Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-09-04
MY FRIEND, THE MooNsriINER.
COL. GEORGE W. sYMoNDs.

Whueat SUN htu Decn 30 corulAlly given
that could not resist the temptation to
saddle my mare and ride over on Lone.
tome one bright sparkling day about a
week after the fox hunt ] found with
out difficulty the little blind canyon a.
the head OF which was the "sprinK
branch" whose pure water was so neees-
ssry TO the manufacture Of "mountain
dew, aud my horee picked it's way over
the rocky creek bed at . quick walF.
Dock vas at home and saw the barrel
OF his long rifle protruding from a clump
OF bushes before saw hun.
He welcomed me chesrily and lifted"
and tied my horse to sapliDg, while he
brought out rough bench from his
cabin aud flled gOurd with moonshine
from the barrel alongside tho door. /
was deeply interested In his description
OF the mysteries Of wildcat Sitting, and
he had just finished telling me how on
certain occasion he had "plumb fooled
the ma'shlls" while "bloekadlug" half
dozen barrels into Dahlonssa, when, with
an exclamation OF alarm, he sprany to ais
feet and reached for his rife, which was
resting against the trunk OF big oak
tree. His hands were already grsspinR
the weapon, when heard a sharp click,
click, and man with double. bsrreled
shot gun Ia his hands leapsd into the
litlle clearing and by quick movement
covered US both.
Throw upl" was his curt command,
and whilst WAS quick TO obcy, the moon
sinners arms were raised slowly above
his head and he watched the interloper
keenly, watching for lJoFh9le OF es-
cape.
ITS no use, Dock" said the stranger.
'Pye got the drop"
He Hhistlsd shrilly, and after e mo-
ments silence there was hurried
trGmpling among the brushwooi and
two men armed like the frat came into
sight. One of them produced pair OF
handcutis and g, ap, ed them on tho
moonshiuer's wrists. lie stepped for
ward to do Ike service for me.
"Hs'nn's not wanted by you'un'a,"
said Dock shaking his head. ''He i'm
air a stranger ia this tetlementP
Thus prompted introduced myself,
and the man who had covered US with
the thot-uu n held out his hand.
81 heard from the mhrnhAl the other
day in Atlanta that you wsrs up Lero,"
he said, land l proni,ed him to look
after you. lie said you were studying
the people IpresumS Deck is giving
you lesson In mooDsbininE. / think
you'd travel long ways before finding a
better teacher or one who understands
his business better. Eh, Dock"
The mana-lsd moonshinsr laughed
proudly at the compliment and nodded
his head.
"I1vw that you'uns shore b'lleve thst
o. me- he said drily, and then laughing
again, continued: "You'uns hey csught
me far ar squar' this a-.,Me, arr |
reckin tliar's no use'n bawlin' over spit
milk. Thar's the bsr'l am thar's the
gouri. Take suthin', gentlemen, ct my
expense"
Th3 "ma'shals" were net slow to &C.
cept the prisoners invitation, and he
bowed graYely when they drank his
health and wished him "bstt-r luck next
time" Ths balance of the liquor 10 the
barrel wss smpti,d upon the ground and
two barrels Of 'swlzzl.Dgs," big hogs
head of beer and another of "mash, "jnst
beginning to ierment, met with a like
iate. The revenue officers tore the little
copper still from the mud d dubbed fire.
place and one OF the men chopped II into
bits with Dock'sax. The "gooie.neck"
and tie "worm" were also DESTROYED and
then the little cabin was set on fire
Dock exhibited no emotion and uttered
no protest while the work OF devastation
was going on, but sat on log medita-
lively chewing = maple tuig.
well, tat seems to be satisfactory
cleanup" saId the head marshal as the
flames began to lick the shingles of the
CABIN. Bring up the horses, boys, and
We'll get back to Dahloness."
Look a-hyar, cap'n," said Dock, my
place air rite OH yore road. I'd like TO
stop an bid the ole woman hoUdy.
Sides | hev likely saddle mare, an
'twell make 1t easy on you un's hors'
critters eff ride her 10 toHn."
"Very well, Dock" said the marshal,
"you shall stop and see your wife,"
Ae started to climb the slopiAE canyon |
wall aud Dock aud | followed, tie mar
81 ais two assistants, with the hsrses,
bringing up the rear. But for the hand. |
cuffs on the prisoners wrist ons wsuld |
have thought US party OF friends out for |
stroll. We ehstted together unreser-
vsdly, and Dock was In the lest of |
spirits. HIS wife, almost child In years,
but quite pretty, though her dull face |
lacked expression, came out TO NEST US |
as we nearsd the pine-po cabin in which |
the moonshiner lived. She wore u |
nsey-woolsey' gown and faded calico
sun.bonnent. Her red lips were closed
tightly about snuf-brush, which she
removed when she greeted her husband.
$50 they'uns hev trapped ye at last,
Deck? ste said in very matter of-iact
tone. "Reckon thar have been tpy work |
in this settlement" and sne di.rtei q
swift, suspicious glance at me.
"No, Mrs. Davis" said the Marshal,
''you are wrong. We bad no iniotma-
tion. / located the still this morning by
watching for smoke signs from the top
oil a big pine on Wildcat Ridge"
"0h, beg pardins," she said, and In
clined her head toward me, as though
apologizlng for natural suspicion.
"The ma'shaPs plumb rite" corrobor-
ated the prisoner. "The csptur' waire
far an squar', Elmiry. Saddle the mare.
III ride her to town an We can hoof hit
in to-morrer an bring her back"
Thus directed Mira. DAVIS started toward
the shelter in the rear of this cabin, where
the mare was stabbed. One of tile mar
shal's assistants had saddled the animal,
aud Mrs. Davis thanked him curtly for
the service. Dock asked for clean
shirt to put on in the ''jail-house," and
she made up little bundle OF clothing
tor him.
Husband and wife held a short wills
1 |