Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-03-27

turned traitor and Joined the revenue
force against his old comrades. Dur.
ing the whole OF the second night Of
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.
1t 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 q word for oome
time. At length Bob broke the 81.
lence, speaking without turning his
eyes from direction straight ahead
Of him.
calf, you air the man."
"I'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 was?"
"Yes, and she was cryin' about
the disgraceful doin's O. Tom and
and, Alf, l axed her il 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. Alf, and I want to know if
you love her."
II alters have, Bob; but stood
back for Tom; and arter 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 cresta 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, shelling beans; but she arose
and came out to the road when the
two men had dismounted.
"Tom's been seed a foolin' around
Long Greek to-day" said Sarey, "and
I meant to send you uns word afore
now, bat pap's been ailin' all day, and
couldn't leave him."
"We amt much afeared of him,
said ALI. "He's been keepin' quiet
o sight longer'n I '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 ciderP"
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, 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 a
weapon in the hands of Tom Drake.
81 guess you are mine," said Tom,
as he rode up.
"Yes; like fool I went to sleep
and got ketched. What's wanted?"
"You air gwine with me to Wal
halla jail"
"Tom, you air a measly, low down
sneak"
"No, I've just now got to be a gen.
tleman, and I'm 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."
''l'll never do it, Tom Drake!"
"Well. keep it. then; I guess l can
watch you"
At this moment ALI and sarey came
around the house, ALI bringing
a 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 q dead level with the in.
formers breast.
"Hold on q minute, Alf" shouted
Bob. "I'm fairly took, and gues:
I'd better go with him."
ALI quickly looked into the eyes Of
his cousin, and the two men seemed
to understand each other.
"Pass the cider over here, Sarey.
and I'll drink you farewell for g
while," said Bob, smiling.
Sarey passed the cider in silence,
never once looking at Tom, who tool
the gourd offered him by Tom and
drank.
"Now I'm ready. Good-by, ALI
Good-by. Sarey u" said Bob, as he
mounted his horse. Tom mounted
and the two men, captive and captor
rode away in the soft light of the lin
gering sunset. When they reached tht
turn in tho road Bob looked back ant
lifted his broad. brimmed hat to All
and Sarey. who were standing side by
side gazing after him. Then they
faded from view, and the two horse
men rode on in silence. They were
approaching the brook ut the foot o
the hill, when Bob spoke.
"Tom, I never would take no mean
advantage Of feller; SO I'll tell You
now, hits you or me. Pull your gun |!
Instantly two revolvers leaped to g
level in the gathering light. and foul
shots passed with what seemed lik'
two Simultaneous reports.
A1f haord than and waanon In