The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-10-11

nue. COLLECTOR chapman, as ne ledneu
back I'm his chair. I'VE knew very well
that whisky was being made in the neigh
borhood, but so carefully concealed was
the habitat Of the moonshiners that we
were unable to obtain any clew to il.
There had been a distillery in that neigh
borhood some ten or a dozen. years ago,
run by a noted moonshiner-old Reub
Davis-but times had become so hot for
him that he suddenly decamped, giving
out the report that he was going TO
Texas. 1t had been so long since his
disappearance that people had almost
forgotten him.
Still we were puzzled. Our deputies
could find evidence unimpeachable of the
existence of a contraband distillery by
hanging around the little crossroads viii
lagos and attending the different gather
ings where 'cornjuice' and applejack
were plentiful; but although the base OF
supplies could be traced almost to the
fountainhead, the exact place of deposit
could never be found. Many and many
weary tramp did we take among those
rugged mountains and dark ravines,
night and day. in sun and rain, but still
we were baffied
Finally we decided on making regu-
lar ring hunt for the culprit, and bright
and early one morning ] started out
with three of my keenest deputies, de-
termined to make a haul before night or
else spend the frosty night in the woods.
1 sent two of the men in one direction
and set out across the Cut Log ridge
with Mcdonald. Reaching a point near
the summit caught a Whit of the IA
miliar flavor and halting began to look
around for some clew as to its source.
Perohed away up on the mountain SIDE
overhanging a brawling brook that came
tumbling down across the road we were
travelling. l spied a shabby looking cabin
which would have appeared uninhabited
save for a little curl of smoke ascending
lazily from the rough rock chimney. Bid
ding Mcdonald remain with the horses,
/ climbed the mountain. and approaching
the low doorway L accosted an old wom-
an who was looking after her household
work. Everything was as innocent and
unsuspicious as if there were not a drop
of contraband in forty miles of the spot.
May L get light for my pipe?
asked.
"'Ya-as; wait a mint and I'll fetch
you a splinter
mo, don't trouble. I'll just come
in and get it myself
"'Oh. the house amt fifteen for We to
come into she replied, cycling me sus-
piciously.
:" That's all right, ma'am. I'm used
to that sort of thing
LAS l said this / stepped in, and,
advancing to the fireplace, 1 stopped as
if to light my pipe, but at the same
time it occurred to me that the CHM
ney was unusually thick in the back
wall.
Your old man isn't in?' L asked
Lord, hain't got no old man.
You're a widow, then?
"'Yes, so fur as ] know. My old
man went off more'n ten years ago.
hain't hearn a word from him from that
day till this
why did he leave?'
ION count of the revynue men. Ye
see. he used TO make a little Ticker and
they found out about it, and he had
to skin out
What is your name?'
Davis. Sary Ann Davis. I'm havin'
a hard time of it and have had these
many years. with nobody to look alter
me but myself; but thank the Lord, I've
managed to keep soul and body to-
gether.'
All this time she was talking i'm such
a meek and innocent way that my
suspicious were half disarmed: but still
] was unsatisfied as that Whit of
savory steam. that thick-backed CHM
uey. and the name of the woman,
coupled with the history of old Reub
Davis had aroused my suspicious.
I suppose a traveller couldn't get
little dram herea bouts?' I remarked.
God bless you. not as L knows Of.
| never tech it. fur I'm a strick church
member. and eff 1 did 1 wouldn't know
whar to start to git a drap of licker.'
Much obliged. Good morning.
'',Good-by, sir. l wish L could &C
commodate We, but | can't
Descending the path | met a gawk
ish-booking lad driving an ox-team,
loaded with wood, up crooked road
toward the cabin. He eyed me askant,
but continued his toilsome journey with
out stopping to speak
Mcdonald said |. you may think
what you please, but we're right close
to the den, IL we only knew how to
locate it,.
"Then I related all the circumstances.
all the time casting about for some solu-
ton of the mystery which 1 became
more and more convinced, by some vague
intuition, existed near by. A few steps
from the road that led from the woods
to the cabin, there was a thicket that
obstructed the rude track, just below
where it intersected with the road we
were travelling.
MACK, wait here a minute; there is
no harm in little Investigation and
| made nay way down to the thieket, in
which / noticed an old door shutter
living negligently, half concealed by the
brambles. Making my way to it. care
fully lifted it up and to my surprise
found the mouth of d cavern, which
though narrow, showed signs of recent
use Calling to Mcdonald to fasten the
horses and join me. we were soon explor-
ing the cave. A descent of a dozen steps
brought us to a turn in the cave and a
rough door. gave it a kick, but there
was no response except a hollow rever-
beration which indicated a considerable
apartment beyond.
Get me a rock and I'll break it in
] called to Mcdonald, but just then l
| was startled by shrek in the rear.
Don't kill himi Please don't kill
| himr and down came the old woman L
| had seen at the cabin. If you won't
kill him. I'll let you in
awe don't want to kill anybody 1
replied. so go ahead.
''She produced a rusty key and UNI
! locked the door which grated roughly
en- hinges.
leone up, Reuben; they've found il
out she cried, but no Reuben answered.
oh, you've scarf him clean to death, fur
he weren't we'll nohow, and she dived
into the cave and we at her heels. A
slight glimpse of a smouldering blaze
guided us and we were soon laundering
among tubs and kegs, from among which
we dragged the body of a man.
"fWake up, old man, and kindle
light said l.
" Mister, I'll go, eff you'll promise not
to hurt me-
l well sir he was the most forlorn
J 1f