The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-05-18

ulo htuut III 40 SuuNSuly VIC
weapon and stood back when he re-
cognized tho visitor.
You, Sarey 7! he exclaimed.
" : hat brung you here at this time o.
night
1--WE come to gin you warnin,' Bob"
said the girl, as she threw q 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.
"Warnin' agiu Tom Drake. Has
All been here tonight" -.
Yes he's been gone about = half
hour"
And didn't he tell you about Tom?"
Yes; but, Sarey, somehow couldn't
more'n half believe it,"
But hits so, Bob; he told me so
hisself, and he's gwine to git you and
thinking about it, SO | jest got up and
come over here to beg you and ALI to
move your still somewhere else this
very night"
But l can't do it, Ssrey she's been
here " long whet, and here shes a
| gwine to stay"
sob, Bob, jest to think o. Tom a
turnin agin' all you uns, and | been a
thinkin' o. him as u Teller what would
stick by q body forever and now he's
gone and upset it all. | told him |
never would speak to him no more"
Sarey caught up her apron, pressed
1t to her face, and began to cry. Bob
looked at her, and choking back u
great lump from his throat turned
away q step or two, hen came back
and laid his big brown hand gently on
the girls arm.
Don't, Sarey, don't" he said, for
Tom amt with no tears O yOurn."
He led her to the bench, whore she sat
down, and n q few moments had dried
her eyes.
"Sarey," continued Bob, after a
pause, Tom amt with nary nuthcr
thought O. yourn, and | wouldn't waste
'em on I'm. Thar's u plenty on Us left
yit that's q sight better'n Tom"
81 know it; | only wish I'd a knowed
it sooner"
"Sarey, won't you answer me one
question? Bcase [ think q power o.
you, and | want to know"
"Of course III answer any question
you ak, Bob, b'case you've alters been
80 good to me, jest like a brother"
oCl CIV, OSll liz "hlCh III "
the boys you liked the best arter
Tom ?"
why, l alters did like Alf jest as
well as Tom, but ALI never 'peared to
like me, and Tom did"
Again Bob swallowed a great lump
that had gathered in his throat.
"Alf is a good feller he'd never 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.
Phi walk home with you," he said.
Bob threw some water on the dying
embers of the fire, her led the way
through the dark, wet woods, followed
closely by Sarey, neither Of them
speaking a word until they came to the
highway, about a mile distant. They
did not have far to 60 after they had
reached the road.
When Bob bade Sarey good night,
he gulped down another choking SEN
sation which arose in his throat, and
turned about to retrace his way some
distance along the road before turning
oil toward his own home.
In less than twenty four hours every
moonshiner throughout the mountain
district knew that Tom Drake had
turned traitor and 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 a week after the
night on which Sarey had visited the
still house, when Bob and Aft Rankin
| wpra ri1inn alnnn lnup fhn ,nnl 20
wards the home of Sarey. Neither of
them had uttered q word for some
time. AT length Bob broke the
silence, speaking without turning his
eyes from a direction straight ahead
of him.
ALI, you air the man."
"l'm the man ?"
Eyes, you air the man for Sarey."
What do you mean, Bob p"
u mean that Sarey loves you bet
tern airy 'nuther man on the RIDGE
ont?"
.",Arter you left the still house that
night, Sarey was thar"
She was ?"
Eyes, and she was a cryin' about
the disgraceful doin's o. Tom and
and, ALI, | axed Der if tina warn't airy
'nuther Teller she liked jest as we'll as
she ana Tom: and she lowed she
alters liked you jest as well, but you
never seemed to like her. Now i've
told you, All, and | want to know il
you love her"
81 alters have, Bob; but l stood
back for Tom and arter what you said
t other night. | was a gwine to stand
back for you"
Again that sensation as Of the heart
rising into the throat came to Bob,
and the two men rode on in silence.
b Il was swiftly dropping to.
wards the crests OF the western hills
when Bob and ALT stopped in front of
old jerry Mauldin's long, double cabin.
Sarey was sitting in the open hallway,
Smelling beaOs; but she arose and came
out to the road when the two men had
dismounted.
Toms been seed a foolin' around
Long Creek to-day" said Sarey, land
meant to send you uns word afore
now, but pap's been ailin' all day, and
| couldn't leave him"
We amt much afeared of him."
said Aft. Hos been q keepin' quiet
a sight longer'n | 'spected, though"
We've boon a lookin' for him to
come dowE on us at the still house
afore now" added Bob.
Sarey, have you got any cider 2"
asked Alt. We're kinder thirsty"
Lots OF 1t. One OF you hold the
l'prses while t'other one goes with me
6, the spring house, and we'll fetch up