Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Nev. County, Ark.) 1885-1???, 1891-04-30

daring to look back.
Now, as the boat glided silently
up the still water near the shore, anC
in the shadow of the bank and over
hanging boughs, drew near the point
he had designated as the mouth Of
the cave, the stranger cautioned HIN
to be quiet, and he held his tongue,
inwardly observing; "The man seems
more afraid of soaring the ghost than
Of them soaring him" Presently
the boy turned the nozzle of the boat
to the bank, which was sign enough
that the landing was reached, and
the two stole noiselcssly ashore. Then
quickly the stranger unbuttons his
macintosh and throws it aside, he
grasps the boy by the arm and drags
him hurriedly up the bank, through
the shrubbery and right into the cave.
A light from fire behind iutting
rock flickers upon the opposite wall
and the stranger, still dragging him
the terrified boy who has yet pres
ence of mind enough to tiptoe, steal
thily approaches the rock, and, after
quick peep around it, pushes the
boy far in front of him, and then
steps into the light, raising Win
chester-to his shoulder, and stands
there armed, belted and equipped
for fight, with stern and fearless
fash in his eye.
In recess behind that jutting
rock stood the rude furnace and
worm of the moonshiners; by the
dim light some beer tubs and liquor
barrels might be seen; against the
wall of the cave leaned some old
fashioned fire arms, and seated on
the grounds, playing cards, were two
moonshiners, who had resorted to
the ruse of a ghostly disguise to
ward off suspicion should they be
observed entering or leaving the
cave.
A word from the deputy United
States marshal, revealed to all the
situation. The offenders dared not
make a motion toward their weapons,
and the hoy stood speI-bound, until
the officer drew from his pocket two
pair of handouts aud ordered him to
fasten them on the wrists of the cap
tives, and awcd by the stern, almost
cruel eyes which glanced above the
level barrel Of the rife, he obeyed
the command without resistance from
the prisoners.
A few minutes later the boat NOV
ed rapidly down stream, with the
reckless violators of the law in front,
tho cunning, intrepid deputy behind
them, aud at the stern the half-dazed
boy. whom love had tempted to go
out hnnting ghosts, and of whom the
furtiye officer had made valuable
tool, without giving him a chance for
flight or resistance.
Flowers are as like to bloom as
snow to fall at Christmas time in the
south, and it was lovely night on
which that entire neighborhood
gathered to witness the first Christ
mas tree ever seen in its midst. The
beautiful hall was well filed gewgaws
useful articles, cornecopias, etc, and
consplcuously displayed at the front
was fins aocordeon, flashing with
innumerablc keys, the most coveted
and admired present of them all. II
was whispered about that the squire
must have bought it for his daugh
ter; but Mary, sweetheart of oul
ghost-hunter, facetiously claimed il
for her own, and the people near hel
cut their eyes around and smiled in
good humor at the joke.
! At last, when the frock-coated
wheezyvoiced, self-imperiant school
teacher came to the aocordeop, ex
pectation ran high, and murmur o
amazement filed the room as he call
ed out sure enough, the name of NJ a
ry Bently The girl sprang from
her seat and exclaimed, childishly;
"Oh, no, no it can't be for me 2
"Hush, Mary. Yes, it it's your'n,
and the happy boy drew her dowl
beside him, ~ give it ter yer, ant
l got ther money for it," he added
with the full appreciation of the pun
Through thur sperlts nv Saltpct n
cave"
DO you ask the boys name? /
does not matter. The incident wa
trilling one, and he was only I
young mossback whom love and lucl
so often at cross-pprpQses, agree'
4 for the nonce to favor.