The Grenada sentinel., 1897-08-07


ing and tn" shame she felt in wearing
mean frocks was nothing to this. Twice
her grandfather had staggered home
at night SO intoxicated that she had to
help him to bed. The rough fellows
had first piled him with drink. for a
laEk. !r!f needed little urging after that
first occasion.
Gran daddy" she told him, the Mon
day morning following the old mans
second csrhpade, 'gran'daddy, if the
super or one of the inspectors should
come up the mountain an ketch you
that-a-way, do you know what would
happen:?"
"ies. Meg. l Know what would hap
PEN" replied the old man, miserably.
"lou'd lose your job, that's what
would happen" pursued Meg, severely;
"an Bill Thomas. an Andy Mcguire,
an them other fellers would lose theirn,
an sarve 'em right" with vicious en-
phasis in this last: but what'd we doc"
And poor Old Daniel promised never
to touch the stuff when it was offered
him again. But Meg feared for HIM
and for herself.
Toward the end of that week she
became suspicious. Two of the worst
of the woodnen came over to the june
ton and held long conversation with
Mcguire. the conductor of the tie train,
ard Bill Thomas. When the loade,
flats had gone she overheard one OF
the choppers say to his mate:
Jack, did yc hear that? Well have
a regular howl Sunday. Andy prom.
ised ter bring up some Of tn rale stuff '
Il card 'im," said, the other. NO
more O this blue lightnin' tn peddlel
brings us. I'm sick of it,
"Oh. DEAR" thought Meg. sitting Oh
a heap of ties outside the cabin, ''what
ever shall I do? | know gran daddy
II get the nasty stuff again-sure!
They amt no business to bring rum W
here, an I'll just tell 'em So
But she knew it would be waste Of
words to take Mcguire and his crew
TO task. and before Sunday morning she
had formed another and more daring
plan.
The long train of empty flats, witt
the caboose on the end, was shuntcc
on to the branch road about ten o'clocl
that forenoon. The brakes were Sc
at either end, and the crew left tht
train and walked up the track. Meg
knew where they were going. They
were going to meet their friends from
the camp.
"Now's my chance" thought th'
child, and she darted into the ca5oos'
which Mcguire had left unlocked. II
he's brought rum, I'm going to smasl
the Jug she muttered, setting he
white teeth hard. But no jug, o
ether receptacle which might contsdl
the liquid poison, was in sight.
ITS in the locker she thought
But that was locked. However, Me!
determined to get at the stuff. Sh
caught down an AK from the wall, ant
quickly sprung the lid of the chest
Sure enough, straw-cOvered jug ant
u dozen bottles met her gaze! Withou
moment of hesitancy the girl carried
the Jug outside and returned for tn
case of bottles. AS she approached tn
door of the caboose with her burden
she heard voices. The men were re
turning. She reached the platform
with bound. The train men. with
| crowd of dozen or more choppers
were ut hand.
Bring it out, Andy" cried Bi!
Thomas. who evidently had alread
sampled the contents of the locker
"Boys, it'll be a treat for you.'
At that moment they caught sight o
the girl.
"Hey! what you doin' up there
Ericktop" demanded Mcguire, hurry
ing forward Then he saw the ju
sitting between the rails and the cas-
of bottles in the girls hands. II
sprang forward with an oath.
Drop that" he yelled, as he spran
up the steps.
II have,' she told him, calmly, an
sent the bottles crashing down upo
the jug.
You little spitiire!" he shouted, seil
ing her by the shoulders, while tn
others stood aghast. What have 20
[oeen doin'?"
i've just split yer fun for We tt
day, Mr.. Andy Maguire!" she replied
with satisfaction. Every one OF EN-
busted, an I'm glad of it. So now 20
can let go of my arm--you hurt.
"I'n hurt you worse than this!
growled the angry man, pitching he
off the steps.
He ran back into the caboose and sa'
what she had done.
"You little wretch he exclaimed
from the car platform. you'll ru
this. Boys, she's split every DROP
A groan rose from the thirsty mel
but you'll pay for this, miss d'
clared Mcguire, shaking his fist at he
That's burglary, that's what busti'
that locker is! I'll send You down
the super in the mornin' an see wha
he'll have to say about'it. I've got til
money for the tie camp in that locke
an l b'lieve you was after it,
| al int tho hnl1S1 n