The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1896-08-27

What's the news In the village; JON
othan?' inquired his wife.
Nothing much; some reports ont
about the revenue officers, though I
don't take much stock in the stories"
And Jonathan relapsed into moody
silence. 81
The rest of the meal was eaten in
quiet, and hfter the dishes were cleared
away Jonathan sat comfortably by the
fire and smoked his pipe, rs the No
vember evenings were becoming chilly
and unpleasant
After an hour had passed there was
the sound of a horsemah approa ching
near the house, and n moment later
some one knocked at the door.
Jonathan rose, surprised, from his
seat, and opened the door.
Does jonathan jackson live there?'
inquired the newcomer.
MY name Is Jonathan Jackson" am
swcred the master of the house. "What
is your business?" And jonathan
looked at the stranger with suspicion.
Il am making journey over the
and would like to stay here
tonight at least"
For a moment Jonathan jackson
looked surpriscdi then he bade the
stranger enter, while he went outside
and put up his horse.
In the light of the room the stranger
10 be nah of SOME thirty
years or age. He possessed dark
beard Of lnxuriant growth, which con-
cealed what would have beeii consid-
cred a handsome face were it bereft
of It's hirsute appepdage, The guest
took his seat near the fire and kept His
peace. In d few minutes Jonathan re-
turned and joined the family circle.
ut appears to me, stranger, | saw
you to-day In the village Jonathan
ventured.
"Possibiy; | was therc,' the guest an
swered.
ION businessT
"On business"
Then Jonathan was silent for a mo-
ment. He was apparently i'll at ease.
II suppose you have heard that it is
pretty dangerous travelling in these
parts?' again vehtured Jonathan.
rs it?' said the stranger, and Jond=
than became more dissatisfied with his
way of eiciting information.
stranger, it appears to me that 1t
might be better that you give your
name md 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-
hess was that of moonshiner or keep
cr of an illicit distiliery that is until
| was driven out of North Carolina"
"Why, why tell me this?' Jonathan
asked surprised.
Because / believe I am speaking
with brother moonshiner. Probably
you may be able to refer me to some
in these parts who may need my serv-
ices"
, I'VE will have to see about it, said
the master of the house. without COM
hitting himself, and in few minutes
Smith was shown to his room as the
night was getting late.
The hext morning Jonathan went out
early and returned soon after with
some of his ncighbor's friends. Smith
was up on Jonathan's return, and the
men all held short conference to-
gether, which seemed to prove salts
factory all around. The result was
that the stranger, Arthur Smith, had
joined the band of Illicit distillers car
rying on their calling in the mountains.
For the present Smith put up at the
house of Jonathan, and in the evening,
before darkness approached, went to
the latter's still, located at an old mill
OH 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 lowlands below.
Reports had reached the mountain
eers that strangers had been seen in
the village at the foot of the mountains
md the secret stills were rarely in Op-
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 moun-
tain road, and turn off into the dense
to be gone hours at a
time. He was particularly reticent
man, never ventured a question, ans
those put to him in the most
aconic way imaginable. Once in a
while. when the others were not look
pg, his gaze would be riveted on Alice,
md Mrs. Jackson would shrewdly
'mile to herself and declare inaudibly
hat the girl had made n conquest
One evening as darkness was COM
ng on Alice returned from the house
If Mrs. Pearl, where she had paid
short visit, and coming suddenly |
lround bend in the road she OBJ
served two men in earnest conyersa-
ion. One was Arthur Smith, the other
/ stranger. Only for moment did the
wo men seem to converse, and soon
he newcomer had disappeared. When