The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-20
q SAREY "
BY CHARLES SLOAN REID.

IL was q dark night That scttted uoWn IL
over the mountains Of upper South
Carolina. The sky was heavy Win
black clouds, and the low muttertngs
Of thunder which seemed to Issue from
the ravines and gorges, and the zlRzag
flashes Of lightning which darted away
from the hill tops, all foretold the com
ing storm.
Down over tho rocks and among tho
shrubs Il young >hountaineer was max
ing his way. He seemed to know his
ground, and moved onward with un-
hesitating step until he reached q
point overlooking ~ deep, wild gorge,
where far down through the darkness,
shone the faint glow Of Il light. The
young woodsman stopped Il moment,
then muttered
Hes thar already. pears to me
that fire makes too much light, though.
Wonder what Bobs Il gwine to say
when T tell aim This is about the
safest pocket in the hull ridge, and now
l guess woll have to move"
Lie turned away and passed around
to the side OF the gorge, where he
made his way down by steep, cir
cuitous path to the bed Of tho lavine
below. When he came within the
glow Of the light, he entered the door
way OF small log house built up from
the ground. In one end of the place
"
largo copper keltle with a cap and
stem. A fire was burning under the
kettle, and near the furnace, seated
upon a rough bench, was a young man
with light reddish hair, sandy mus
tachc, and blue eyes. His trousers
were stuffed down into his boot logs,
and by his side on the bench lay a large,
wide brimmcd white hat, the brlm
turned up in front and pinned to the
!, Inl
about his waist were two shining re-
volvers. The young man who entered
the place was dressed and aCcoutered
very much like the young man On the
bench, and In his fLcc was a blood re-
semblancc, for they were cousins-Bob
and All II Inkin.
ALI entered though the doorway of
the cabin and crossed the earthen floor
to the furnace. where he stirred and
blockade distillery owned by the two
cousins and operated by them, with
the assistance of Tom Drake, who
worked on Il profit sharing basis.
Along one side of the shanty was IL
high platform on which rested two
larg G watts. These were the mash tubs,
and entering through the end of the
house was a little trough which sup
piled the cool wSter barrel, in which
waters OF a bright little stream near
by.
When All had chunkcd the fire,
he sat down by the other man on the
bench. After Il little pause, Bob
asked:
Whore is Tom ?"
What dye reckon ?" answered Alf
About Tom? Dunno"
Well you moughtn't think it, Bob;
hut hn'I 4 h.,,
You uon't mean to tell :"
Yes, but | do though. Ho went
down to Walhalla to-day to take the
oath and he's promised to gin us all
away"
After long pause, during which
Bob sat with his chin in his hands, he
spoke.
did"
"No moro did + but hits fact for
Sarey told me no morc'n hour ago."
Sarey told you herself? -
Yes, oand she's powerful cut up
about it,"
We've worked together right here,
Tom and me, for nigh on to seven
year, and never had airy shootin' on
cuttin' scrape atwcen us-not airy one.
AT, don't hardly believe it,"
Bob shook his head slowly and
dropped his chin into bis hands again.
WeIl," said All, II guoss youIi
have.to arter a wnic. ! seed rcy
jest about IL hour ago. and she Told me
all about it; and, Bob. she actually
shed tears, she was SO cut up, shc
was"
what did she say, Alf?"
"She said as how Tom had j;ned the
revenuers, and turned agin us and as
how we'd .lll better keep o sharp look
out, b'case Tom kpows every smoke or
the ridge"
Poor Sarcy," said Bob, half to him
self. "She s0t sich IL powerful sight
by Tom, and she was q ewire to marry
him this fall. And | loved her enough
more'n Tom did; but | seed she loved
him, so | didn't try to come atween
'er.-didn't ever try to. And now he's
gone and disgraced hisself, and maybe
broke Sarey's heart. Alf, we'll meet,
him and me, and faint q gwine to be
long off. And when we do, Alf well
it's him or me, him or me. that's all )"
and the young blockader tapped one of
the rcvolvers in his belt Significantly
Ct loved Sarcy; and Tom we'll, I'd
hate to 60 it, Alt; but it's him or me;
thar amt no other way, as [ can see."
Bob arose and "chunked " tho fire
under the kettle, then walked around
to the siAe of the furnace, where
little white stream OF spirits was pour
ing from the end Of the prOtruding
"worm into q long kcg.
How Is it?s' asked All.
"Good enough; that mash wilt turn
out all right" said Bob, returning and
seating himself on the bench, where
he again dropped his chin into his
hands, and lapscd into silence.
The rain began to pour down with a
sudden fury, the low board roof giving
back d melancholy sound to the pattc"
of the big drops. The thunder and
lightning had ceased, and the blacke st
darkness reigncd without. But the
weird shadows which danced around
tho walls in the freight were old
acquaintanccs Of the two men inside,
who took no notice Of their grotesque