The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-11-16
BESS.
THE MooNsAINR RS WHIP.

u6y OacK OF b Bishops head fell,
shIvered, to thefoor.
Every head in the school house was
lowered in devotion or terror. After
a moments pause, and while the peo-
pie still kept their lowIy posture, the
bishop walked slowly down between
the kneellng rows to the door. The
moonlight flooded everything as he
stepped out on the small porch
Pardon, parson," said a voice at
his right hand. I'VE didn't caIkerlate
to break up the meesin'; only jest to
keep EN- still awhile"
The speaker was tall. powerful man
with q white cloth over his face. There
seemed to be q dozen other forms on
horseback in the shadow OF the trees,
at the left of the schoolhouse.
"Now, Parson, if you'll jest step in
and request that young chap that's
been hangin' round this town fer a
week, to come out, yer ear proceed
with yer meetin'."
"What do you want with hint"
Now, Parson, that's entirely out Of
yer line. Here, Jim, send a bullet
through that nigh winder, high tho,
mind ye. I think the meetin's gittin'
restless. Now Parson, yer responsible.
ity stops when yer hand him ver to
me. He's sent here a spying, and
some things can't be stood. He amt
found out much yet, but it's time he
left town, and we jest want to assist
him out"
The pale young man whom the Bishop
had noticed at the hotel, where he had
seemed i'll at ease, was, evidently, the
object of the man'si ire, and the Bishop,
knowing full we'll his own power of
persuasion, felt safe in saying: IF
that's all you want, I promise you that
he shall leave town with me to NOR
row."
1--WE amt general deputiz;n' our
work, to parsons" said the man grimly,
''but we amt anxious to hurt the young
chap, if he makes himself scarce, so if
yerTl give me yer word on it, to keep
mum TO all the rest and take the young
fellow along with you, why we'll ride
on. But mind ye, theren be many an
eye on that coach tomorrow, and if he
amt in it, thar's rope plenty" and he
glanced towards the trees significantly.
HE shall go" said the Bishop.
"All right; keep your meetin' in for
ten minutes, parson."
The Bishop had promised, but he
had ''reckoned without his host" It
was midnight when he found himself
back in his room, vRnquished. The
youth seemed a pleasant, shy fellow,
but when the Bishop had related all
that had occurred, and urged him to
leave town, he had suddenly said:
81 cannot Co."
"But, my dear boy" urged the Bieh-
op, youth surely be hanged"
Still / must stay"
Are you looking ror works 1 can
get you something to do. These men
are desperate, and now that they think
you a spy you will nsver get work here,
even i SOu save your lie
II am not looking for work"
Are you a spy, thenQ'
81 am not, but l came here for a GER
tain purpose, and though l thank you
very much, Bishop, I must refuse to
go"
Expostulations and urgings we're of
no avail, and when the daily stage
drove away the next noon it carried
neither the B shop nor the young man,
Many and varied had been the
Bishops experiences in the wild noun
famous region, but this seemed to come
very near his heart. He could not
leave the young man to the fate that
surely was awaing him.
Perplexed as to what he should do,
not daring to tell the men at the hotel
of the affair, as many of the people OF
the mountain towns were not only
friendly to the unla wful distillers, but
of their kith and kin, the Bishop, late in
the afternoon, walked down the lonely
little street. Almost before he realized
how far he had gone, he found himself
in a small wood, face to face with his
ouestioner OF the night before.
"Well, Parson, yer contracts broke,
and the jig's up. I'm sorry to trouble
you, but yern not be hurt, though I'll
have to ask yer to come along with
me. 1t wouldn't do to let you in town
to. might, there're be trouble enough
without a parson to help 'em on" And
to his chagrin the Bishop saw an ugly
looking pistol in the mans hand, and