The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-04-14

dried her eyes.
"Sarey." continued Bob, after n
pause, "rom amt with nary 'nuther
thought o. yourn, and 1 wouldn't
waste 'em on i'm. Thar's plenty on
us let yit that's a sight better n
Tom"
III know it; only wish III a
knowed it sooner"
"Sarey, won't you answer me one
question? B'case think a power o.
you, and l want to know"
"Of course I'll answer any question
you az, Bob, b'caseyou've alters been so
good to me, jest like brott er."
"Well, Sarey, tell me which ono OF
the boys you liked the best arter
Tom"
"Why, 1 alters did like Alf jest as
we'll as Tom, but ALT never 'peared to
like me, and Tom did"
Again Bob swallowed 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 distil-
lery. His task completed, he turned
to Snrey, who stood in the doorway.
'Pll walk home with you," he said.
Bob threw some water on the dying
embers of the fire, then 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 go 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
off toward his own home.
In less than twenty-iour 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 af-
we're at work moving their distilleries
to safer retreats, one only remaining
at its old stand-the one that belonged
to the Rankin boys.
II was more than a week after the
night on which Sarey had visited the
still house, when Bob and Alf Rankin
were riding along down the road to-
wards the home OF Ssrey. Neither of
them had uttered a word for some
time. At length Bob broke the 81
lence, speaking without turning his
eyes from direction straight ahead
of him.
"Alf, you air the man."
'1'm the man?"
''Yes, you air the man for Sarey. -
"What do you mean, Bob?"
81 mean that Sarey loves you bet
tern airy 'nuther man on the ridge"
"You don't say? How'd you find
out?"
carter you left the still house that
night, Sarey was thar"
'She WASP"
"Yes, and she was cryin' about
the disgraceful doin's o. Tom and -
and, Alf, l nxed her if thar warn't airy
'nuther feller she liked jest as we'll as
she did Tom; and she lowed she
alters liked you jest as well, but you
never seemed to like her. Now I've
told you, ALI, and 1 want to know if
you love her."
81 alters have, Bob; but I stood
back for Tom; and arter what you
said Z other night, 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 Alf stopped in front of
Old Jerry Mauldin's long. double
cabin. Sarey was 81 ting in the open
hallway, shelling beans; but she arose
and came out to the road when the
two men had dismounted.
"Hom'S been seed foolin' around
Long Greek to-day" said Saroy, "and
l meant to send you uns word afore
now, bat pap's been ailin' all day, and
1 couldn't leave him."
1--WE ant much sfeared of him."
sal | Alf. ''He's been a keepin' quiet
a sight longer'n l 'spected, though" !"
"We've been lookin' for him to
come down on us at the still house
afore now," added Bob.
''Sarey, have you got any cider 2"
asked ALI. "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.
Alf and Sarey turned away along the
path which led around the house, aud
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 NJ; but he
was too late, he was under cover of a
weapon in the hands OF Tom Drake.
- n 'g5aessyoG-iGrSes e., mine" said Tom,
as he rode up. '-- -.--
eyes; like a fool l went 10 sleep
and got ketched. What's wanted?"
''You air gwine with me TO Wal