Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-30
THE STORY OF MAG.
Now York Trlhune.)


merit Of describing the place which II
designates. Lost Creek is typical noun
tain stream that comes roaring. Drawing
down the mountain until II reaches
certain high cliff. over which II plunges
In graceful. quivering column. IL
throws Up a shower OF silvery spray
from the rocks below. but instead OF
flowing on down the surface Of the noun
tain II plunges into a dark, small
mouthed. subterranean cavern, ana Is In
all verify 'lost" TO human sight. as the
name implies. Occasionally a wayfarer
will throw a rock inside and listen 10 me
hollow thud, thud as ii seems to bound
from ledge 10 ledge into the awful DARK
ness OF the earth's Interior. Almost nan
a mile further down the mountain the
stream energies from its underground
course as abruptly as II disappeared.
There are vague rumors that soldiers
hard pressed by their foes, traversed THE
awful passageway during the dark days
Of the war; these are only rumors, and
no one now cares by actual test 10 prove
or disprove their possibility.
only one person is really known to have
passed through this Journey, and that one
brought no news as TO its mysteries. The
lips were sealed forever. and the eyes,
unwavering. stared up at the sun above
them. The memory OF the awful exit
gives the subterranean passageway
horror deeper than it's own; but the self
engrossing heroism Of the entrance gives
the waterfall a grandeur greater than
that Of its rocks, purer than the snowy
whiteness OF its foam, and more soul
refreshing than the cOolness Of It's spray.
Tom Houston was one Of the
pleasantest. most industrious young
farmers on that slope of Cumberland
mountain. and Mag Lassiter was one or
the widest, most worthless OF the noun
tain bellies. The neighbors all said
great deal OF good about Tom, and very
little OF bad, beyond the fact that he was
rather easily Influenced. The best that
could be said about Mag was that she
was pretty full Of life. and that she gene
rally stuck to her friends through thick
and thin-as long as she cared TO.
As 70 the evil said about her, there was
almost no end OF IL. The whisperings that
connected her name with certain moon
shining operations could hardly be in
cluded under this head, for public opinion
on the mountains In those days was Tar
from unanimous IN declaring such things
evil. Far more serious were the rumors
that she had used the power Of her beauty
struction. Many rather serious misdeeds
were supposed TO have their origin with
her influence, but nothing definite was
ever known about them. When she 1rst
began 10 make friends with Tom Houston,
everybody said that no good could come
Of II. Several Of the older men and women
took II on themselves 10 warn Tom, but
he refused 90 be warned. As usual, the
voice Of youth was life and beauty had
- . Of old
and experience and ugllness.
The crash came sooner than any one
expected. One night al dance Tom
called out the two Dickens boys, and.
seemingly IN cold blood, shot them dead.
The Dickens boys were members Of one
Of the most prominent families on the
mountain, ana the excitement which fol-
lowed the killing was intense. Everybody
remembered that Mag had formerly had
a fierce quarrel with the elder OF the
brothers. and that he was said TO be the
only young man on the mountain who
had successfully resisted her wiles.
Everybody suspected that the murder
was instigated by Mag but nobody knew
It. Only Tom Houston could know IL,
and it was recognized by al that Tom
would never tell. Besides, after the kill
ing, Tom had fed, and was now some
where in hiding.
There was reason 10 believe that he
had not gone far away, but it was hard
TO find him. The mountain was thorough
ly aroused. The prominence OF the muir
dered men and the -bloOdedness Of
the deed made every one feel an interest
in bringing the slayer TO justice. Pickets
were scattered in a line that surrounded
the whole slope OF the mountain where
Tom was supposed 10 lie hiding; but
still the task was no easy one. The
! mountain side at that place was so fun
of deep ravines and holes in the rocks,
/ that dozen men might easily elude any
| thing but the most careful search. Stlll
it was only a question Of time.
| one evening. several days after the
| killing. Mag walked into the Sheriff S
| office at Jasper. Without even glancing
| at the group Of loungers hanging about
| as usual, she looked deianuy at the
! Sheriff, and addressed him in harsh
| strident tones, very unlikely those IN
which she generally spoke.
1--WE come 10 tell you 'uns that your
men has got Tom Houston penned in
safe and sound" she said. Thar ain
no possible way out for him. guess you
already knowed that. though"
Il sorter guessed it," replied the
Sheriff. as he chucSled and looked around
! in some uncertainty.
EFF you think you'll have an easy Jo'
to take him, you're mistaken, though,
continued Mag. THAT mounting is q
full Of little OF gullies an holes az an
| old kitchen is Of rat holes, and / DOM
| reckon any man in Tennessee knows 'en
any better than Tom does 1t may be
month before you ketch HIM. Besides
| Toms got shootin' irons, an he knows
how 20 use 'em, too. There'H be the
devil TO pay before you take him-unles
you get help"
vaguely. Amt / got half the men OF
the mountain TO help me now? VIVA
kind OF help DO you meanY
Gimme $50. an I'll take you rlgh
where he is tomorrow morning. an II
guarantee he don't fire nary shot
neither"
The Sheriff uttered a low. long-drawi
whistle of surprise. and the lounger
about the office exchanged remarks II
an undertone. They had always know
that gal was no good, but darned
they'd ever have believed she was low
down enough TO get a fellow into trouble
and then sell his life 10 the officers 70
sJO-darned IL they would.
.oThere's some conditions about II" con
timed Mag haughtily, and without heed
ing these comments. Then fifty dollar
must be in my hand in bills in the mornir
before ] bulge airy step OF the way
After take you where he is you mus
give me two minutes by the watch I
falk 10 him before you do anything. The
N he tries 10 Iun you must give him a
least fifty yards before you begin shoot
in / amt a-goin' 10 see him shot dow
i've a dog without no chance at all. Ate
us all over. I'm goin' to leave this her
C,odforsaken country myself. an you'v
got ter promise me that nobodyn II
So -. - ter sea which way "