Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-04-23

always SWore he would die WIN MS
boots on, and they say when the doc
tor told him he had only a few hours
leeway, he made his slaves dress him
completely and prop him on his horse.
They galloped out so, a negro on
either side of him. 1t was a stormy
night, black as the Earl of Hell's rid
ing-boots, with wind and lightning,
and he rode cursing at both. There's
an old black-gum tree a mile from
here that they still call Deyil-John'I
tree. They were just passing under
it when the lightning struck it. 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. 1t killed his horse, too. That's
the story. To be sure at this date
nobody can separate fact from fic-
tion.< Possibly he wasn't so 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
m~alevolently. your four bottle men
then knew only claret: now they pun
ish whiskey-straight."
The major buried his nose in his
julep for a long moment before he
looked at the doctor blandly. 81 agree
with you, Bristow," he said: "but it's
the first time l ever heard you admit
that much good of your ancestors"
Good" said the doctor belligerent-
ly. me? l don't! / said people now
were no better. AS for the men OF
that time, they were a cheap swagger-
ing lot of DULLES and swash-bucklers,
When / read history I'm ashamed to
be descended from them"
Il desire to inform you, sah," said
the major, stung, that l too am a de
scendant Of those DULLES and swash
bucklers, as you call them. And
wish from my heart I thought We, now
adays, could hold a tallow-dip tc
them" t'
you refer, no doubt" said the uoc
tor with sarcasm, ito our friend Devil
John and his ideal treatment of hi
wife," ...
mo, sah," replied the major warm
ly. I'm not referring to Devil-John
There were exceptions, no doubt, bu
for the most part they treated thei
women folk as l believe their Make
made them to be treated! The maj
who failed in his courtesy there, sab
was called to account for it. He wa
mighty apt to find himself standing il
the cool dawn at the butt-end of a.
He broke off and coughed. Their
was an awkward pause in which b
set down his glass noisily and ros
and stood before the open bookcase
81 envy you this, sah," he said wit
somewhat of haste. "a fine old co
lection. Bless my soul, what a curiou
volume!"
AS he spoke, his hand jerked out
heavy-looking leather-back. Valian
who had risen and stood beside hin
saw instantly that what he had draw
from the shelf was the morocco cas-
that held the rusted dueling-pistol!
the majors hands the broken bo
opened. A sudden startled look darte
across his leonine face. With smotl
cred exclamation he thrust 1t bac
between the books and closed IL
glass door.
Valiant had paled. His previol
finding Of the weapon had escaped h
mind. Now he read, as clearly as
it had been printed in black-lett
"a across the sunny wall, the significant
IL of the majors confusion. That wea
on had been in his fathers hand whit
he faced his opponent in that fat
III duel! 1t flashed across his mind
the doctor lunged for his hat and sti'
IN and got to his feet.
Come, Bristow," said the latter ir
Ill tably. Your feet will grow fast
IT. the floor presently. We mustn't talk
We. new neighbor to death. I've got to S
lg a patient at six"