The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-11

The two walked on quietly 10 the little
cabin and sat down to their frugal supper.
That night they talked ii over. Nancy
was oulspoken in her opposition 10 her
husbands new employment, but he
laughed at her fears. He told her that
there had never been an arrest in that dis
trict and that Oaks was growing rich. lie
showed her that II he gave up his Job the
mortgage would soon swallow up the little
farm and they would be homeless and
pennies.
Gimme q year." he said, San well be
| out of debt.
And so Nancy yielded against her better
judgment.
But from that day there was cloud on
her brow. She grew thin and nervous,
and started at every unusual sound.
One thing Nancy Wilson did without
telling her husband anything about it. She
found the shortest route 10 the still through
the woods, and all day long she was on
the watch. She determined that II she
ever saw any suspicious parties riding over
the hills, she would rush down into the
ravino ut the foot OF Mount 0lah, and warn
her husband in time.
Month after month rolled on without
any trouble, and Nancy was lulled into a
false security.
Late one afternoon she heard the sound
oil voices, and looking out saw party OF
men armed with carbines riding in the
direction OF the ravine where her husband
was ut work.
She had not q moment TO lose, and in
the twinkling Of an eye she Slipped oil her
| dress and put on one OF Jetf's suits In
this garb she felt that she could make bet
ter progress through the woods, and would
" less likely TO attract attention.
Then she ran out OF the back door and
darted of with the speed OF the wind.
The crack of q carbine rang out, fill
ing the peaceful valley with hundred
echoes.
"What did you do that for?' growlcd
the leader of the posse OF raiders. "Don't
you know that 1t will scare the moonshintrs
oH2',,
"lts all right" said the deputy who
had fired the shot. 81 saw a boy skinning
along on the mountain side, and knew
from tho way he tried TO hide himself that
he was one OF the gang We are looking for
i don't know whether hit him or not,
but ! don't see him."
"You may have killed some innocent
person, or, anyhow, your shot has given
notice Of our approach"
"Oh, no" answered the other, care
lessly. by this time the men sent around
the mountain have reached the still.
When we get there we'll lind our game.
And 80. IL turned out When tho
raiders joined their comrades they found
JEDI Wilson aprisonerin their hands. The
stiil-housc was demolished in few min
utcs, and the officers started oil with their
capture.
Wilson pleaded hard TO be allowed TO 90
| by his home TO see his wife, but his cap.
tons preferred To take another road, and
they lost no time in getting out OF that re-
gion. Wilson was tied to u horse, and was
helpless.
Far up the mountain side n motionlcss
| figure lay across narrow footpath. A
white, girlish face was turned up 10 the
sky, and in the glow OF the sunset II had a
life-like appearance. Night came on, and
the stars mirrored themselves in the CLASSY
eyes. and when morning came the sun
looked upon the same ghastly sight.
And 80 the rude mountainous found
her, and bore her tenderly honle.
"The reyynoo mem" they muttered, rs
they looked upon the corpse.
They said no more, but they clutched
their rifles, aud the grim look on their
bearded faces BODIED no good 10 the rev.
enue raiders.
The rough riders hurried JEFF Wilson on
over the mountains until railway station
was reached, and then the prisoner was
hsndcudcd and shipped 10 tho city, where
he was lodged in jail.
Wilson wns in fever OF anxiety about
his wife. lie wanted 10 send her an en-
couraging message; but n simple noun
lancer, unable 10 read or write, and locked
up 100 miles from home, Is In q bad FIX
JEFF brooded over the situation until he
awoke ono morning with a fever, and IL
was weeks before no was conscious. Then
he went into court In half dazcd condi.
ton, and almost before he knew II found
that he was sentenced 10 six months In
Jail.
The big, stalwart fellow had never been
himself since his illness. Ills mind wis
clouded, and lac mopcd through the period
| VI his imprisonment, wondering why he
heard nothing from his wife and his
friends.
|
"Mount Olahl No, thank you," said n
revenue officer one day to bis superior,
81 am not going therel'
"And why not?"
81 might meet JEFF Wilson. You have
heard of him? He Is the bloodicst and
most desperate outlaw in the county"
"Do you think he would murder your"
81 know Il. lie lives In the woods on
tho mountain, and whenever ho secs n
traveller who looks like q revenue man he
brings him down with his rife. II u use
less to try to catch him. He Is a regular
will cat"
al have heard OF him." said the other.
Let me see. Wasn't bis wife killed by a
party OF our raideB7"
Eyes; something Of the sort" yawned
the other "But no doubt she was with
him In his moonsnino business. Yes, she
was killed by one OF our men, and Wilson,
when he got out Of Jail and went home,
was nearly crTzy. Then his farm had
been sold undcr n mortgage, and he took
10 the woods and wagcd war against all
mankind, or rather against tho govern
ment"
"I'll not send you up there this time, I"
said the marshal, tboughtiully. Hanged
| II / don't feel sympathy for Wilson,
can't blame him much for taking shot at
you fellows when he gets the chance"
| II was years before JET Wilson ended
his career. lie made himself the terror OF
the mountains, and the moonshiners -four
ished In his vicinity.
The end came at last, and the outlaw
died game. Surrounded by n posse OF
twenty men he gave battle W them all