The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-28
The MINE ON
SCREkMER MOUNTAIN.
Copyright. !s92.l


orlv a little after o'clock in the afternoon,
darkness was creeping on. The sky above
locked somber, and although the slope
- the mountain was edged by line of
Int where the sun hung far below in the
-,SIlov like a suspended ball OF fire, still to
enc ,olitsry horssman moving slowly up the
,,o,ntain trail the night lad closed in.
The tall pines and dense laurel, with their
dark green foliage, excluded the last glim-
nsr Of the day.
Not house or sign of habitation was in
.;,bt Not a sound could be heard save the
roar Of the Tallulah river, which, though
narrow and far from deep, was rushing
.lonQ its rocky bed aud dashing over bowl
1ars and gorges with loud, continuous
,7urmur that in this rare6sd air swelled
,,,os roar. Altogether it was scene as
,rild and deserted as lone traveller could
wish to be stranded in.
The horseman struck match aad con :
shifted his watch.
HALF after four" he murmured, land
,,ghtl Shall never reach Coffee's Is it
nossible that am lost in this Collaboration
wilderness p He lit a cigar and after a
few puffs and some silent meditation his
disgust and sense Of injury again found
vent IN words
giving me the directions they didn he de-
handed, apparently addressing his horses
ears. but that Intelligent animal merely
tanned the aforesaid members and mains
tanned q discrete silence. ~ know they
we're all lies, for every one was different,
and none of them the least like what was
told in the valley. Ali there is light now !
III make for il. 1t may be Coffee's aud it
may no,. Anything is preferable to freez-
ing to death in these woods and being de-
voured by the wild cats"
In the distance and far above him the
faint glimmer Of a light danced, now lost
and shut out by the dense growth of mount
ain laurel that rose in many places above
his head, and anon shining out brighter for
ito temporary eclipse, as Pickering and
abusive as Jack o. the lantern.
He followed its CLEAN steadily, and as he
grew nearer it resolved itself into myriad
smaller ones, which he soon perceived to be
freight streaming through the ''chinks"
OF log cabin.
He drew his horse up TO the rail fence
there was no gaee-and halIooed. This
brought from the rear about a onlt dozen
dogs, all barking aud yelping, and to the
door Of the cabin tall, raw-boned woman
with gun in her hand and four children Of
different sizes clinginR to her scant skirts
"Hellol" the woman answered, with
nasal drawl. who be you uEs :"
'Lucian Hartredge, madame" he replied,
uncovering his head. ''Is this Mr.. Cof-
fee'sl"
How many's out thsrT' she demanded,
ignoring his question. and still holding the
gun protectip gly in front OF her.
only myself"
"You uns hain't revenuers, thenT'
Good heavens, mop he exclaimed, an
explanation why bis fellow travellers had
tried TO mislead him occurring suddenly to
him. Coffee was moonshiner. and these
mOuntaineers took him, Lucian Hartredge,
TO be a revenue officer.
wall" she answered, lowering her
weapon, "light an come in. Hyer, you
Jake"-to hoy behind her-''go out thar
an ten to the strangers beast.
Mr.. HArtredge climbed the fence and fol-
lowed the woman into the dimly lighted in-
terror. She threw on pine knot, and as
this blazed up the room was flooded with
bright rudy glow, and he could dis
Germ his hostess and surroundings very
Tninutely.
The room was after the pattern of dozens
OF other mountain homes, logs "'chinked'
with clay mortar, which, falling out in
places let in cold and let out the light, aud
under foot was puncheon floor. There
was oue window with a wooden shutter and
three doors, one leading TO an adjoining
bedroom and the other two being back and
front doors. A ladder on one corner led to
sleeping apartment above. The rafters
and sides OF the room were festooned with
strings Of red and green peppers, buttsn
onious, ears ef red and yellow seed corn,
bags Of herbs, hanks OF yarn and cooking
utensils There wero two beds, covered
with gaudy calico quilts a spinning wheel
was pushed against the logs, on which hung
hanks Of yarn, while three of the children
dumped themselves on the floor around the
fire and busted themselves at the task Hart
redges arrival had interrupted, carding
yarn.
as this Mr.. Coffee'sp the young man
asked, holding his benumbed fingers to the
blaze
"Yaas; Coffees my ole man. But he
hsin't hyar."
Isn't here9 Where is hes am very
anxious to see him."
"Wha' furN she demanded, suspiciously.
am interested in the manufacture OF
sulphur In Savannah, and am looking for
"a IRON pyrltes mine which is in this neigh
norhood. | was told that Mr.. Coffee could
locate 1t Tor me, as 1t was on lis land"
WAL, low he could, of he wuz hyur,
out be hain't The revenuers come AN took
him off this evenIa' ies' bout hour TO-
you uns rid up. l low he's fur on his way
Ter Atlanty by now. They lowed he made
moonshine whisky, but he don't. He don't
EnoW no mo- bout no still than you uns
- That is dreadful disappointment" Mr..
Hartredge reioined. II have come q long
way In search Of that mine, and was told
~ the valley that Mr.. Coffee was the only
q 9ne Gould give me any definite information.
Ivy long will he De goneT
Ta~d knows. He mought be gone
SeeS an he mought be gone yur. He'll
na'ter stan trial-leas ways, eff he don't
sW way FUN the revenuers. You uns
thought oide hyar fur spell till We uns kin
hyur FUN him.
ar on are very kind. he replied politely.
VIII have TO take advantage Of your
onoospiitallty for tonight at any rate" He
eola not bring himself to accept his rude
'dtmrT9Dludings for any definite period
won't ye hey bite o. sump'inY" his
nos'eSs asked Hospitality. We uns hain't
hyar" ''' "0'
NJ hank you, 1 am hungry, I've had
tbi.uhg since O'Clock breakfast, and
auIty miles in the saddle are inclined to
wet .',, ones appetite"
Mmllly Ann" she said, addressing the
Cpi s;ies' child at the fire, Ego tell yo aunt
.,rls'y ter KEN an fix a bite fur the
b ~ :! low she be bout done a'milkin'