The Press., 1893-04-06
A PEDDLER'S. PERIL.

A PEDDLER'S. PERIL.
 The sun sank behind the westel1 mountain peaks, and the short twiligh' of southern attitudes came on apace After astime the man of the house cam, in. He was tall and thin. Two ferret like eyes gleamed sharply upon the ped dler from amid a shaggy tangle of whit, hair and beard.
 He placed his long rifle in q rack oveI the door, unslung his shot pouch anC then seated himself and gazed gloomily into the fire, without vouchsafing either greeting to the stranger or word te his own family. Nan, passing by, whis. pered to the peddler:
 "Don't ye mind uncle; he's got one o, his bad spells on now, but if he ain bothered it'll pass off by and by."
 The peddler nodded, and began tai. concerning one of his adventures ir .Texas, He was soon interrupted by Aunt Whey. r.
 "Sit up, stranger" said she. "We hain't got much to eat, but such as i1 i; you're welcome
 The old man ate his supper in solemn silence, after which he took his hat and abruptly left the cabin. Aunt Whey saw fit to explain.
 "Mose, my old man, hain't been ex actly like hisself since the revenoo men carried his son John off five year age last April"
 "'Stillin I s'pose?''
 -"Yes, md top of; that he shot one ot 1 'em while they were tryin to take him nd they put him in pen'tensh'ry at Nashville for ten year" The peddler remained silent for a mo ment or two. But when the dishes were washed and put away he again enter tained the two women by relating sun. dry "reminiscences of his own career, and also describing the wonders of certain great cities he had visited.
 After awhile Nose again stalked si lently in and took d seat in far corner. While the peddler talked he continued to eye him closely, as if suspicious that the stranger was not just what he should be.
 "Speakin of the telephone" continued the peddler, "some folks in these noun tains don't believe that people can talk to each other, nd them 8 hundred ol more miles apart, but tell ye it's fact. I've seed it done myself" "Ive knowed of men hollerin across from one mountain to another" said Aunt Whey dubiously "Mebbe they could make themselves heard matter l ,t,o shook her head disapprovingly.
 ''It's so all the same, though. Tv sot md heard em talkin jus as we be now"
 ''That's as big d lie as ever was told," exclaimed old Nose, rising and making for the door. .@
 He seized his rifle as he passed, threw a menacing glance at the peddler and once more left the cabin.
 "Old mans a little touched in the head, ain't he?' asked the peddler, who seemed to take no offense whatever at the old mans rude behavior.
 "Ever since John was took off he's had queer spells that come over him every now and then. I must say he's more'n apt to be 'spishus of strangers when they come around. He's always thinkin of revenoo spies. I dessay that's what makes him act so toward you. But you mustn't mind him. never know'd him to succeed in hurtin any one yet.'
 It was Nan who replied, for Aunt Vii ney was making preparations to retire for the night. When the girl and the -peddler were left alone the latter seemed somewhat curious about this son John, who for so many years had been under the ban of the law.
 "John was always good to Uncle Nose and Aunt Whey, md that's one reason Uncle Nose takes it all so hard now"
 Il s'pose, bein as you're kin to 'em, they took him off?''
 He eyed Nan closely as he spoke. and the girl blushed slightly.
 q ain't no real kin to 'em,' said she My folks is all dead, Ind they raised me. from little gal, but John nd me was always good friends" .".. "Nothin more?"
 The girl looked at him reprovingly.
 Its about bedtime" said she coldly ''Shan't l show you were you re to sleep?'
 The peddler rose, took up his pack and followed her into the little shed room. There was an open window by the bed, through which the full moon was shin ing.
 You went need no light, reckon" !" she remarked. Then, bidding him good night, she returned to the main cabin and went to bed herself.
 But for some reason she failed to sleep. The bright moonlight, the rasp- ing cry of katydids from the trees with out and the discomforting nature of her thoughts kept her awake. She felt vaguely uneasy about Uncle Nose. Where was he? Very likely atthe little moonshine still up Bear hollow, half a mile away. He often spent the night there engaged in his illicit toll. She re- membered his unfriendly treatment of the peddler, whose heavy breathing could now be heard through the thin partition wall. He had once laid in wait, rife in hand, for passing drover, whom he had set down for spy. Only l Mile,S Nerve and Liver Pills act On a