some good baked beans. Baked beans and brown bread are
scrumptious. Ever eat 'em, stranger?"

"No," said the Pike man; "none of your Yankee truck for me."

"I guess you don't know what's good," said Mr. Bickford. "What's
your favorite vittles?"

"Bacon and hominy, hoe-cakes and whisky."

"Well," said Joshua, "it depends on the way a feller is brung up. I
go for baked beans and brown bread, and punkin pie--that's
goloptious. Ever eat punkin pie, stranger?"

"Yes."

"Like it?"

"I don't lay much on it."

Supper was over and other subjects succeeded. The Pike County man
became social.

"Strangers," said he, "did you ever hear of the affair I had with
Jack Scott?"

"No," said Joshua. "Spin it off, will you?"

"Jack and me used to be a heap together. We went huntin' together,
camped out for weeks together, and was like two brothers. One day we
was ridin' out, when a deer started up fifty rods ahead. We both
raised our guns and shot at him. There was only one bullet into him,
and I knowed that was mine."

"How did you know it?" inquired Joshua.

"Don't you get curious, stranger. I knowed it, and that was enough.
But Jack said it was his. 'It's my deer,' he said, 'for you missed
your shot.' 'Look here, Jack,' said I, 'you're mistaken. You missed
it. Don't you think I know my own bullet?' 'No, I don't,' said he.
'Jack,' said I calmly, 'don't talk that way. It's dangerous.' 'Do
you think I'm afraid of you?' he said, turning on me. 'Jack,' said
I, 'don't provoke me. I can whip my weight in wildcats.' 'You can't
whip me,' said he. That was too much for me to stand. I'm the
Rip-tail Roarer from Pike County, Missouri, and no man can insult me
and live. 'Jack,' said I, 'we've been friends, but you've insulted
me, and it must be washed out in blood.' Then I up with my we'pon and
shot him through the head."

"Sho!" said Joshua.

"I was sorry to do it, for he was my friend," said the Pike County
man, "but he disputed my word, and the man that does that may as well
make his will if he's got any property to leave."

Here the speaker looked to see what effect was produced upon his
listeners. Joe seemed indifferent. He saw through the fellow, and
did not credit a word he said. Joshua had been more credulous at
first, but he, too, began to understand the man from Pike County.
The idea occurred to him to pay him back in his own coin.

"Didn't the relatives make any fuss about it?" he inquire