The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-20

Alf's bosom since Sarey had told him
of Toms treachery. Now he had dis
covered that Bob loved her. He re-
solved to keep the secret of his own
love, for Bobs sake; and again the
hope passed from his heart.
When tho rain ceased, the two men
arose and, while one of them dragged
the fire from under the furnace, tho
other removed the cap from the still,
hole OF the keg that held the product
of distil]ation.
HBob, | guess we'd better move the
still to a safer place this very night
suggested ALI.
Nary move, Alf. This still has
been here nigh on To seven years, and
here she's gwine TO stay
" a right if you say SO Pm not the
man to step oil and leave you"
ALI, you can tot3 the keg down to
the burnt poplar as you go homo, and
~ stay here till she cools Off, and
kinder straig ghten things up aforc go.
| IL meet you at the burnt poplar agin
daybrcak in the mornin'."
Alf shouldered the heavy pine keg,
and, passing through the doorway,
was soon lost to view in the darkness.
Bob again seated himself on the bench,
with his chin. in his hands. and gave
himself up to melancholy reflections.
Alf had been gone some time, and the
embers that had been raked from the
furnace gave out only q faint glow to
light the interior of the still house,
when dark form appeared in the door
way. Bob heard the step, and instantly
sprang to his feet with revolver in
his hand, but as suddenly dropped the
weapon and stood back when he re-
COpDlZ ID the visitor
You, Sarey |" he exclaimed.
" hat brung you here at this time o
night ?"
'"Ive come to gir you warnin,' Bob,'
said the girl, as she threw a light
shawl from round her head, and ad-
vanced across the earthen floor. The
smooth, round cheeks were glowing
from the eXertion of her walk, her
eyes shone brightly in the dim light,
and her long black hair hung in
charming disorder about her pretty
shoulders.
'Warnin' for what ?" asked Bob.
w, Warnin' aein Tom Drake. Has
ALI been here tonight ?"
Yes he's been gone about half
hour"
And didn't he tell you about Tom?"
es; but, Sarey, somehow | couldn't
more'n halt believe it,"
But hats SO, Bob he told me so
hisself, and he's gwine to git you and
All tust. | couldn't sleep tonight for
thinking about it, so jest got up and
come over here to beg you and All to
move your still somewhere else this
very night"
But can't do it, Sarey she's been
here long whet, and here she's u
gwine TO stay"
"Oh, Bob, jest to think o. Tom a
turnin' agin' all you uns, and | been q
thinkin' O him as q feller what would
stick by body forever; and now he's
gone and upset it all. l told him |
never would speak to him no more.'
Sarey caught up her apron, pressed
looked at hor, and choking back a
great lump from his throat turned
away q step or two, then came back
and laid his big brown hand gently on
the girls arm.
"Don't, Sarey, don'tH he said, "for
Tom amt wuth no tears O. yourn."
He led her to the bench, where she sat
down, and N a few moments had dried
her eyes.
"Sarey," continued Bob, after
pause, TON amt wuth nary nuther
thought o yourn, and | wouldn't waste
'cm on I'm. Thar's Il plenty on Us loft
yit that's a. sight beLtsr'n Tom"
IL know II; only wish Pd a knowed
it sooner"
"Sar.y, won't you answer me one
question? B'case | think power o
you. and want to now"
'Of course I'll answer any question
you "x, Bob, b'case you've alters been
SO good to me, j ST like brother"
We'll, Sarey, tell mo which one o.
the boys you liked the best arter
Tom p"
"Why, | alters did like Alf Jest as
well as Tom, but Alf never 'peared to
like me, and Tom did"
Again Bob swallowed q great lump
that had gathered in his throat.
" AIf is II good feller; he'd mover go
back on u.s. he managed to say as he
arose from the bench, and began to
put things to rights about the dis.
tillery. His task completed, he turned
to Sarey, who stood in the doorway.
u" m walk home with you," he said.
Bob threw some water on the dying
cmbers OF the fire, then led the way
through the dark, wet woods, followed
closely by Sarcy, neither Of them
highway, about q mile distant. They
did not have far to go after they had
reached the road.
he gulped down another choking SON
satlon which arose in his throat, and
turned about to retrauc his way some
distance along the road before turning
off toward his own homo.
In loss than twenty four hours every
moonshifer throughout the mountain
district knew that Tom Drake had
turned traitor aud joined the revenue
force against his old comrades. Dur
ing the whole Of the second night after
this information went abroad, men
were at work moving their distilleries
TIC safer retreats, one only remaining
at his old stand-the one that belonged
to the Rankin boys.
1t was more than week after the
night on which Sarcy had visited the
still house, when Bob and Ali Rankin
were riding along down the road to-
wards the homo Of Sarey. Neither of
4 ho1 ntt fn,