The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-05-13
Who Was A TRAITRESS :?

Capt. James Peters, riding home from
a raid into the moonshine counties,
stopped at Jared's store and asked for a
drink. A jug was taken from the shelf,
and q fingers length of clear yellow
whisky poured out.
"No moonshine in this sto', you see,
Captain" remarked Mr.. Jared.
Humph /" and the Captains keen
eyes glanced toward the loungers in and
about the store. "Reckon. if L took q
notion, L could unearth some moon.
shine, an spot some moonshiners not
fur off.
"Captain, you mustn't be so sus.
picious."
Capt Peters only laughed. He was
very good-humored, the mountain ter
ror, except when, as they would say. his
blood was up. Then it was as safe to
meet starving tiger.
"Seem to mes if you had somethin
on your mind" remarked Mrs. Peters
that same evening.
Ye-es," said the Captain, elm
plagued about them Jared boys. CAM
ketch EN- nohow.
A knock at the door, and young fell
low came in and shook hands eagerly
with the Captain. His name was Mad.
dox. Capt. Peters had picked him up
in Nashville, and employed him "on
trial"
CT was jest a-speakin of the Jareds, "
ne seid. 1" I'm pretty sure they've a
still somewhat. They look me in the
eye too powerful innocent to be all
right. Now I've got o notion in my
head, if only had anybody / could
trust" Maddox drew himself up, alert,
-'watchful as q listening sentinel "What
g can't he done one way must be done an
% other" said Capt. Peters, slowly, and he
and Maddox had long, whispered con-
ference = 1&.. .
A few days later peddler stopped at
Bleylocks and asked for a drink of
water. Old mother Bleylock sent to the
spring for fresh bucketful, and the
peddler, after refreshing himself, opened
his pack.
"Pears s if we ought'n ter trouble
you, she said, "cause we can't buy q
pins with"
"Jest for the pleasure, ma'am," said
the gallant peddlcr.
The pack was opened, and three pairs
of eyes grew big with delight. ~
"'F you'll wait till par comes. III
make him buy me that collar" said
Janey, the younger of the Bleylock girls.
"P'raps Dick Oscar d buy you a
present T he was here, suggested Eliza.
6" If faint maxim too free, I'd like to
say admire Dick Oscars taste, said
the peddler, with an admiring glance.
Janey responded with ooh you
hush |" md toss of her head, and old
mother Bleylock said, "The boys most
generally always paid Janey good deal
4 attention.
She possessed bold prettiness, this
mountain pink. Brown-skinned, black
eyed, red-lipped and way of dropping
her head on her swelling neck, and look
ing mutiny from under her heavy brows.
Eliza was a thin slip of girl, with de-
mure but vacant look in her blue eyes,
and shy, nervous manner.
"I'n tell you the truth, ma'am," re-
marked the peddler to the mother, "you
could take these girls o. yourn to Nash
vile, an people in tn streets would fol
low them for their good looks. An
that's Heavens own truth. All 20
tamily2"
"Lor no; I've got three boys"
<'All at home, farmin', / s'pose?"
"Yaas."
"Now, bout these goods O. mine,
said the peddler "f you could put me
up for few days, we might make trade
TINS tired's q lame horse, and wou.dn'
want nuthin' better'n TO rest right here.
"Tdlike nuthin' better'n to take you
But tn amt no use sayin' word til
pa gets home. He amt no hand TO
strangers"
- "Well, won't be stranger longer'n
can help" said the agreeable peddler
"My names Pond, Marcus Pond, Nash
Vile boy hut rollin' stone, yeu know
I've peddled books an sewin'-machines
and no end of lot of traps ginerally
Fond o. travel you see but iest's stead,
as old Time. Never drink when I travel
promised my mother wouldn't"
cts o good thing" said mothe