The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-23
A TIMELY WARNING.

ana when ne left he took with him as q
bride the daughter of an extensive moon
sinner. He first appeared in that vicinity
at Guise's tavern, representing himself as
Joe Belden, salesman for a Pittsburg pa
per bag mandatory. He cleverly worked
his way into the good graces of the noun
taineers and captured large number OF
Illicit distilleries
After that his superiors deemed it best
for his safety to send him to other noun
famous counties Late one afternoon he
started on foot from Herrick's to go over
the mountain to Smithville, where he was
temporarily boarding. He pursued his
way unsuspectingly until well up the
SLOPE when he noticed that the hooting of
a supposed owl behind him sounded near
er and nearer from time to time.
The hooting was answered from the
other side of the mountains. 1t plainly
told Belden that there also was a MUIR
derous enemy concealed along the road
down which he was travelling. Quickly be
concealed himself in a Chimp Of bushes
and silently watched for the appearance
of his pursuer. After five minutes wait
the evil eyed human bird of prey appeared
around bend in the road up which Joe
had SO lately come. The fellow was tall
ungainly, elderly man, whose forbidding
face was covered with a growth of stubby
beard. In his hand was a rifle, and he
lodged behind rocks and convenient trees
in a manner that denoted his mission was
one OF no good.
AS soon as the Desperate disappeared
down the road Joe elm bed hemlock tree
and found eoncealment in its branches,
which overhung the narrow road He left
the tree and in the darkness of gathering
night went to Smithville. There he rec
ognized as visitors to the barroom the two
men who were but a few hours before
plotting to take his life on the mountain.
He concluded that they came to learn in
which direction he would travel the next
day.
Joe Bell was quick witted fellow and
speedily arranged plan of action. He
became acquainted with Jack Reed and
Bill Townsend, his would be assassins, led
the conversation to coon hunting, and
with every appearance of qualification and
anticipated pleasure accepted an invita-
ton to accompany both the next night in
hunt on Sassafras hill. The next morn
ing at daJbreak he took a stage for "a
short ride to the next village" and at
nightfall he was 30 miles away. Three
nights later two stills were raided near
Smithville, and Jack Reed and Bill Town
send were among the moonshiners cap
tured. He was then assigned to the dis
trict that included Parkersburg, where for
time he made his headquarters. Mas
querading as a laborer in search of employ
ment, he secured at Sedgley, - miles
back in the mountains, position as team
ster with man suspected of moonshining.
The teams5er, before week had passed,
learned that his employer was one of a
regularly organized band of moonshiners,
whose members operated seven Illicit dis
tilleries concealed in the mountains. He
promptly ingratiated himself into the con-
fidence of old Jerry Tucker, the most in
fuential moorshiner of the gang, and ul-
tinately visited each wildcat still. He
anticipated soon making arrests and con-
fscations, when something unanticipated
happened. One afternoon, when return
ing with his mule team from hauling a
load of logs to the mill, Bell overlook
pretty Jennie Tucker, daughter of Jerry
who had apparently been down the slope to
the store, for she carried couple of parcels
Bell undesignedly asked her to put the
packages on the wagon, and he would con-
vey them home for her AS she did so,
with thanks, tiny note was slipped into
his hand, while the girl. in loud cheer
full voice, exclaimed: mo, thank ye, I
don't care to ride. Don't wait for me-
AS soon as he returned he read this star
thing yet timely message:
"They know now who you are and mean
no good. Leave at once, before night
You have been followed for two days.,
Bell quickly got his revolver from it's
hiding place under some hay, put on his
coat and coolly walked back to the porch
of the Tucker cabin. Picking up an
empty pail, he told Mrs. Tucker that he
would bring some good water and walked
away toward a fine spring in the timber
down the slope. When he arrived there,
he did not pause; but, throwing the pail
into the brush, struck off at lively pace
across the mountain for his life. just at
dark he reached the road leading to White
House and walked it all night in the
moonlight. An hour after daylight he ar
rived at Braxton Station, where be subse-
quently tagged and boarded train and
in the evening arrived in Wheeling. The
next day he headed posse and proceeded
back to Sedgley, where. under cover of
the darkness, the seven wildcat stills were
raided that night, though not a single
moonshiner could be found. Fourteen ar
rests were made the next day, but not one
leader of the gang Of moonshiners was
taken.
Joe and his men called at the Tucker
cabin and found no one at home save the
old mulatto cook. The officers, with their
prisoners, proceeded, after destroying the
conflscated distilling machinery, back to
the capital, where in an early trial the ap-
pretended moonshiners were all convicted
and fined or imprisoned.
A month later Bell was surprised to
learn that Jennie Tucker was attending
young ladies' seminary in Wheeling He
sought her out, was gladly received and
soon became a frequent visitor with the
young lady. Long afterward he learned
that he was first suspected by the Sedgley
moonshiners when they found that he
was sending cipher kilograms from Par
kersburg. Jennie had heard them plotting
to take his life on the evening before he
received her timely warning. Had be
ignored the contents of that little note he
would not now be called father by
three dashing young ladies who look amaz-
ingly like pretty Jennie Tucker.-Ex-
change.
Theorv and Praeffca