The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1896-06-09


rifles leveled at the mountaineer,
and buggy with two other men
followed furiously.
stop that wagonl" cried one who
appeared to be the leader. "You We
got it aboard You're good one,
Lem burden, but we've got the evil
dence this time, "
oought glimpse of the buff sun
bonnet as the wearer disappeared in
a hazel thicket by the roadside IN
observed 10y the new arrivals and
the CLEAN of the rife barrel which
she held in her hands as she made
good her escape. ] knew that there
was some mischief afloat, for had
not forgotten Nancy Lee.
| With an air of sullen vindictive-
ness the mountaineer stood aside,
while the revenue officers began to
rummage about among the apples
and cabbages.
Here, joe help me with this
keg. It's applejack for a million.
Here's couple of fat jugs of the
regular mountain dew. Here's 10th
er keg Pretty well heeled eh,
Lemuel? Well, you Il get to Allan
ia a good deal quicker than you
would with these yaller oxen. Your
way will be paid, and you II get to
ride In the first class car, Lemuel.
How do you like that old hoss?"
The mountaineer said never a
word, but there was grim smile on
his rugged features that BODIED no
good for the oaptors.
Here, joe" said the chief depu.
ty, you and Jasper take charge Of
the wagon. Wen take Lem to Dali
ton and catch the train. Be careful
now and bring in the truck. You
know Trammell Is mighty careful
how we manage these things Let's
all have snifter, however. before
we break up, Stranger, turning
to me for the first time, would you
like drink of the real truok9"
I politely declined, and bidding
them good day rode ON toward
Spring Place, whittier / was bound.
AS l crossed the Amioolola river
cast glance of wonder and admira-
ton on the awesome beauty of the
somber scenery brought out in
strong relief by the yellow food Of
light from the declining sun which
ebbed and flowed around the oraggy
cliffs, ali festooned with dropping
laurel and rbododendron.
Suddenly from the depths of the
gler ! thought caught a glimpse of
a yellow sunbonnet and one swift
CLEAN of two blue eyes ablaze with
wrathful excitement, but as the
vision was but for an instant /
charged it up to my overweight
imagination.
Reaching the mountain village, /
entered the hotel, and after an ex-
change of greetings and polite ex-
ouse for refusing a proffered snifter
! sat down In the chair of state on
the long piazza to rest my wearied
| limbs.
Pretty soon / observed an unwont-
ed stir about the courthouse, and
strolling over there in the deepening
twilight l saw in the center of an
interesting circle one of the heroes
of the episode of the afternoon. He
was bareheaded, and the blood was
dripping from wound in the fore
arm made by bullet
"Yes, he said, painting with ia
hgue, I'VE arrested Lem burden,
but he got clear away, We overlook
him about three miles beyond Ami
colola river an found three kegs and
half dozen jugs mixed up In the
load of apples an oabbages, Joe
Green an Jasper Hicks were left to
fetch the wagon, an me an johnson
an old Lem got in the buggy an
started to Dalton.
1--WE all took several drinks
around afore we broke up an war
feelin purity good, latin at old Lem,
as we drove into the ford of the
Amicolola
"Jist as we riz the bank this side
the firm begun. Their must "a
been dozen, fur the bullets whis-
tied permisoously. The boss wheel
ed round an dashed across the river,
flingin US all out, an old Lem scram-
bled up the river bank an disap-
peared in the lorril bushes.
johnson s hurt bad, shot through
the shoulder. got swipe in the
arm, an guess it'll be sore for some
time.
No, we didn't see soul an didn t
hear a word said, but, my God, how
the bullets did whistler
Over the distant barrier of the
mountains up leaped the queen of the
night, flooding the earth with the