Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-05-11
AMONG THE INCONSISTENCIES"
A GRAPHIC STORY on TuE CAPTURE or A
CROOKED pisriiLrRr.


cRookrD pisrirlrRr.
Daring the winter Of 1882 Was de-
tailed on special duty in one OF the back
wood. counties Of North Carolins, where
the "Moon.hinsr piled bis vocation. i'
iind oa, the Whereabouts and exact 10
eali,y. IL possible. or two or three Illicit
di.,illsries in that section.
The country ws mountainous and
rough. The people were uneou,h. uned'
ueated. and cared little for Law or order
one Of their cardinal principles Vas t.
beat the government, on, Of every cent
they could. and ,hi, they considered nc
harm.
had been oa, week aud had met
with very poor 'ucee. had no, def
ini,,ly spotted any s,ill. bat had en-.
eounisrea one Of two parties whom
though, would bear watching. l de-
sided. however. to go on further dovr
the river. where the llrees, OF the dis,
,iller ". supposed to be located, and
leave the other. for some future time.
Near the close OF . raw. cold day Ia
December. AFTER hard days ride, drew
rein a, tie gate Of . house more pre,en'
,iou. than WAS usual In ,ha, neighbof'
hood. |, Was large ,wo.s,ory build
ing. neatly painted. and with ~,ll'ksp'
yards. A general air Of prosperity pre-
vailed.
/ hailed q, the gate. and tall. ra,he'
handsome gentleman. Of pleasing I'd.
dreu. about so years OF age came out.
introduced myself. and asked him II
could stay ell night. =.
Certainly. ,ir." be replied; We vii
be glad Of your company. We seldom
meet with strangers here. bu, they an
the more welcome
A boy W. called and Instructed e
take my horse and pu, him up. while
aud my host wen, into the house.
found ,hs, my hosts name ". weihsrl,
Of whom | had heard n one OF the lead
ing men in the county in all matters O
public interest. Ills neishbors ell held
him in high repu,s and bis opinion VA
.oush, upon all vs,ed questions.
Ia the house We entered . neatly fur
ni.hed room. where brish, fire sen,
cheerful glow into every nook aud corner
(Which way are you travelling. ant
wha, bushes. brings you into this oai-oi
,he.wsy place p asked Mr.. we,hefly.
81 have been oa, on prosPeeiinl
tour for q party Of Philadelphian'. VII
contemplate purchasing some mininl
property in ,hi. nsishborhcod." re
Piled. ,
| dared no, tell my real euand. fof
w.a dangerous business for revenu
man 10 20 into ,ha, par, Of the country
The people hated them vope than the.
did the ra,,le.nakes which playful.
.bounded among the hills and cavern
Of ,ha, Wild region, and would he,iias
no, much le. TO kill him.
Mr.. we,herly was abou, to ques,ioI
me further when his wife entered th
room. She Was . oomely woman. sp
psren,ly abou, ten years the junior o
her husband. very Intelligent. She an
nouneed ,hA, supper WAS ready. and W
repaired TO the dinner.rcom.
There | me, . daughter, Abou. Is. an
two sons. aged abou, Is and 20. o
"mine host"
My day. ride bad given me = raven
ous appetite. and l ate heartily OF ih
splendid supper prepared for US. 4
general conversation vi. kept up durinI
the meal. and was surprised At the In
tellisenee Of my hos, and his family
supper over, Mr.. we,hsrly and l wen
to the ,i,,ing.room to enjoy smoke
We had been sitting smoking and con
vering on general topics for some tim
when the elder Of the boys entered an
announced thathe and his brother were 70
ing that nigh, with = party OF friends :
search for the hidden treasure. and woul
probably no, return before morning.
"why. boys" said Mr.. we,herly. !
seeming surprise. "wha, do you want :
20 on iha, foolish erand for. You wi
gain nothing BY it, and l prefer 20
would no. Co."
"Bu,. father" protested the youn
man. "you know We might find IL; IN
.s for the ghost. I don't believe wor
Of Il. Besides. We have promised Mic
Williams and Hank Simmons to 90 Wit
them"
As you will.' be responded. "bus
don't approve Of It."
My curiosity Vas excited By the rsfe'
enee to the "hidden treasure and th
"shos,,- and asked my host for an sl
planation.
"Ifs an old story" he said; lever,
body about here knows IL. However,
you care to hear 1t, will relate Il I
you a. the gossips have It."
And lighting fresh cigar. be began
"Trsdition says that just previous
the Revolutionary war there lived ss u
base Of Hickory Nut Hill, about hs
mile from here, an old widow lady By d
name OF TORS. She had two sons, DO,
handsome types Of manhood, and both Il
dus,rious boys. The war came on. IN
both young men enlisted and went fort
to battle for their country. leaving the
mother TO care for an old and trusts
servant. When the war cloud hung dai
and lowering. and Il was uncertain upc
which banner victory would perch. Il
old lady became alarmed for the ssfs'
Of her riches, which. tradition says, COZ
sisted Of large sums Of gold and silvs
So she took her money one night ~
with the aid Of her servant carried it
certain place In dark. drsary ravii
. few hundred yards from the house, sn