The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-29

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shown n bia room. "A the niaht was ret
ting iate.
The next morning Jonathan went out
early and returned aeon after with some of
his neiahbor friends Smith was M on
Jonathan's return. and the men all held
short conference together. which seemed to
proye satisfaotory ali around. The result
was that the stranger, Arthur Smith, had
Joined the band of illicit distillers carrying
on their calling in the mountains For
the present Smith put M at the house Of
Jonathan, and in the evening, before dark
ness approached, went to the latter's still,
located at an old mill on the bank of a
rushing torrent some distance up tho
mountain, which in DAYS gone by had been
used to grind their corn, which they pur-
chased from the farmers on the lowlands
below.
Reports had reached the mountaineers
that strangers had been seen In tho village
at the foot OF the mountains, and the secret
stills were rarely in operation of late.
Smith, the stranger, owing TO the late turn
in affairs, had plenty Of spare time on his
hands and would wander of alone up the
mountain road and turn of into the dense
underground to be gone hours at time.
He was particularly reticent man, never
ventured a question, and answered those
put to him in the most laconic way imag-
Unable. Once in awhile, when the others
were not looking, his gaze would be riyeted
on Alice, and Mrs. jackson would shrewd-
ly smile to herself and declare inaudibly
that the girl had made conquest. :.
Ono evening as darkness was coming
on Alice returned from tho house of Mrs.
Pearl, where she had paid a short visit,
and coming suddenly around q bend in the
road she observed two mon in earnest con-
yersation. Ono was Arthur Smith, the
other a stranger Only for moment did
tn, two mon seem to converse, and soon
the newcomer had disappeared. When
Smith reached Jonathan's house, it was
but shortly after Alice arrived,
Lately the mountain stills had been
operated moro frequently than for some
time, The reports Of the revenue officers
infesting tho mountains had become less
frequent, and the stills were being operat-
ed with greater degree of security. II
I'VE had better be getting up the noun
tain, lad, :" Jonathan said one evening in
December Supper had been prepared
earlier than usual, for Jonathan's still
was TO be worked in the growing dusk,
am follow you in half an hour Feel
rather badly today, but believe I'll be all
right In a short while" Smith answered
indifferently
Every we'll, Smith. I'll cxpect YOU"
And Jonathan departed,
Probably some go minutes had ELAPSED
when Smith left the house and leisurely
made his way toward tho secret still Alice
watched the stranger CLOSELY. and when
Smith had disappeared she threw a shawl
over her head-thcre was an unpleasant
chillipess in the mountain air-and follow
ing in his wake.
The old mill which concealed the still
was some tbree.ouarters of n mile from
:Jonathnn's bousa and ne Alice nrocaede,I
ON her way she occasionally caught n
alimuse of tho forms of strange men in the
dense underground going evidently in the
same direction with herself Once n
strange man GLANCED Mt her susniciouslv.
hut did not molest her He was armed
with shotgun. and took her nrobablv for
some one who was returning from n visit
Ia n neipbborinp mountaineer,s home
Sonn tho oiri reached tho old mill In
tbe evening TWILIGHT tho diving sun was
fost disopnearinp behind the mountains.
leaving n faint clare in its wake. which lit
mn the SCENE with n soft golden LIGHT
Smith tho stranger. was standing motion
less in front of The mill, pceripg anxiously
now md then info the daneo nnderorowtb
on both sides of the STREAM which in mat
davs Ind Furnished the native mower for
the now useless wheel Alice jackson
watched Smith intontly for moment and
then approached him and laid her hand
pontly on his shoulder.
"Ike why do Won hound nv father like
thispn smoke the Girl softly
Smith eazed Mt his ouestjoner IN n star.
tied way for n moment and then with an
effort recovered his usual air of stolid In.
difference.
lyon know mo- Alice. 7 had boped
time had wrought such change liz nv
nature and lacks that none ,vo,,ld recogpizo
mo Yam nrobably know why I nm here u
lyon arc n revenue officer and your
presence bore at this moment is to signal
your men. who nre hero on all sides, to
tran NV father and the few men who are
in tho still"
az seq Won know NIL When left vour
fathers house ns did. like n beprar and
nm outcpst / svoro to ruin him, iii sig
nal now to nv men in the woods. in few
minutes will have tho evidence necess,rv
TO send him to the penitentiary, And vet
If Won had only taken my rart all might
have been different" And Ike Hollands
voice grew soft and sod
"How could take your part Ike, OK
cent by going with yor--and Won never
asked mo to do that, u smoke tho uirl feel
inaly.
"And would Won. had I done SOP"
Ike did not need an answer to his oues-
tion In n moment he realized that be
the hunter of Jonathan Jackson, was still
beloved by his daughter In the growing
darkness Of the evening the two strolled
back to .Jonathan's house, and the mon in
tho woods who awoited their leaders, sic.
nal wondered what change had taken
Mace in Ike Hollands plnns Jonathan
also was disanpointed In not seeing Smith