The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-12-12
The CHRONICLES OF POWELTON I Z az5.zl T.z

through the bushes, or over the left
shoulder, brings bad luck to the OBJ
server ?"
NO." answered Billie; III don't
think it has any effect on luck at all.
But-er-it's mighty risky to see it
first through he bushes, and / inva-
riably always IN general take pains to
get where / think can get good
view Of it over my right shoulder.
But I'm interruptin' q conversation.
/ thought, as / entered, you were
saying something about the hidden
treasure being found. When, who,
and where ?"
NOW that's my business here to-
day" said Billie.
II will tell you If you will give me
your attention, how and by whom it
was recently found" said I.
go ahead, I'm all years." said
Billy, and he unconsciously hitched
his chair closer to mine. eco on, and
don't let nobody at all say single
word until Bro. Tate gifts through.
Nowl Ais broken loose. Give it
straight from the shoulder"
With this earnest invocation / be-
gan
An Itinerant Arrives.
Zone evening about ten years ago,
another itinerant made his advent
into our quiet commounity, not as a
minister of the gospel, but as an UNI
brella member. How he came, whether
as ticketed passenger on the cars,
whether as rider on the bumper of
the blind baggage, or whether he
counted the number Of crossties to
this place nor from what place he
made embarkation has ever been set
tied. outcome he did, and this time
u am not sure that b was ever here
well take it for granted that he
had been here twenty times before.
What he did when he got here" said
Billie, impatiently, II want to know"
"All right" said I. "This time, he
landed at the northern limit of Pow
elton, now thriving little village.
The L. & N. R. r. had built COM
modious warehouse. Mr.. Joe McVoy
had erected a large mercantile estab-
lishment. The telegraphic union had
put In telegraph Office which was
operated by that accommodating
agent, Mr.. r. P. Wilder (from whom
have received much assistance in
furnishing this narrative, and, in fact,
Cantonment had asserted her rights
to q place on the map. While she
she began to put on business airs,
she had not arrived to that stage of
size and development but what the
notice Of new arrival would pro-
woke comment.
'"The sudden coming Of this umbrel-
la member attracted attention. Ac-
cording to the description given me
by Mr.. Wilder the peddler seemed to
be about fifty. His clothing was di-
lapidated and seemed to be the result
| Of intentional injury rather than from
actual service. His stock in trade
consisted Of the skeletons Of seven
umbrellas, which he said he had con-
tracted to recover. His only visible
baggage-if baggage it was-couid
be enumerated in single object. It
appeared to be from distant inspec-
tion-for he never allowed it to I'M
dergo the scrutiny Of suspicion
strong wooden box with lock and a
serviceable handle, about the size OF
a commercial travellers sample case
and which he claimed held his solder
ing implements and material for
mending umbrellas.
Strange Behavior.
During the day, instead Of drum
ming trade, he seemed anxious to
avoid notice. Often he would disap-
pear, to return at nightfall to pur-
chase cheese and crackers, with an
occasional box Of sardines. In fact
his strange behavior attracted the
very attention which he seemed sc
anxious to escape. His skeleton hun.
die never increased In size or number
land no one could be found that ever
saw him plying his trade.
| Finally, one day he approached
| the residence of Mr.. w. d. Booth
who had recently purchased the Con.
salez old homestead, had rebuildee