The Washington herald., 1920-09-20


There's old -feud." he said
distinctly and slowly, tween
you 'uns and the Coltranes."
Goree frowned eminousiy. To
speak of his feud to a, feudist Is
a serious breach of theSmountain
etiquette. The man from back
yam knew it as well as the law
yer did.
No offense," he went on, but
purely in the way of business.
Misses Garyey hey studied all
about feuds. Most of the quality
folks in the mountains hev 'em.
The Settles and the Goforths, the
Rankins and the Boyds, the Silers
and the Galloways, hev all been
cyarin on fsuds from twenty to a
hundred year. The last man to
drap was when yo' uncle, Judge
Paisley Goree. 'journed cot and
shot Len Coltrane fom the bench.
Misses Garyey. and me. We come
fom the po' white trash. Nobody
wouldn't pick a feud with we'uns.
no mon with a family of tree
toads- Quality people eyerywhar.
says Missis Garvey, has feuds.
"e'uns amt quality, but we're
buyin' into 1t as fur as we can.
Take the money, then says Miss
is Garvey, and buy Mr.. Goree's
feud. far and squar''"
The squirrel hunter straight
ensd a leg half across the room.
drew a roll OF bills from his pock-
ct, and threw them on the table.
'Thsr's two hundred dollars.
Mr.. Goree; what you would call
far price for a feud that's been
allowed to run down like yourn
hev. Thsr's only you left to cyar'
on yo' side of il, and you'd make
mighty po' killins I'll take it on
yo' hands, and it'll set me and
Missis Gsrvey up among the quail
ity. Thar's the money"
The little roll of currency on
the table slowly untwisted itself,
writhing and jumping as its fold
relaxed. In the silence that fol-
lowed Garvey's last speech the
rattling of the poker chips in the
court house could be plainly
heard. Goree knew that the sher-
if had Just won a pot. for the
subdued whoop with which he al
ways greeted victory floated
across the square upon the crink-
ly heat waves. Beads OF moisture
stood on Goree's brow. STOPPING
he drew the wicker-covered demi-
john from under the table, and
filled a tumbler from it.
"A little corn liquor. Mr.. Gar
vey- OF course you are joking
about-what you spoke Of? Opens
quite a new market. doesn't it?
Feuds, prime. two-ftty to three.
Feuds. slightly damased-two
hundred. believe you said, Mr.
Gsrvey?"
Goree laughed self-consciously
The mountaineer took the glass
Goree handed him. and drank the
whisky without a tremor OF the
lids of his staring eyes. The law
yer apPlauded the feat by a look
of envious admiration. He poured
his own drink. and took II like y
drunkard. by gulps. and with
shudders at the smell and taste
Two hundred" repeated Gar
vey. ''Thar's the money
\ sudden passion flared up in
Gorees brain. He struck the ta-
BILE with his fist. One of the bills
tipped over and touched his hand.
He finched as if something had
stung him.
DO you come to me-" he shout
ed, seriously with such a ridicu-
loUs, insulting. darned-fool propo-
sition?"
ITS far and squar'." said the
l., l.,
out his hand as if to take back
the money; and then Goree knew
that his own furry of rage had
not been from pride or resentment
but from anger at himself. know
ing that he would set foot in the
deerer depths that were being
opened to him. He turned in an
instant from an outraged gentle
man to an anxious Chafferer rec
ommending his goods.
Don't be in a hurry. Garvey."
he said, his face crimson and his
speech thick. Il accept your
p-p-proposition. though it's dirt
cheap at two hur dred. A t-trade $
all right when both p-purchaser
and b-buyer are s-satisfied ShaIl
I w-wrap it up for you, Mr.. Gar
vey?"
Garvey rose. and shook out his
broadcloth. 'Missis Garvey will
be pleased. You air out of it. and
it stands Coltrane and Garvey.
Just a scrap ov writin'. Mr.. Goree.
you bein' lawyer, to show We
traded"
Goree seized sheet of paper
and pen. The money was
clutched in his moist hand. Every
thing else suddenly seemed TO
grow trivial and light
Bill of sale. by all means.
Right. title. and interest in and
to. forever warrant and No.
Garvey. we'll have to leave out
that defend" said Goree with a
loud laugh. you'll have to de-
ftnd this title yourself"
The mountaineer received the
amazing screed that the lawyer
handed him, folded II with i'm
morse labor. and placed it care
fully in his pocket.
Goree was standing near the
window. step here" he said,
raising his finger, and I'll show
you your recently purcha sed
tEtulS. lHCIS ut SOeS, uONn the
otter side of the street"
The mountaineer crooked his
long frame to look through the
window in the direction indicated
by the other. Col. Abner CoItrane,
an erect, portly gentleman of
about SO. wearing the inevitable
long, double-breasted frock coat
of the Southern lawmaker. and an
old high silk hat, was passing on
the opposite sidewalk As Garvev