Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-04-17
WHO WAS A TRAITRESS?

Capt. James Peters, riding home from
a raid into the moonshine counties,
stopped at Jared's store and asked for q
drink. A Jug was taken from the shelf,
and finger's-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 I took a
notion, [ 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 a starving tiger.
"Seem to mes if you had somethin'
on your mind" remarked Mrs. Peters
that same evening.
"Ye-es," said the Captain, "I'm
plagued about them Jared boys. I can't
ketch 'em nohow."
A knock at the door, and young fell
low came in and shook hands eagerly
with the Captain. His name was Mad
dcx. Capt. Peters had picked him up
in Nashville, and employed him son
trial"
ct was Jest a-speakin' of the Jareds,"
he said. "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 notion in my
head, If I only had anybody I could
trust" Maddox drew himself up, alert,
watchful as a listening sentinel. "What
can't be done one way must be done an
other" said Capt. Peters, slowly, and he
and Maddox had long, whispered con-
ference.
A few days later q peddler stopped at
Bleylock's 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 IS if we ought'n ter trouble
you," she said, "cause we can't buy q
pins wuth."
"Jest for the pleasure, ma'am," said
the gallant peddlef.
The pack was opened, and three pairs
of eyes grew big with delight.
"'F you'll wait till par comes, I'll
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.
"H faint maxim too free, I'd like to
say admire Dick Oscars taste" said
the peddler, with an admiring glance.
Janey responded with "Oh! you
hush /" and toss of her head, and old
mother Bleylock said, "The boys most
generally always paid Janey good deal
T attention" teH
She possessed bold prettiness, this
mountain pink. Brown-skinned, black
eyed, red-ipped and a 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.
"I1l 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 yo'
fanily9"
"Eor no; I've got three boys"
CAL at home, farnin', I s'pose?"
y ~ "Yaas. e
SHOW, bout these goods O. mine, .
said the peddler "'f you could put me
up for few days, we might make trade.
TINS tired's lame horse, and wouldn't
want nuthin' hetter'n to rest right here. :"
"Idlike nuthin' better'n to take you.
But tn amt no use sayin' word till
pa gets home. He amt no hand for
strangers. se{
"Well, I won't be stranger longer'n I
can help" said the agreeable peddler.
sMy names Pond, Marcus Pond, Nash
vile boy; bat a rollin' stone, you know.
I've peddled books an SEWN -machines,
and no end Of lot of traps ginerally.
Fond O travel you see; but jest's steady
as old Time. Never drink when travel
promised my mother I wouldn't"
"'Tis good thing" said mother
Bleylock, with energy. u 90 desplse to
see fuddled man. Whisky amt fit fur
nuthin' but ter fatten hogs on
Father Bleylock came home, and be-
yond stare and beyond silent nod
took little notice of the peddler. He
was tall man, thin, taciturn and yell
low, and with neck SO small that his
head presented the appearance of being
stuck on with pin.
He lighted his pipe, and, after sooth-
ing interval OF smoking, sPeddler'd
like to stop over period, )" said his wife.
Puff, puff. "Dpn't see no objection. u
Puff, puff.
Mr.. Pond, as he promised, soon ceased
to be. stranger. The old man dis