Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-13


S1ISE kers and hair, butternut jeans, SLOUGH hat,
1SlhlN(M and pair of blue eyes that shone through
REyVEf9 his shaggy brows like volets in brush
MWM763 heap. He lived back in the Ozarks.
EGS6S3 doneke hill known Honey Mountain.
Few had ever his retreat; but it was
described by those who had oop-hoed log cabin
with projecting second story, bockhouse style, and
tenfoot stockade all around it which bristled with
SNo Admittance!' signs in crudely printed letters.
Yet Jaff not exactly hermit; for once month
or so he appeared in Morning Sum- driving span of
dimnutive, long-eared, arness-galled mules Some
times he brought in load of corn, rack Of hogs,
or couple of calves. Again his only produce was
sack of herbs-ginseng, bloodroot, yellow puccoon,
hyllum-which was eXchangeabe for either cash
or merchandise at Holstlaw's general store.
He failed to call at the express office on his
visits to town. and seldom failed to find package.
In fact, at Morning Sun received many
packages this who holed up in the mountains
like bear. For years their contents had been
of speculation around the cracker barrels and
stoves of the village stores: and even Ed Bucks
the express agent unable to clear the mystery
Its this way" said Ed to circle of ntmates one
night: 3Al his stuff comes from mail order houses
which sell anything from needles to hay presses But
take it from me that the bulk of his parcels contain
firearms I've handled enough guns and ammunition
to know their feel through wood. Besides, only
last week box through so damaged that
could read the print carton of 3Ocaber automatic
cartridges with Splitter bulets-which shows that
Ja though he may belong to the feuda ages in other
respects, is up to the minute shooting IRONS
TAFF confirmed this story his very next trip to
, town by inadvertently dropping As automatic
pistol the ground he climbed into his wagon
Sheriff Bill Bates the nearest man, picked up tor him.
Some gum Jaff" observed Bill running admiring
eye the sinister beauty OF the buedsteel engine OF
death.
4Shes pleasant-shootin' little weaping, admitted
the embarrassed Jaf in his soft, womanish voice.
Morning Sun was gun-loving, gun-toting COM
munty and the unique weapon was, as a matter OF
course. passed from hand to hand for inspection Ben
Gowdy, crack shot, voiced the general opinion
"A killer, doubt; but cussed square-handed
clumsy-lookin assembly of metal to my eye for amin
Can you hold her down to anything closer than gen
eral landscape efect?'
EYES, said Jaf quietly in spite of the laugh at his
expense.
Then hit that rooster yonder in three shots, and
I'll pay for him.
Jaf glanced at the fowl sixty Todd yards away. with
clear space of meadow beyond. Then, without leav-
ing his seat lightning the reins of the mules, he
raised his hand like lightning the automatic beloved
and the rooster motioness heap of feathers.
aMere luck!" declared Gowdy testify, the laugh was
now turned on him. 3How many shots you got left9"
ask"
aTurn EN- into that flock, and you get two or bet
ter I'll pay the damages and buy drinks for the crowd.
Il don't like to kill dumb creatures for SPORT de-
INJURED Jaff
aDont worry sneered Gowdy. they'll be ct"
Leaping to the ground with the agility of boy,
Taft hunched forward and flashed his pistol into posi-
ton again. What followed in effect continuous
roar swift the succession OF shots; and when
the thunder had ceased five chickens lay the
sward. The astonished spectators forward to ex
anime the hits, as if suspecting hocuspocus
When they returned to drink at Gowdy's expense
Taff's wagon rumbling Usage Creek beyond
the last house in town, where the highway, after its
brief trappingout Main street, again resumed the
humble role Of redclay country road.