The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-09-24
Pearsal Meets Wife's Uncle
and Some Family Mat
terS Are Settled.
(By DAVID A. CURTIs.)

Nby David n GUhllSs)
The stranger who entered old man
Greenlaw's little saloon in Arkansas
City one evening proved to the salts
faction Of the old man, after some lit
tie conversation, that he was not in
fact stranger, but an acquaintance Of
long standing, having been one Of the
regular customers Of the man who
owned the tavern in GreenVllle, Miss.,
at the time when old man Greenlaw
kept bar for him In bygone years.
1t is true that there was some lit
tie difficulty in establishing this fact
TO Old Man Greenlaw's satisfaction
when the acquaintanceship was
claimed after the lapse of so many
years. The old mans habitual eau
s ton prompted him to scrutinizo with
great care the claim Of any one. at
any time, who professed to have known
him ct former time. Acquaintance
Of his, who sought him out OCCASION
ally and who undertook to renew the
previous friendly relations which they
alleged to have existed, had more
than once made uso OF their claims
as preliminary matter going to estab.
nsh a basis on which they could ne
gotiate credit for themselves at his
bar. 1t is not Of record that any such
attempt had been successful, but the
recurrence OF such effort had made a
painful impression on the old mans
mind, and he was reluctant TO admit
that he had ever known anybody on
my previous occasion.
Had Prosperous Appearance.
The man from Greenville, however.
did succeed after having bought sew
eral times in recalling himself TO
old man Greenlaw's recollection, and
The latter set 'em up himself in &C
acknowledgements of the acquaintance,
albeit this action was more or less
perfunctory, betokening no enthusi-
aBm whatever. The Greenyille per-
son, however, who recalled himself as
Buck Murdoch, had prosperous app
pearance, and the old man remembered
that the man he had certainly known
by that name had been somewhat
noted for sporting procliylties in his
youth, so that It was in a quite hope
full manner that he introduced Mr..
Murdoch to some of the regular fire.
quenters of the saloon who came in af-
terward at intervals.
These introductlons were acknowl-
edged In due for by Mr. Murduck. who
successfully invited joe Bussett, Jim
Blaisdell and Jake Hrtcfbotton 10
Join him and the old man III inc sue
cessive rounds that cRsued, so that
things were soon on a friendly foot
Ing, not to say joylG., when there
came pause.
Sam Pearsall had not yot Arrived
and Mr.. Murdock's habitat having been
mentioned, 1t was remembered by the
Dthers that Mr. Pearsalls prejudice
against Greenyille was somewhat pro-
bounced, so that 1t was matter of un-
certainty whether or not he would az
Bume tolerant or a hostile attitude
toward the stranger when he should
be introduced.
Waiting for Pearsnll to Appear.
The. question was more important
Than 1t might seem to be. Under the
skillful guidance Of the old man things
were being gradually shaped up in
way that would naturally lead to the
Inauguration Of friendly game of polk
er In the back room OF the saloon.
It was advisable for some reasons TO
await the arrival of Mr.. Pearsall before
beginning to play, but when Mr.. VIM
terbottom heard the mention of Greer
vile, he looked doubtful and after q
little thought seemed TO become ap-
prehensive. He remembered what the
others seemed not to have thought of,
that Pearsall had married Greenville
girl. And he thought. though he was
not quite certain. that the girls name
had been Murdoch.
''Sam," he sald. they is some pros
PEGS Of game"
"Good!" said Pearsall. Who's the
sucker?"
"says his names Murdoch"
Good again!" said Pearsall ANY
body what goes by that name d ough.
TO to be did up. 'Taint one o. I'll
Greenville Murdocks, is itT'
~That's what" sid Winterbottom.
No Rough House at First.
"Say." exclaimed Pearsall, with an
appearance Of intense JOY. II want
lookin' TO- Christmas to come rhis
early. Pears like the good Lawd
must be a-smtlin' on me at last. Gin
onl l can't hardly wait 70 TO git
thar" And he hurried along.
Hold on a minute" said Winter
bottom, relieved. but still anxious. Yo'
all amt reck'nin' on startin no rookus
till arter the game, be yo'?"
Not thouten its Buck Murdoch,
amt" said Pearsall. II it's him,
dunno whether en- keep my shirt on
or not. He's Mis- Pearsall's uncle an
if he'd had the feelin's of a man he'd
said somethin' TO me afo' twas too
late"
Calls hisself Buck" said Winter
bottom, but, say! Tn, amt no sense
IN bein' hasty. He'd ought To- to be
skun first OFF an en- keep the others
from interferin if yo' all wants mo-
satisfaction later on. TIL amt no
desprit hurry bout manhandlin of him
afo' we gifts his wad."
We'll, that's reas nable," said Pear
sail, slackening his pace. Business d
ought TO- to come afo' amusement, o.
co'ss. ! reckon l en- hold in To- a
spsll, but just nachully l gets red
headed when thinks about it."
20 co'se yo' does" said Winterbol-
tom, soothingly "But We uns II give
20 all chanst at him when the time
comes"
And this being understood they en-
tered the saloon together, and Pear.