The Louisiana populist., 1896-11-06

| dLuOuS tue trees.
Mrs. Jackson then lighted the oil lamp
and made ready for the evening supper
Presently the sound of a conveyance
was heard In the roadway, and iona
than jackson and his daughter Alice
alighted. They had been down to the
village, a ride of twenty miles over the
mountain roads, to provide themselves
with some necessary supplies.
What's the news In the village, Jona-
than" 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 horseman approaching
near to the house, and a 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 business" And Jonathan looked
at the stranger with suspicion.
Il am making a journey over the
mountains and would Ike TO stay here
tonight at least"
For a moment Jona an looked sur
prised. Then he t@.Je the stranger en-
ter, while he went outside and put up
his horse.
In the light Oh rne room the stranger
appeared to be man of some 80 years
of age. He possessed a dark beard Of
luxuriant growth, which concealed
what would have been considered a
handsome face were it bereft of its
hirsute appendage. The guest took his
seat near the fire and kept his peace
In a few minutes Jonathan returned
and Joined the family circle.
1T appears to me, stranger, saw you
to-day In the village" Jonathan ven-
tured.
Possibly; was there" the guest an
swered.
ION business?"
ION business"
Then Jonathan was silent for a mo-
ment. He was apparently Ill at ease.
Il suppose you have heard that it is
pretty dangerous travelling in these
parts" again ventured Jonathan.
rs it?" said the stranger. And Jona-
than became more dissatisfied with his
way Of eliciting information.
stranger, it 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 / |
was driven out of North Carolina"
why, why tell me this?' 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 serv-
ices"
1--WE will have to see about It," said
the master of the house, without COM
mitting himself, and in few minutes
Smith was shown to his room, as the
night was getting late.
The next morning Jonathan went out
early aEI returned soon after with some
of his netghbor's friends Smith was
up on Jonathan's return, and the men
all held 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 thei- call
ing in the mountains. For the present
Smith put up at the house of Jonathan,
and in the evening, before darkness ap-
preached, went up to the latter's still,
located in an old mill on the bank of a
rushing torrent some distance up the
which In days gone by had
)een used to grind their corn, which they
purchased from the farmers on the low.
ands below
Reports had reached the mountain
sers that strangers had been seen in the
village at the foot Of the mountains,
ind the secret stills were rarely in op-
,ration Of late. Smith, the stranger
,wing to the late turn in affairs, had
,lenty of spare time on his hands and
would wander off alone up the noun
ain road and turn off into the dense
lndergrowth to be gone hours at time.
He was particularly reticent man,
lever yentured a question and answer ,
ID those put to him in the most laconic
way imaginable. Once in a while, when | .
he others were not looking, his gaze &
would be riveted on Alice, and Mrs.
Jackson would shrewdly smile to herself i
nd declare inaudibly that the girl had
made conquest.
One evening as darkness was coming
m liaa rofurua6 from Tho y,o,,.o 30 | 2