The free press., 1895-02-21
MOUNTAIN HEROINE.
BY W. J. HAMPTON.

sory ana Whiie 'ho Aio'eiio1" III ''io
.noking car were digesting it, a quiet
man smoking bad cigar, gave a
.,;cht cough indicative of beginning q
r,rn himself. The listeners gave him
,heir attention at once.
"Let her 60" said the man from
Chicago encouragingly.
"How did you know l had anything
10 say?" asked the man.
"You looked it, said Chicago.
eWell, l have" laughed the man,
.,snd I've got an affidavit to go with
mine. Have you got one for that you
tod?"
"Oh, yes" grinned Chicago, "and
Il show it to you when you've had
your say.
Don't forget that, gents" said the
man, turning to the listeners. "And
now for mine. Five years ago I was
deputy United States marshal in
boutheastern Kentucky, and most of
Inv business was with moonshiners. I
bad pretty fair success and bagged
Of of them, but there was one, the
thief of the gang and the worst of
hem ALL that we couldn't get our
hands on. One day, however, word
Fame to me that he was at his cabin in
be mountains, and if L could get
here with force of men we might
urround the place and capture him,
she had just come in and expected to
Jet out again before we should hear
nything of him. In ten minutes /
Fas on my way to his cabin with ten
ben, all armed with heavy revolvers,
md all moving out by different ways,
b as not to excite suspicion and let
Plm get on to our movements. We
Fere to meet at point about half
pile from his house and then swoop
lovn on it and take him in. The first
part OF the programme went off all
Fght and an hour after 1 had heard
ewas at home 1 had his house sur
bundled. Then 1 rode up to the door
nd yelled hello, and woman came
but
"'Where's your husband?" L asked,
pr knew her quite we'll.
"'What do you want NV him?' she
esponded.
81 want to see him.
"'Well, you can't.
but I'm going to, just the same.
heard he was here not an hour ago,
nd he's got to come this time.
u reckon not she said, and
lodged in, shutting the door after her
l'A slam, and barring it on the in
Pae' as l could very plainly hear.
Then, before we had chance to
pake rush, gun went off in the
|0ase and bullet went 'spat' against
Hee near me. l thought it was time
get under cover, and did so with
'ompthess and dispatch, and at once
'uered my men to close up and fire
the house. This they did with
easure, but We might as we'll have
red at stockade, for the cabin was
u'is OF heavy logs, and nothing short
a mountain howitzer could have
Aa any serious effect upon it. We
Aaged away, though, and every now
~ then shot came from the inside
Sasreeably near us. One time, when
Dsoi 1y men showed up where he
'uld get d shot at the only pane of
asS visible two shots came after him
c'osely tuat he stayed in hiding for
rest Of the time. This was about
ue O'Clock in the morning, and we
last concluded that, as there were
ularen and woman in the house
"n our moUntaineer, we could not
''y well burn it down, even if we
'u'a get close enough to fire it; we
Old simply camp on their trail and
arVe them out. SO we took our
'''es TO command every point to pre-
cut escape and waited. At intervals
'not would come from the cabin,
put we would paylno attention to it,
llnking that our man might think we
Pad gone and come out, but he didn't,
|nd he long day wore ON. 1t was
aiming, too, after moon, and we were
s'1ou'y uncomfortable, but we had
ur game Gagged aid we were bound TO
Am or stay ere a. year. How