Show THE FICTION MASSACRE CORNER by richard H wilkinson HARLIE poe lived by his wits C CHARLIE not because he had to but be cause he liked to I 1 could name a halt half dozen jobs he ba had been offered all legitimate all of which he turned down he bear the thought of routine and being tied down I 1 met him unexpectedly one day last summer in boston minute not doing s 3 cm a anything n y thing he netlon sold when I 1 questioned him W hats wrong I 1 asked looking lor for something he con fessel if youve nothing lined up I 1 suggested how about taking a ride up country with me im making a two day trip to burlington like to he said we started the he next morning charlie the cheerful companion I 1 anticipated obviously there was something on an his mind halfway across new hampshire we came to a place alongside the road where a dozen or more cars were parked align A sign proclaimed the reason visit the site of the famous indian massacre the sign read nothing like it anywhere free lecture offers t much ch by way of historical value A scene YO you u wont forget admission 25 cents stop said charlie I 1 stopped we got out and walked over to a shelter beneath which a man was selling tickets the man with the tickets saw us and urged us to buy eloquently elaborating on his printed sign charlie dug into his pocket and produced a halt half dollar presently about 20 people had purchased tickets and the man got down oft off his stool and led us through though the gate we follo followed ived him alon along g tho the path he talked as we progressed by the time we reached our objective we were an all steamed up with apprehension V 4 U N halfway across new hampshire we came to a place a sign proclaimed them the site of tho the famous k indian massacre massac rei we had entered a small clearing beyond it was a ledge overhanging a shallow gorge through which a trickle of water flowed we stood on the ha ledge while our guide told boid us how years ago a detachment of militiamen had pursued a band indians through the forest foiest ha hard rd put the indians dime came to this ledge dge below them was the gorge at that time a goodmann good many deeper than now thus the rod red skins had their choice of lea leaping into the gorge or being shot IT was a gruesome tale we were all silent and impressed as we made our way back to the cars that said charlie Is the best beat gag ive ever seen maybe I 1 said hut but how hov can that guy prove any such thing happened there illow biow can the tourists prove it charlie asked and what do abe they care that chap knew what they wanted and ho he gave it to them they were satisfied lie ile became thoughtful charlie mention the sou cook mas massacre acre again during our trip but I 1 suspected it was on his mind when he left me in hi boston two days later he shook hands warmly where are you off to now I 1 asked him oh the western plan of mine is still rankling he grinned grinne d see you around late iri in september I 1 had occasion to go north again traveling the same route that charlie and I 1 had taken I 1 remembered the massacre alie th e shelter was still there and there wera cars parked outside but a different man was selling tickets the man was charlie how about this I 1 asked he grinned you gave me the idea he said remember you wanted to know how the guy could prove the massacre happened here well I 1 asked him at the same time flashing a tin badge I 1 sometimes carry around he decided to move on Is that sort of thing ethical in your profession I 1 asked sure were all suckers some ol 01 us are smarter the guy was getting fed up anyhow so am 1 I some day somebody Is going to ask mi me to prove brov i e that massacre story it if airi alj smart enough ill be gone before he gets here suits nim HIM to it teo tee it must be nice to own a chalm chad of stores yes you can spend all yew time on the units links |