Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-09-20
Smith was shown to his room, as the
night was getting late.
II

early and returned soon after with soma
of his neighbOr's 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 stranger, Arthur
Smith, had joined the band OF Illicit dis
dllers carrying on their calling in the
mountains. For the present Smith put
up a the house of Jonathan, and in the
evening, before darkness approached,
went up 10 the latier's sill. located in
an old mill on the bank Of a 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 mountaineers
that strangers had been seen in the vii
lage q, the foot OF the mountains, and
the secret stills were rarely in operation
Of late. Smith, the stranger. owing to
the late turn in affairs, had plenty Of
spare time on his hands and would wan
der off alone up the mountain road and
turn off into the dense underground to
be gone hours az time. He was par
ucularly redcent man, never ventured
a question and answered those put 10
him in the most laconic way imaginable
Once in while, when the others were
no, looking, his gaze would be rive.ed
on Alice, and Mrs. jackson would
shrewdly smile to herself and declare
inaudibly that the girl had made a con-
quest.
One evening as darkness was coming
on Alice returned from the house of
Mrs. Pearl, where she had paid short
visit. and coming suddenly around q
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
disappeared. When Smith reached
Jonathan's house it was but shortly af-
ter Alice arrived.
Lately the mountain stills had been
operated more frequently than for some
time. The reports of the revenue Off
GERS infesting the mountains had be
rome less frequent and the stills We're
being operated with a greater degree Of
security.
we had better be getting up the
mountain. lad" jonathan said one
evening in December Supper had been
prepared earlier than usual. for iona
then's still was 10 be worked in the
growing dusk.
III follow you in haf an hour Feel
rather badly to-day. bu, believe I'll be
an right IN a short while" Smith an
swerei ind'nerent.y.
VERY wei. Smith: III expect you,"
and Jonathan departed.
Probably some twenty minutes had
elapsed when Smith lef. the house and
.e.surc,y made his way toward the Sc
cret STILL Alice watched the stranger
closely and when Smith had disap-
peared she threw shaw over her head
their was an uup.easan. chiiliness in
The mountain a.r-ani followed in h.s
wake.
The Old mill which concealed the sill
was some thrce-qu9r,ers of a mile from
J0nathal's house. and as Alice pro-
ceeded on her way sic occasionally
caught glimpse OF The forms OF strange
men in the dense underground, going
evidently in The same direction with
herself. Once a strange man glanced
at her susp.c.ous.y, bu, did no, modest
her. He was armed with shotgun,
and took her probably for some one who
was returning from a visit 10 a neigh
boring moultaineer's home.
Soon the girl reached the Old mill. In
the evening twilight the dying sun was
fast disappearing behind the mountains,
leaving a faint glare in its wake, which
lit up the scene with soft golden iight.
Smith. the stranger, was standing mo-
t.onless in front of the mill, peering
anxi0 Is.y now and then into the dense
underground on both sides Of the
stream, which in pas, days had furnish
cd the motive power for the now useless
wheel. Alice Jackson watched Smith
intently for moment, and then ap-
preached him and laid her hand gently
on his shoulder.
Ike, why do you hound my father
like spoke the Cir, softly.
Smith glZed at his QuestiOner in a
startled way for moment, and then
with an effort recovered MS usual air Of
stolid indifference.
you know me, Alice. I had hoped
time had wrought such a change in my
nature and looks that none would rec
ogntze me. You probably know why
am here"
You are a revenue officer, and your
presence here a this moment IS TO sig
nal your men, who are here on all sides,
TO trap my father and the few men who
are in the still
Il see you know all. When | left
your fathers house. as | did, like beg
gar and an outcas,, ! sw0re TO ruin him.
If l signal now TO my men in the woods
in a few minutes | VIII have the evil
dcnce necessary 10 send him to the peni-
Tertiary. And yet, if you had only
taken my part, al might have been diff
1eren-.' And Ike HoAand's voice grew
soft and sad.
How could I take your part. Ike, eX-
cept by going with you-and you never
asked me to do that?" spoke the gil,
feedngiy.
And would you, had l done SOP
Ike did not need an answer to his
Question. In a mOmen, he realized that
ne. the hunter OF Jonathan Jackson,
was sun De ONtu D4 HIS "duSHtc4. IL
the glowing darkness OF the evening the
TWO stroIed back 10 Jona,han's house,
and the men in the woods, who awaited
their leaders signal, wondered Wat
change had taken place in Ike Hollands
mans. Jonathan also was disappointed
in not seeing Smith at the s,.., and al
ter that night he never saw him there
again.
81 hear that Alice has eloped with
that young man who was stopping here
said the irrepress.ble Mrs. Pear, a few
davs after the events as, narrated.
some says as he was nobody other than
Ike Holland. though | never C.d put