Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1895-11-29
FOR HIS SISTERS SAKE.

HUSH! DlSVcuI Dou you ucdE JIG
breaking of twig?"
AS the words were whispered the
speaker spread out his arms to arrest
the progress of his three companions.
Under stunted tree they crouched,
listening for the faintest sound.
They were poaching, Jim Hawel and
three others, thrown out of work by
the closing of the pits, and poaching
on the most dangerous estate that they
could possibly have chosen for their
operations. For Hopsley Grange be-
longed to Col. Traite, a sportsman ex-
tremely jealous Of his preserves and
notorious as the very sternest ]. P.
in the county.
But times were bad and for food for
themselves and theirs men will dare
anything.
you're mistaken, Jim. There's no
body about. It's only fox or some-
thing stirring in the underwood"
The three men moved out into the
open again, and Jim followed them un-
easily.
Truth to tell, he didn't half like the
job, although it had conjured rabbit
into each of his capacious side pockets
1t was his first experience In poach-
ing, and horribly nervous he felt ever
since he set out on the expedition.
Jim, you'll never take to this night
work like the others, will your" his
sister Bess had pleaded. "True, we are
hard up for food; but though you say
Pm weak and i'll, can share with you
till the pits open again. 1t can't be
long, and we'd better starve than get
you sent to prison"
OF course Jim had promised that he
would do nothing of the sort. But
when he remembered his sisters pale
face ana noticed how, day by day, her
checks got thinner, the sight of the rab-
bits and pheasants that played, even
in the country roads about which he
and his mates wandered all day long
to while away the weary hours, was too
much for him; and that night, after
Bess had gone to bed, Jim stole noise
lessly from the cottage and joined the
others at the gate of Hopsley Coppice.
And now the others, well satisfied
with their nights work, were Stealth
ly making their way back again.
A bright moon foated in a clear sky
above, but in the woods n silvery mist
arose amid the dark shadows Of the
trees and shrubs, rendering all objects
hazy and indistinct.
Crossing broad patch Of light, Jim
Hawel, still haunted by this strange
unrest, glanced back at the woods be-
hind; and as he did SO his heart gave a
thump as some half dozen figures
throwing black shadows on the moon
lit ground dashed from the cover OF
the bushes.
look out, mates! The keepers!"
The others gave one look round, Their
broke into run. On the hard grous:t
the footballs of their pursuers sounded
plainly in the ears of the startled
poachers.
Then came voice: "Stop or wei
flrel" And as the four still tore blindly
on the report of a gun sounded out
echoing in the woods around, and, with
cry of pain, the rearmost mar
dropped to the ground with charg,
Of small shot lodged in his legs.
How it happened Jim could haSdly
say, but second after he and tn,
others were fighting hand to hand will
the keepers, exchanging murderou
blows with fist, stick and gun. The,
were but three and wounded man I,
six, and in few minutes the fight wa
over. A blow on the head stretched
Jim Hawcl senseless ON the ground
his mates were speedily overcome, and
additional aid having been summoned
the captives were taken away through
the woods and lodged in the ston
lookup.
"And you, James Hawel; what hav
you to say for yourself?"
Jim Hawel, standing before the mag
istrate with his three fellows, ditn'
know what TO say. The other Judges
taking into consideration the fact tina
the men were cot of work and tina
great distress prevailed in the district
were evidently inclined to adopt
somewhat lenient view of the case
especially as the men swore that tn
keepers fred upon them before bein
In any way threatened; but Col. Traitt
displaying his usual severity, an
easily swaying his less strong-minde
colleagues, promptly frowned upon tn