevilJohn.
There we're exceptions. no doubt, but
Tor the most part they treated their
women folk an | believe their Maker
made them TO be treated! The man
who failed In his courtesy there, sab
was called to account for II. lie was
mighty apt to ind himself standing In
the cool dawn at the butt-end OF a."
He broke on and coughed There
was an awkward pause In which he
set down hia glass nolsily and rose
and stood before the open bookcase.
Il envy YOU this, sab" he said with
somewhat OF haste. "A nne old col.
lection. Bless my soul. what a curious
voiumel"
Az he spoke. his hand jerked out
heayy.looking leather-baek. Valiant,
who had risen and stood beslde him.
saw instantly that what he had drawn
from the shelf was the morocco case
that held the rusted dueling pistol In
tho MAJORS hands the broken box
opened A sudden startled look darted
across his leonine face. with smoth.
cred exclamation he thrust II back
between the books and closed the
glass door
Valiant had paled. Ills previous
finding OF the weapon had escaped his
mind Now he read, as clearly as II
II had been printed in black letter
across the sunny wall. tho Significance
OF the majors confasl -, That weap.
an had been In his fathers hand when
he faced hls opponent In that fatal
duel, II flashed across his mind as
the doctor lunged for his hat and stick
and got to hls feet
Come, nriStow. said the latter irri-
tally. Your feet will grow fast to
the floor presently We mustn't talk a
new nelghhor TO death. I've got to see
a patient at six /"