The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-12-20
BY n. c. FARLEY.


For months we had been following up
what seemed hot trail.
The Government had got wind of an
illicit distillery hidden snugly away in
the wooded Businesses of a certain To-
cality iii kansas-that shall be nameless
ut present-and l had been detailed,
with several others, to run it down and
bring the offenders to Justice. But SO
far they had eludcd our grasp.
During the last three or four weeks,
however, we had lowered pretty close
upon its discovery. Several times late
ly l had received such accurate infor-
nation as to the locality of tho still
that each time we had moved upon the
works fully expecting to capture the
moonshiners actually engaged at their
unlawful business. But disappoint-
mont only crowned our efforts. In every
instance we found where they had been
working, but nothing more. 1t almost
seemed NJ though they were gifted with
supernatural powers, for they not only
successfully eluaed capture, but they
showed by various manuevers at differ
ent times that n knowledge of the plans
made by the Government was familiar
to them. There was certainly treachery
somewhere, though could not decide
where.
The long day was fast drawing to q
close, and having been i'll the saddle
since early morning l was thoroughly
tired out, and drawing rein before IA
cabin hard by, asked for a nights
lodging, with supper and breakfast.
To my surprise-the master of the
housa-if house it could he called,
after rlancing sharply at myself and
lorse, gruifiy hade II y ri,le on. adj ng
that he had neither room nor food for
q stranger. Being in anything but n
good humor in the first place. his rough
dismissal served to completely destroy
the little stock of good nature that re-
NAMED to me at the end of my days
travel.
This is n specimen of the famous
Kansas hospitality, is it ?" l asked angri-
ly. This makes the fourth time in tho
last three hours that have been re-
fused food and lodging. And yet ycu
fellows boast that your latch-strings
are always ont to the traveller.
1T must be that there's a sort of
difference i'll traylers,' was his laconic
reply, Us he glanced meditatively at my
waistcoat. A sudden suspicion Of the
truth flashed across my mental vision,
and following his eye my suspicious
We're verified, for there, only partially
concealed by my top coat, which was un-
fastened OH account of the heat, shone
my badge.
Inwardly cursing my stupidity and
yowing to make amends in the future,
we started on, though the poor beast
was too badly spent to take any gait
faster than walk.
jogging on, tired to death, and still
pondering over what was mystery to
me, l saw far on ahead in the fast gath
eiing gloom of the approaching night.
bright light, shining like star in the
distance.
The horse gave joyful whinny and
auiekened his pace. It was not long
before we drew up before small stone
house.
Taking care to hide my badge before
going in, / once more applied for food
and shelter.
4 youngish woman answered my
knock on the door. but my request was
met will. the usual demurur.
Ny horse has given out, and / am
exhausted and starving" / insisted,
pushing my way into the room. "You
shall he we'll paid for your trouble"
"Bnt my husband is not Mt home and
won't lie until tomorrow" she ob.
lec.ed.
Forty husbands, for that matter.
madam, couldn't improve my comfort
any ii they We're all Mt home. just give
me corn-pone and cup of Kansas
,oll'ee, with blanket to sleep on, and
room in your Darn for my horse. Ill
be oil bright and early in the morn.
ing"
"Eettar let him stop, ma'am,' spoke
up hig hulii;np fellow by the side OF
:he fireplace. It's good bit to any
house, and therell he storm before
mornin' ef don't miss my guess"
Tie won an put her head ont of doors
and glanced anxiously at the sky.
4 great black cloud that had been
sA'Nts 1tasiiiS oAeI tit mn itIts Nd-
now hanging lowering overhead.
Knowing how quickly storms gather
in that locality, and having had evidence
OH several occasions of the awful do.
strncton Of lie and property caused 10y
them, | too glanced uneasily at the
lleak ens.
Jonas" cried the woman quickly,
as If She lad at last made up her mind
In Tic sspt the inevitable, take this
mans horse tn the barn and feed il,
and he can sleep with You in the little
room off the kitchen"
The hired man, for such he was, led
my horse away, and | sat down be,
fore the fire.
4 good supper WAS soon smoking he,
fore Inc, though ever aud anon my host.
e&s peerel out through the small win.
dow, evidently greatly worried at the
approaching storm.
Jonas returned from his trip to tho
barn, and taking up the seat opposite
nine, challenged Inc to friendly game
Of checkers. H. was by no means a
poor player, a-d We were deeply en-,