Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1896-09-09
cast spectral figures here and there

Was ucdTu III the IOdu% dt, anu oOha-
than Jackson and his daughter Alice
alighted. They had been down to the
village, ride of twenty miles over the
mountain roads, to provide themselves
with some necessary supplies.
Whats the news In the village, iona
thanY inquired his wife.
Nothing much some reports about
the revenue officers, though l didn't
take much stock In the Stories" And
Jonathan relapsed into a moody silence.
The rest of the meal was eaten In
quiet, and after the dishes were cleared
away Jonathan sat comfortably by the
fire and smoked his pipe as the Novem-
Der evenings were becoming chilly and
unpleasant.
After an hour had passed there was
the sound Of a horseman approaching
near to the house, and moment later
someone knocked at the door.
Does Jonathan Jackson live here?
inquired the newcomer.
my name is Jonathan Jackson" an
swered the master of the house. What
Is your businessT And Jonathan looked
at the stranger with suspicion.
II am making a journey over the
mountains and would like to stay here
tonight at least"
For a moment Jonathan looked sur
prised. Then no babe the stranger en-
ter, while he went outside and put up
his horse.
In the light of the room the stranger
appeared to be a man Of some 30 years
of age He possessed dark beard of
luxuriant growth, which concealed
what would have been considered a
handsome face were 1t bereft of Its
hirsute appendage. The guest took his
seat near the fire and kept his peace.
In few minutes Jonathan returned
and Joined the family circle.
at appears to me, stranger, I saw you
to-day In the village" Jonathan ven
tured.
Possibly; I was there" the guest an
swered
ION buslness7"
ION business"
Then Jonathan was silent for mo-
ment. He was apparently Ill at ease.
II suppose you have heard that 1t Is
pretty dangerous travelling in these
parts" again ventured Jonathan.
SIS itT said the stranger. And Jona-
than became more dissatisfied with his
way of eliciting information.
Stranger, 1t appears to me that 1t
might be better that you give your
name and business In travelling over
these mountains" Jonathan spoke
bluntly.
The strangers eyes flashed like Goals
of fire, and then he answered calmly:
my name Is Arthur Smith. My busi-
ness was that Of moonshiner or keeper
of an Illicit distillery-that Is, until l
was driven out of North Carolina"
"Why, why tell me thisT Jonathan
asked surprised.
Because l believe I am speaking
with a brother moonshiner. Probably
you may be able to refer me to someone
in these parts who may need my sery-
ices"
I'VE will have to see about It," said
the master Of the house, without COM
hitting himself, and in a few minutes
Smith was shown to his room, as the
night was getting late.
The next morning Jonathan went out
early and returned soon after with some
of his neighbours friends. Smith was
up on Jonathan's return, and the men
all held a short conference together,
which seemed to prove satisfactory all
around. The result was that the stran-
ger, Arthur Smith, had joined the band
of Illicit distillers carrying on their call
Ing In the mountains. For the present
Smith put up at the house Of Jonathan,
and In the evening, before darkness APP
preached, went up to the latter's still,
located In an old mill on the bank Of
rushing torrent some distance up the
mountain, which In days gone by had
been used to grind their corn, which they
purchased from the farmers on the low
lands below.
Reports had reached the mountain
GERS that strangers had been seen in the
village at the foot Of the mountains,
and the secret stills were rarely In OPP
Grafton of late. Smith, the stranger,
owing to the late turn In affairs, had
plenty of spare time on his hands and
would wander off alone up the noun
tain road and turn off into the dense
underground to be gone hours at time.
He was particularly relcent man,
never ventured question and answer
ed those put to him in the most laconic
way imaginable. Once in a while, when
the others were not looking, his gaze
would be rlveted on Alice, and Mrs.
Jackson would shrewdly smile to herself
and declare inaudibly that the girl had
made conquest.
One evening as darkness was coming
on Alice returned from the house of
Mrs. Pearl, where she had made short
visit, and coming suddenly around a
bend In the road she observed two men
In earnest conversation. One was Ar
thur Smith, the other a stranger. Only
for a moment did the two men seem TO
converse and soon the newcomer had
diSaDpeared When Smith reached jon