Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 March 1911 — PRETTY TOUGH TOWN [ARTICLE]

PRETTY TOUGH TOWN

VISITING MOUNTAINEBR: PREPARES FOR THE WORST. i • y.'j, rV ' w ' _*. ■/- . Y V:-, * “Plug" Wilson Marvels When He Finds Streets and Houses Without Light at Night—-Keeps Hla i 'Gun Handy.

,r Plug” Wilson, fresh from the mountains, alighted at the little railroad -station in southeastern Arkansas and looked about him. It was growing dark, but no lights could be seen in the town. No light marked the station, though from within could be heard the tick-tick-ticking of a. telegraph instrument. This impressed “Plug” as being somewhat remarkable. Several men, Idling about the depot, stared at him through the gloom. Finally he sauntered up to the dark window of the depot and stared in at the agent, who was just completing the sending of a message. His face could scarcely be seen In the gloom. “Partner,” said “Plug,” “where’s the hotel?” The station agent, having completed his message, came to the window and peered into his face. “It’s right back o’ here,” he said, “about two blocks. You can tell it by the high picket fence.” “Hasn’t It got a sign?” “Plug” asked.' “Don’t they put up hotel signs in this country?" “O, yes,” the agent saM, “but there ain’t light enough to see It by,” “Whyn’t there any light?” asked “Plug.” “I don’t see a light in town.” “You just bet there ain’t no lights,” said the agent “No, sir-ee.” “Plug” felt an agreeable chill coursing through him.

“Ah!” he jiaid, “that’s it, is it?” He felt for the gun he had carried so long he couldn't remember when he started carrying it. j With some difficulty, and keeping a tight hold on his weapon, the mountain man found the hotel. The clerk, an old man with a long beard, lighted a candle long enough to show him the room assigned to him and then blew It out again in a hurry. This action impressed the mountain man as being commendably prudent. He tried the windows of his room, pushed the back of a chair under the doorknob, and, tucking his trousers and gun under his pillow, slept sweetly all night In the morning be ..went cautiously downstairs. “Pretty tough town, hey?” he asksd the clerk. "No, sir!” he said with emphasis. “There ain’t been an arrest there since Ike Weekum was ’rested Christmas for bein’ drunk ’’ The mountain man’s jaw dropped “Gee!” he said. “Then what was all the lights put out fer?” The boy looked at him pityingly. “Say—ay,” he said, “where’d you come frum? Didn’t the ’skeeters bother you none last night?”