Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-22
On THE PATH BELOW.

ng, as usual, Numbered about the trail.
The cabin stood Just of the road, and
Ell around it was silent and dark II
has always been a wonder that his dogs
lid not attack me. He had three, and
they were as cross and Grabbed as old
bears They came running down the
trail TO meet me, growing and barking,
but as soon as they came up they made
friends, They were playing around me
when l stood in front Of the cabin and
called:
Hello! you'll Hello. Hellog'
In about minute voice answered:
who is yer, an what's wantedY'
Stranger in search of lodgings"
He seemed to doubt it, for he made nc
immediate reply. After long minute
heard woman arguing:
Il tell you he must be all right If he
wasn't them dogs would hev devoured
himr7
Wall, come tn!- called the man, and
! stumbled along to the cabin to find
him In the half open door with his rife
IN his hands. My explanations soon sat
istied him that | was all right, and be
struck light, piled some blankets in q
corner and said:
Stranger, that's the best Top kin FIX
ye of hand. Jist tumble down and
doan' worry about nothin'."
was soon fast asleep, having nothing
TO keep me awake. Right in the heart
Of the grim old mountain-among PEG
pie whose faces had only glanced at
among men who settle their disputes
with knife or bullet-entirely at their
mercy and in their power if they wanted
10 rob or kill-and vet there was nc
cause to be afraid. When you are the
guest Of q mountaineer you are safe.
Next morning | found the family &c
consist Of husband, wife and three chill
dren. The oldest Of the three children
was boy Of 12, who had killed his bear
and was dead shot. As soon as ! had
looked around me / knew that distiI
lery could be found near By. After
breakfast Burton pumped me for few
minutes, sized me up in his mind as
20. (" and said:
Come up with me and see the bows.
And l want to tell you that we've bin ex.
pecting visitors fur the last two days,
an we may hev a scare befo' night"
What sort of visitors:''
United States chaps &rter our still
They've had a spy in we're trying to 10
cate Ii. We saw him twice yesterday"
There were three other men at the still
which was hidden away in q dark and
rugged ravine, approached by footpatL
which could be ambushed at every rod
Al the corn was ''toted" on the mems
back over this path, and the kegs OF
whisky were slung 10 pole and carried
between two men. The still was perfect,
but small, and II the FIVE or six months
1t had. been in operation the men had MOI
made the wages Of mechanics. l asked
one Of them how long since he had had
five dollar bill. and he squinted his eyes.
counted his fingers, scratched his head
and finally replied;
wall, stranger. you may remember
the battle Of Stone River?"
Yes
a right smart ago, wasn't 1T"
Yes; twenty years ago"
wall. jist arter that fight I had
fve-dolla- bill, and that's the fUst and
last time
What money they made by Illicit dis
tillfng went for boots and shoes, clothing
Of the plailess kind, tinware, tobacco
and tea. One Of them lad had three
pounds Of brown sugar in his house
within year. The others had not had
an ounce; one had not tasted tea. coffee
sugar. wheat bread or fresh meat tout
side Of wild meat for over two years.
The still was about 2 mile from the
house.
II any stranger came BY the trail one
Of the dogs was sent I'D the ravine with
4 piece OF cloth tied to his neck. Halt
way between the two. as | discovered
later on, was another path interesting.
This came oJt of another ravine. and
was used by the men only occasionally
The boy was stationed 1T this intersec.
ton 20 watch both paths and give al
alarm II danger threatened. 1t wa
about Il o'clock IN the morning when be
came running in and said:
SPY coming. PopI
Then an instantaneous and terrible
change took place n the bearing of the
men. We had been lying about at ease,
every man seemingly having heart full
Of kindness, but this announcement
started blazing fire in every eve, SET
every Jaw, and | could see desperation
IL each face. 1t needed no handwriting
On the wall TO tell me that the spy would
be wiped OF the face of the earth with. /.
out compulction If discovery threatened .
Burton beckoned 10 NE. made a signal
70 the others which they understood, and {
we climbed UP the rugged face Of q rock. /
ran for quarter of a mile over broken .
ground which was well wooded. and .
then suddenly halted at q spot overlook .
ing the second path and high above it. /
Burton made me sign as he crouched .
down beside large rock. and cautiously .
l looked down into the "a
vine and saw q solitary mantle SPY.
He was coming Up the path. II he /
passed the spot where we were stationed .
his scent alone would locate the still
Click, Click"
Good hsavensl but you are not going
20 shoot him whispered 10 Burton as
he cooked his rifle.
He half turned TO look at me. His
face was rs hard set as iron.
For the sake Of earning a few dollars
BE would see Us starve,T he replied. He
knows hi3 danger. Let him pass this
rock and viii shoot himr'
/ dared say no more. Burton was des-
pe-ate and determined.
We looked down at an angle Of forty.
Eve degrees On the spy. You could have
told that be was q spy by his actions.
BE had the g2it Of an Indian bent on q
surprise. be looked about him Ike one
who expected the whistle Of 4 bullet at
INV moment. Re came slowly On.
Could / signal hin;
No! lie was not locking up but
around him
Coming - coming - coming -advarc-
rg at . steady pace towards death.
Would Burton shoot: lie already had
-ae man covered
Trump! rhunlD. thunp.
Z was nv heart pounding away Ike q
lie driver. It would be murder.