The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-05-26

force against his old comrades. Dur
ing the whole OF the second night af-
ter this information went abroad, men
were at work moving their distilleries
to safer retreats, one only remaining
at its old stand-the one that belonged
to the Rankin boys.
It was more than week after the
night on which Sarey had visited the
still house, when Bob and ALI Rankin
were riding along down the road to-
wards the home OF Sarey. Neither of
them had uttered word for some
time. At length Bob broke the 81.
lence, speaking without turning his
1 eyes from direction straight ahead
of him.
calf, yon air the man.
'I'n the man,
eyes, you air the man for Sarey. :"
"What do you mean, Bob?"
s'l mean that Sarey loves you bet
tern airy 'nuther man on the ridge. !"
.'You don't say2 How'd you find
eut?"
carter you left the still house that
night, Sarey was thar.
/ s'She WASP"
"Yes, and she was a cryin' about
the disgraceful doin's o. Tom; and
and, ALT, laxed her il thar warn't airy
'nuther Teller she liked jest as well as
she did Tom; and she flowed she
alters liked you jest as we'll, but you
never seemed to like her. Now I've
told you, ALI, and I want to know if
you love her."
81 alters have, Bob; but I stood
back for Tom; and after what you
said t'other night, l was 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.
The sun was swiftly dropping to-
wards the crests of the western hills
when Bob and ALI stopped in front OF
old Jerry Mauldin's long. double
cabin. Saroy was sitting in the open
hallway, Smelling beans; but she arose
and came out to the road when the
two men had dismounted.
"Tom's been seed foolin' around
Long Greek to-day" said Sarey, "and
/ meant to send you uns word atore
now, bat pap's been ailin' all day, and
I couldn't leave him.
eve amt much afeared OF him,
said ALT. ''He's been keepin' quiet
a sight longer'n ] 'spected, though"
"We've been lookin' for him to
come down on us at the still house
afore now" added Bob.
sSarey, have you got any cider?"
asked ALT. "We're kinder thirsty"
'.Lots-of it. One OF you hold the
horses while t'other one goes with me
to the spring house, and we'll fetch
up the Jug and gourd.
'I'll hold 'em," said Bob dreamily.
ALT and Sarey turned away along the
path which led around the house, and
were lost to view. Bob stood between
the heads OF the horses with his chin
against his breast. He was thinking
of the treachery Of Tom Drake. and of
| the jewel he had lost in the love of
Sarey Mauldin.
/ For once Bob allowed himself to re-
lax bis watchfulness. About thirty
yards beyond the house the road bent
suddenly to the right, and turned
abruptly down the hill toward little
stream that wound its way along the
base of the ridge. Bob's ear, usually
sensitive to the slightest sound, did
not hear the approach of hoof beats up
the little hill behind the shrubbery
until the horseman had reached the
bend in the road. Bob's hand few to
his revolver as he looked up; but he
! was too late. he was under cover of .
weapon in the hands of Tom Drake.
81 guess you are mine," said Tom,
as he rode up.
eyes; like fool / went to sleep
and got ketched. What's wanted?"
'You air gwine with me to Wal
halla jail"
''rom, you air measly, low down
sneak"
'No, I've just now got to be gen.
tleman, and Pm a gwine to make gen.
tlemen out'n all you fellers.'
/ "Alf and Sarey will be here directly
with some cider, then I'll go with
| you"
/ "Bob. you'd better let me have that
weap'n."
| .'I'll never do it, Tom Drake!"
"Well. keep it, then; ! guess / can
watch you.
At this moment ALI and Sarey came
around the house. ALI bringing
q large Jug in his hand. The young
mans quick eye took in the situation
of the two men in the road, and in the
twinkling Of an eye his revolver
flashed to dead level with the in
formers breast.
/ ''Hold on minute, Alf!" shouted
Bob. ''l'm fairly took, and I guess
| I'd better go with him."
I ALT quickly looked into the eyes OF
his cousin, and the two men seemed
to understand each other.
s'Pass the cider over here, Sarey,
and I'll drink you a farewell for a
WHILE" said Bob, smiling.
i Sarey passed the cider in silence,
never once looking at Tom, who took
the gourd offered him by Tom and
drank.
1'Now I'm ready. Good-by, ALL
Good-by, Sareyl'' said Bob, as he
mounted his horse. Tom mounted,
and the two men, captive and daptor,
rode away in the soft light of the lin.
gering sunset. When they reached the
| Al. 1p /,