The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-05-21
THE OLD TAVERN.
Two Children Who Captured q
Desperate Criminal

Twenty years ago, before so many
railroads were built. there was a great
deal of travel over the old trail which
runs through the mountains of north
ern Georgia into Tennessee. This was
sufficient excuse for the existence OF
the old Blue tavern, crowded into a
niche high up on the mountain side,
just at the beginning of Huttcr's gap.
IL was a huge, rambling old affair in
a wild, desolate spot, well sheltered
from the piercing north winds and
driving SHOWS of winter by immense
rocks which lowered above it on that
side. 1t commanded a fine view of the
valley below, and the trail leading to
inhabited regions was visible for miles
from its windows. Who had first built
and inhabited the old rookery no one
living could remember, but it was now
the property of John Hardin, who. with
a son, daughter and tN negro servants,
made of it a home.
In the summe il was not a bad place
10 live, for an occasional tourist came
that way and remained to explore the
surrounding valleys, finding many a
bit of charming scenery as a reward
In the winter, however, it was dreary
and lonely to a degree which would
have been maddening to one used to the
busy life of a town. Sometimes for
weeks no human being passed that
way. especially If the snow lay deep on
the ground. Occasionally the rude
mountaineers made it a meeting place,
and with liquor, cards and pipes, made
merry the night through. At these
times no one but Mr.. Hardin showed
himself, and it is doubtful if the
men knew there was a woman in the
house, save black Sue, who ruled the
kitchen.
Sarah, the daughter of the house,
was a beautiful girl of seventeen. She
had no remembrance of n other
home than the bleak mountain inn. and
II she was tired of the lonely life made
no complaint. She had had a governess
for several years, so was better edu-
Gated than most girls Of her acquaint-
ance and was very happy with her
books and piano.
Will, the son. was a lad of fifteen,
not fond of books, but perfectly happy
with his gun and dog, spent half Of his
time in hunting, sometimes alone, but
more often in company with Joe. the
stable man.
Those were lawless times. twenty
years ago, but no trouble had ever
come to Mr.. Hardin through the lawless
characters that infested the mountains
until a few weeks before the time of
which l write. Then a valuable horse
had been stolen from the stable. of
which no trace had yet been gained.
Then, one day in February, word was
sent to him to come at once to the
county scat, Delonegah, some fifteen
miles away, to see IL he could identify
his horse among a number which had
been captured along with several des-
peradoes.
To do this he must leave the children
alone. the two negroes being away at
meeting on the other side of the noun
tain They would be home before dark,
and the boy and girl were quite des-
titute OF fear. 70 they urged their
father so strongly he saddled up and
was soon on his way.
low, Will was a merry-hearted fell
low, always whistling and singing. In
fact his father often said he could make
more noise in a day than any other bow
he knew could in a month. but that
morning he went about so quietly,
Sarah was quick TO notice it.
what is the matter, WHIP" she auer-
led, pausing in her work as he came in
with a big armful of wood. and after
putting IL in the box sat down with a
moody face. why are you not whis-
tling?"
Nothing, only I wish father had not
gone. don't know what ails Inc, but
] am sure something dreadful is going
to happen"
why, what can happenP" cried
with a merry laugh. Then
glancing from the window she added:
"We may get showed in and have to
alone tonight, but that will not
hurt us. Poor papa! He is not half
way to town yet"
In thinking of his fathers discomfort, ?
WEI forgot his gloomy fears, and by
The time he had made things snug at
The barn, he was whistling away as
happy as ever. 1t proved TO be the
worst storm of the season, and all that
lay, all night, and into the next after
noon. the wind blowed and roared, and
he snow came down in binding sheets.
The colored people did not return and
Inc dragged BY On lssdeu feet How I