The Expressman and the Detective

In accordance with a plan which I always carry out, of watching the actions of those around me, I kept my eye on him, and found that he was qu

o less a personage than the old planter whom Johnson H. Hooper so graphic

anors, but, as he was a great favorite, he was allowed the freedo

as not of the highest order, and the first place he visited was Patterson's saloon. Here he met a few congenial spirits, took several drinks with them, and then, being "flush,"-a very unusual thing for him-he proceeded to "buck the tiger." Like too many others, he bucked t

nd, who demanded of him the one hundred dollars he had borrowed. Simon put on a very important air, and in

the necessary funds to pay off his friend, he saw the tall, ungainl

the bottom of his breeches and the top of his shoes. He was as "thin as a rail," and if he stood upright would have been very tall, but he was bent nearly double. He had a slouched hat on, which partly concealed his long

e power the

els as ithe

eet he stopped occasion

d to see what the planter was up to. Accordin

n'!" replie

st summat?"

me money changed, and I'll be durned if I

lin' nig

lied the planter. "I'v

to my bank. Gin me yer money, and come

reckoned he was the squarest man he had met," he turned over his money-some f

ed up all the inmates to take a drink, and telling the planter

osed he must be detained at the bank. At the end of half an hour he began to grow decidedly uneasy, but still Simon did not come. At the expiratio

oor planter's funds, had paid him the hundred dollars he owed him, and

dred dollars in his possession. He was now all excitement, and jumped with many a "whoop-la" around the table, to the great amusement of the spectators. He was about to give up play, but they urged hi

y welcomed by the widow, who ordered one of her negroes to put up his horse and conducted him into the house. She had a good supper prepared, Simon ate a hearty meal, spent a few delightful hours in the widow's company, and was then shown to his room. He was soon in the arms of Morpheus, and arose in the morning as gay as a lark. Throwing open the casement, he let in the fresh morning breeze and took in at a glance the rich Southern landscape. Immediately below him, and sloping in well kept terraces to the banks of the Coosa, was a trim garden, filled with flowers, among which, in fine bloom, were numerous varie

to be placed in the boat, not forgetting a "little brown jug" for Simon, took his arm, and tripping gaily down to the river, embarked. Simon pulled strongly at the oars until a bend of the river hid them from view of the p

from the li

e love to the li

and take a hearty pull; finally he stole a few kisses, the widow dropped her head resignedly on his shoulder, and so they floated down the current, loving "not wisely, but too well." On and on they floated, entirely oblivious of time, when they were suddenly startled by a wild halloo. The widow started up wit

ght; I'll jist take this yar lady hum, gi

"that won't do, jist you git out o

to return without Mr. Suggs; what will my niggers think of it? You, Mr. Deputy, can get into the boat wi

to take this course, and securing

Simon for over two hours, was informed by the saloon keeper to whom he appealed, that he had entrusted his money to Simon Suggs, and that his chances

went directly to his house. He found Mrs. Suggs at home, and demanded of her the whereabouts of Simon. Mrs. Suggs said she did not pretend to keep track of him

had committed a grave offense, and

always thought Simon would come to a bad en

ifferent plantations, endeavoring to get some trace of Simon. When he reached the widow's he was told by a slave that "Massa Simon"

y deep place here;" "bar here;" "push her off a little from that snag," etc., and the deputy would occasionally supply the widow with persimmons. While in the deepest part of the stream the widow discovered a splendid bunch of persimmons hanging from a bough which reached to the centre of the river. She declared she must have them. Simon r

e way to his oars, and left the poor

uty; "don't you know you are inter

was all the consolation he got from Simon,

e could, Simon rowed rapidly to the house, sent a negro to bring the deputy

up, on the limb, but could not do it. His arms were so strained that he thought they would be pulled from their sockets. He had strung many a negro up by the thumbs to thrash him, but he little thought he should have been strung up himself. His strength rapidly failed him, and he found he could maintain his hold no longer. Closing his eyes, he str

deep sleep. How long he slept he could not tell, but on awaking he sprang up and hurried to the place where he had left his horse. Finding it gone, he w

ny, and the next day went with him to Simon

Montgomery looked on the whole transaction as a very good joke, and Simon was decidedly "in

d, and concluded that authorities who could execute the law so len

r lived. I discovered that the doctor lived well, although he was a man of smal