The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-11-28

d hFN HleliAA NAAN NViit AfaA't ~ AAAtAANf AiA'
mash and distil the liquor with their
own hands? II was as much the pro-
duct Of their own labor and industry as
was the corndodgers they ate, and as
such they regarded it.
whats oUrn's ourn," said one Oi
! them, ''an' the law mOught as we'll
stick hit too us fer maxim 'lasses outen
our cane or meal outen our corn. Hits
all the same, as fur as | kin see. And
this was the view taken by all, conse-
qucntly the little Illicit stills are set up
in great numbers.in crannies and cracks
of the mountains. They thrive and
flourish until United States Marshal
gets intimation of their existence then
I trouble begins and more often than not
many lives are lost in the fight that
ensues, for the mOonshiner believes
himself but doing his duty To himself
and ne;ghbOrs when a revenue spy or
Marshal is put out of the way.
The little cabin on the mountain was
lost among the clouds. II was not yet
day, bat the old man and his two sons
were already astir, polishing the gilt
tering barrels of their rifles until they
shone again, and slowing ammunition
about their persons as though making
ready for great hunt
They had scarcely left the cabin, dis
appearing in the thick mist, ere Liz
descended from her little room in the
loft. She had donned short home
spun skirt, and butt0ned about her
body an Outgrown coat belonging to her
younger brother, pulling over her head
an Old slouch hat, lis broad Tapping
brim pinned back out of her eyes with
a sourwOod thorn. Before leaving the
cabin she dressed and uncovered the
embers, putting on a few chips that
that We're spread on the hearth 10 dry,
ever mindful of the old woman depend
ant on her care then she slipped from
the cabin, softly closing the door.
\ big yellow and black hound ran
from beneath the house, shifting about
her feet rs though he. too, scented a
proceeding very much out OF the ordi-
nary. The men had takeP a trail
down the mountain. Liz saw them
through Granny in the gable end Of
the cabin a she hastily dressed, and
she took an opposite direction, remem-
bering the print Of "a horses hOofs she
had seen the day before, but had taken
no particular notice of them at the
time. Brushing through the laurel, al
most in sight Of the cabin and quite
within hailing distance, Liz came upon
a sight that almost unnervcd her, hardy
daughter of the mountains though she
was.
Down in little gorge that served for
the bed Of Il stream in rainy weather
man was lying, his face buried in the
tender green moss and ferns. The dew
lay heavy on his rather long curling
hair and on his clothes, the latter spot
ted and stained with blood. Liz let
the bushes fall back in place and stood
looking down at him scarcely knowing
what To do. Surely he must be dead
after Il night in such "a storm. Lifting
him III her strong arms LIZ turned
him over and began To rub his hands
and face with a pungent, peariy liquid
ttken from the pocket of her coat
Ever and anon she would pause To let
a few drops tricllle down tine mans
throat. For many moments she work
ed until nearly all of the supply of
whisky was exhausted and still no
signs of life appeared. Then another
idea came to Liz. Taking of her old
slOuch hat she brought il full of ice
cold water from the stream and began
to pour il also over his face. The last
remedy proved successful, for soon the
man began to breathe and presently
opened his eyes.
The two people looked at each other
curioasly for a moment and then Liz
asked, trifllc difiidently, ''Is you uns
hurt bad"
The stranger tried to raise himself TO
a sitting posture, but fell back power
less. Pm afraid | am little hurt, ,"
he admitted, smilingly feebly.
"Iou is ther revenoo what got away
yistiday down at ther station. Whar's
yer hoss ~
II don't know" he answered her
last question, ignoring the half scorn-
ful assertion. IL fell from him last
night in the storm and knew nothing
until now.
"Wall, pap an Ike an Jim, them
Crimbys an Jenkinses are all scou'
in ther mounting an tn cove fer yer,
an | low ef they gifts Yer ther gwyne
make minchmeat er yer shO nutt.
They uns got up bcfo' day ter do hit,
an | low them Crimbys are pow'ful
snOrtors."
The man looked AZ her in silence and
Liz continued II don't want pap and
ther boys tsr git mixed up in them
Crimbys' scrapes, - I'm gwine TER hide
you uns awhilst an when they i done
a-huntin' yer maybe yer kin slip OFF
an git home ter whar yer b'long."
II am very grateful indeed, for
have no desire to figure as the prinei-
pal ingredient of 'minch' meat"
Liz regarded him doubtfuliy "A mo-
ment and then disappeared abruptly
through the laurel whence she had
come. The old woman, with the char
acteristic of age for early rising, was
already astir when she returned to the
cabin. She had already donned her
sunbonnet and the timid blaze that be-
San to steal up east her gigantic shad-
ow half upon the brown and yellow
daubed wall, half upon the black cell
ing, making speciOus stir amid the
strings of seed corn and peltry hanging
there. She stared for moment as if
paralyzed at the girls sudden entrance,
and her pipe fell from her mouth scat
tering the fire and tobacco over the
hearth.
IL bin out ter tn barn." Liz ex-
planned. ''Or Topknot KEN often tn
nest with big batch of decides. Them