The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-05-11
HER BRAVE ACT.

dertook to ferret out the Illicit stills In
the hesft Of that mountain range which
separated North Carolina and Tennessee.
1t was his intention to look after one
Dick Winslow, said to be at tho head OF
the Illicit distillcrs In certain neighbor-
hood.
Winslow was a man of desperate char
actess had killed man In the streets OF
the county town, and had defied arrest
for the unprovoked crime.
Night was throwing her sable pail OF
cloud and coming storm over the land
Ccape when the officer reached spot on
the elevated trail, from which the humble
home of the Winslows could be seen.
Dillon was about to quit the spot when
he heard q step behind him, and as he
turned he was saluted with the harsh
order
"Hands upl"
He saw at the moment, tall man, with
a cooked revolver in the path.
i've got him! Come on boysI" cried
the officers cantour.
And In response to these words, three
men, masked like the first, emerged from
the adjoining bushes, and the young de-
tective was surrounded.
"Blindfold him." continued the leader
OF the men.
And when this was done Dillon was lead
away with hand at each arm.
HeIwas sure he hadfallen into the clutches
OF the moonshiners themselves; but when
the march had been conducted some time
in silence, he ventured to say something.
"You have no right to hold me-" said
Dillon.
"No right, eh?" coarsely laughed one
OF the men. "Might makes right in
these mountains. You want to see some
thing? We are going to show you more
than you would see without our escort.
Silence now, Mr.. Dillon. A still tongue
goes q good way with u.s."
Thus shut OF, tho deputy marshal held
his tongue, and was taken down the
mountain, and in course OF time crossed
the threshold Of o cabin, but whose he
did not know.
He was led to a stool, where he seated
himself as comfortably as he could, for
his hands were bound at his back, and he
felt the warm fire of lot OF pine knots
in his face.
All the time he could hear the subdued
voices of men, and presently some one
placed a hand on his shoulder and he was
addressed, but in whisper:
"Why did you let them capture your
asked voice.
Dillon smiled.
"There are some things we can't help"
said he.
"You are In the jaws of DEATH" con-
tinued the same voice. "You are in the
government employ, and that is enough
to seal your doom in these parts"
"Where am II" ventured Dillon.
Never mind that. have told you the
truth. The men have gone away, but
they won't be gone long. When they
come back you will be taken out and
killed like dog and your fate will beccme
one OF the mysteries Of these mountains"
Five minutes later the door opened
once more, and footsteps approached him.
They're coming back" said the voice
that had addressed him before. "You
have but few minutes to live"
The young deputy marshal rose and
stood erect.
"They won't fnd q drop Of coward
blood In my VEINS" spoke Dillon, firmly.
Dillon now heard mems voices, and, the
door opening, let PUT OF cold mountain
air into the hut.
You've got him yet, see, Kate" ex-
claimed q rough voice. "We weren't
gone long, eh?"
"Not very long," answered the woman.
Dillon was now approached and hand
closed on one of his arms.
"I guess you don't deny being one of
Uncle Sans officers" said some one.
"You know what ] am" replied the
prisoner.
"You came into the deestrict to ferret
Us out, eh?"
81 did. It was my sworn duty"
eyer duty to hunt your fellow men
down like a passel OF wolves2 Well, the
wolves have turned on the hunter, Mr..
Dillon. We are going to show our teeth"
The words were greeted with a coarse
laugh, and Dillon was led from the
shanty.
He believed he had crossed Dick Wins
lows threshold and talked to his daughter
Kate, the young giantess OF the range, a
woman suspected OF being as deep in the
violation of the law as her father.
He thought of these things while he
was conducted over the mountain trail to
the place set apart for his execution, and
his mind was still busy when halt was
called.
"Take OF the bandage."
At the command, the dirty handker-
chief fell from Dillon's eyes, and he
found himself in the middle of ring of
masked men armed to the teeth, the whole
scene revealed by torch stuck into
knot hole Of tree nearby.
He knew the desperateness of the men
who had caught him and he did not ex-
pect particle of mercy.
The motto OF the secret distillers Of the
mountains was, "Death to Government
officers" and young Dillon had seen the
dead body of his predecessor with bull
let hole in his breast.
"Might makes right in these parts,"
suddenly spoke the head of the band.
"After tonight you will be a missing
man and your place will be vacant. Draw
the lots, Danr."
Aman stepped forward and took OF his
hat.
Into IL he cast ten leaves, which he
picked from the ground.
Dillon, who had noticed every move,
saw that two Of the leaves were OF dark
red, while the rest were yellow.
The strange drawing was conducted
amidst silence, and when the last leaI