The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1888-06-16

charge Of cowardiee and would alo b.
able TO show that he had no perons
symp~'hy with the moonshinerk
The next morning Thurber leamet
that Judge Eldridge hsd left town {.
be gone three or four dayS. % b,
thought he could 10, choose a he.tei
time than the present for his tast. ,nt
might be able 10 surprise the Judge Oh
his return.
John Thurber was a young. ahlstis
giant and. although called . cwar.
BY Judge Eldridge. was an ute,
stranger to fear. He proposed If
capture were possible. to have al thu
credit himself. and decided to make
the attempt quite alone
Disguised as 3 countryman. he Wis
itei the haunts of the n~oonshineff and
In i day or two had learned something
of the movements of Hank Firesone.
He became aware that the redoubable
Hank WAS likely 10 ride alone in seer.
tain direction on the evening o the
third day Of his adventurous sereh.
Ii was a lonely mountain road aong
which Firesione would pass. AMI a.
one point he would be six miles rom
his friends at either end. Unfptu-
nately the night was rendered bright
by the light of a full moon: but TIA.
made no difference to John Thurher.
He knew i, was q risky business and
that his chances of escaping with his
life were no better than his chance of
capturing Hank-perhaps simmer;
but that made no difference, other.
John Tfiurber was one OF those stub
born and persistent men who once
having resolved on = certain co1rse OF
action. know no ''let-up'' unta they
accomplish their purpose or lie in
their tracks.
So early in the evening he was in
hiding. The very Loneliness Of the
place and the wildness o. the sur
rounding country. rendered weird and
solemn by the ~bewitching moonlight,
vas enough to unnerve rost men.
But John Thurber stood his ground.
holding in his hand a lari,t ready to
be thrown over his intended victim.
while his pistols were rsadr cooked in
his belt He had not waited very long
when sure enough q man approached
on horseback. Closer he came. and
when within twenty feet John flung
hi rope. The moose dropped right
over the horseman and n an instant it
WAS tightly drawn and John had his
man on the ground, his helpless pris-
oner.
Johns first business vas to disarm
his captive. who was a man of fine
physique, with jet black hair and q
long beard Of the same nature. Then
hs looked around and, as he noticed
the horse. said:
"Ah, Mr.. F%irestone. you are q horse
thief as well as a moonshiner! It's
strange to me if that is not Judge FL
bridges horse"
The captured man now spoke for the
first time. '.Idiot,,, he said: do you
know what risk you are mourning in
coming here? You are right, | an
Hank Firestone, and You can moi take
me a hundred steps, hardly, before my
friends will see us. And if they do
your life will be snuffed out in as
quick time as it takes to cock and pull
a trigger. Go, fool, while YOU have a
chance. and don't tamper with Hank
Firestone."
''Ah," replied John. coolly enough.
you seem to forget. Mr.. Firestone. that
justnow hold the trump cards in this
game. know these roads pretty well.
and ! think we a get to SmithviIle
in about three hours without meeting
any Of your friends. 1t is Just ten
miles to town. and we will walk and
turn about. You have just been
so | will take a rest. and you
can lead the horse. Get up and 90
ahead. l will be the guide and In
you which way to turn"
Slowly enough. Firestone arose and
rs he was told. while Thurber. pis-
tol in hand. mounted the horse. 1t
was a queer procession, but Thurber
decidedly had the most Of the fun.
After awhile they changed off; John
walked. but he took care 70 have his
well covered and. as he told him,
he would have shot him instantly If he
had attempted to ride the horse faster
than a walk. All the way to Smith
vile the captured outlaw spoke never
a word.
1t was midnight when they reached
and on their way up the deserted
street they passed Judge Eldridge's
house.
Have you any objection TO stopping
asked the moonshiner.
What for2"
"Oh, l have a fancy to see the Judge.
he will arrange for me to have
quarters than one would get
down at the courthouse"
II don't think he's home. but we'll
see. Indeed, would just as soon 60
in. il he is home"
THAT is his horse" said the outlaw.
land we may as well leave 1t in the
So the horse was led to the barn,
-.A m .-