The County Judge then ordered me to cut out the road from Light to Walnut Corner. That is where I got some more threats. This time it was physical harm, if I attempted to cut on certain land. I began at Light working my say south. Finally I got down to this Ballman place. We got to where he had a gate and a fence across my right-of-way. The man I had driving my team said to me, "Mr. Dacus, we are at the danger point. What are you going to do with this gate?" I grabbed the log chain and told him to back the team up and I would show him. I threw the chain around the gate and told him to take it away! He said, "We are in trouble now, Mr. Dacus. You know and everyone else knows that this man is a bad man when anyone doesn't do as he likes!" I never even stopped to inquire whether or not this "bad man" liked it or not!

     Finally I got to his house. He never did come out. When we got all the way past his place, my driver said, "Mr. Dacus, I wouldn't have hooked onto that gate like you did for anything!" I told him that he would not make a good overseer because he was too timid!

     I found out when in public office you have to protect your own self, for it is human nature to pick on a man that is elected by the people. They would take a man down and walk all over him if they could! Anyway, I guess I made a good road boss. People kept me in office for over forty-three years!

ANOTHER HAIL STORM

     I've told you about the hail storm of 1898, now I would like to tell you about the one that came in 1917!

     This storm came late one evening in May. My boys my brother and myself had just come in from a big fishing trip late in the afternoon. By the time we had gathered around the dining table for our evening

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