The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04

| life, having tongue sharper than q
sword and more dreadful than fiery ser
pent But as concerning the things she
said of Ralph, could have desired moth
| ing better because it kept alive In
Mathews breast the wholesome fear OF
his cousins return. So long as that lasted
we were safe. We should have continued
/ in safety. because that fear did not die
away. but rather increased day by day.
save for the instigation. as | cannot but
believe. of the evil one. and the concoc-
ton of design even more wicked than
that of the mortgage. suppose the plot
was conceived in the spring Or summer,
but it was not until the late autumn that
it was attempted The way of it was as
follows q do no harm, | trust. by speak
ing openly of traffic which, as everybody
knows, is conducted almost openly all
over the northern counties of England
and the southern counties of Scotland).
have mentioned one Daniel. or Dan
Gedge, always called the Strong Man, be
cause he was like Hercules, the tabled
Greek for bodily strength. who lodged
with Sailor Nan. He professed to make
living out of his strong arms and legs.
he went to fairs, and was seen on market
days in all the towns of Northumberland.
Durham and Carlisle, performing great
feats for wagers, or for money laid down
He was a man standing over six feet, with
legs and arms of surprising stoutness, a
square red face and kindly eye. Despite
ais strength he was peaceful and the soft
est hearted of mankind. Now, though he
pretended to live by the exhibition of his
strength. which | believe was the reason
why the vicar called him Milo, it was
very well known everywhere that he had
mother and more. important source o
profit. This was in the running of ''stuff
across the Border. business which de
hands. as everybody knows, much eau
powers of endurance. The stuff con
;ists generally of brandy, lace, silk
md Geneva. Salt is also Struggled
scross. but a better profit is made
,ut of the former articles, which
re less in bulk and more easily
Varkworth should be a convenient spo-
)r the illicit trade First, it lies tw,
lies up the river, and has many safe hid
Y places, SO that cargo once landed al
lie mouth of the Coquet may be safely
ID speedily carried up the river and be
,wed where it is judged safe; for al
ong the steep banks there are spot
:lrly designed by Nature for the conve
ut storage of valuable packages. Not
speak of the thick hanging woods be
.e the banks, where enough Geneva and
Glands may be store1 TO supply London
"a year there is the Hermitage, whose
uble chamber | have myself seen
.bed full of silk in bales waiting for al
'portunity, while in the castle itself
lere are vaults, dungeons, passages and
cret chambers, known only to the fugle-
IAN. Here, little suspected by my Lord
Northumberland, enough brandy might
) stored to supply the county (Which is
thirsty one) for dozen years. The
order is not, to be sure. so near as it is
igher up the coast; but, on the other
and, the LOOKOUT and watch kept by the
,augers cannot be by any means so vigi
ant and close as where the county mar
,ows to the north; while more than hall
he run takes place over the wild moors
md painless slopes of the Cheviots,
place in which the excise people find il
litfcult indeed to discover or to stop
run made by men who know the country
ibnv haUa Saryioa of 1loniac no
work, little, hardy, sure footed creatures,
who carry the ankers. kegs and bales
Slung across their backs, and can be
trusted to make the whole thirty five
miles from Warkworth to the Border in
single night, that is. In seven or eight
hours, the drivers walking or riding be
side them
Most of the farmers and craftsmen of
Warkworth take share in these risks
and profits; one or two of them-of whom
Mathew was one-often accompany and
lead the expedition Everybody knows
beforehand when a run is arranged; many
in the town know the very night when it
will take place, the road chosen and the
value of the stuff There is so much
sympathy with this work. ON both sides
of the Border, and so many partners in
the venture, that information is never
given to the excise, and hiding places are
found everywhere, with the help and con
nivance of the most innocent looking
plowboy aid the most demure country lass
Now one morning-it was in November.
when the days have already become short.
and the nights are long and dark, Dan
Gedge got up from his sleeping bench, or
cupboard in the wall, about 8 or a little
after, calling Justify for small beer, of
which he drank quart or so as a stay tc
his stomach before breakfast. Then he
dressed and came forth to the door with
the mug in his hand
Sailor Nan was already seated on her
stone. pipe in mouth, and three cornered
nat on her head. She had taken her
breakfast. and now sat- regardless of the
raw. cold air-for all the winds that blow
were the same to her-looking up and
down the street, in which nothing as vet
was moving, though the blacksmiths
apprentice across the road had lit the fire.
and the cheerful breath of the bellows
made one feel warm
''Fugleman and me, 3" said Dan. yawning,
'fugleman and me, we was rowing up and
down from Amble most all night"
What is the rum asked Nan, who
~,
TIS~