The Van Buren press., 1897-08-21

| soon took on al entirely different ap-
pearanee. The long hours of the Sab
bath hung idly on the mems hands.
Teasing Meg, and listening to Old
Daniels prosings about his leetle
GAL soon became tiresome. Some of
the choppers (as goddess crowd as
ever got together) began TO wander
! from their cabins in the timber, and
they brought cards. Before many
weeks they brought something else,
and then the little junction became the
scene of orgies such as poor little Meg
had never dreamed of before.
Years before Old Daniel had used far
more liquor than was good for him.
and he was less able now to Withstand
temptation than he had been IN his
Younger manhood. Fer the first time
in her life Meg began TO know what a
real headache meant. The mems teas
| ing and the shame she felt in wearing
mean frocks was nothing to this. Twice
her grandfather had staggered home
mt night so intoxicated that she bad to
help him to bed. The rough fellows
had first piled him with drink, for
lark. lie needed little urging after that
first occasion.
"Gran'daddy," she told him, the Mon
day morning following the old man s
second eseapade, gran daddy, Il the
super or one of the inspectors should
come up the mountain an keteh you
that-a-way, do you know what would
happen?'
"Yes, Meg. I know what would hap
PEN" replied the old man, miserably.
you'd lose your job, that's what
would happen" pursued Meg, severely;
IAN Bill Thomas, an Andy Mcguire,
an them other fellers would lose theirn,
an sarve 'em right" with vicious en-
phasis in this last; "but what'd we do?'
And poor Old Daniel promised never
to touch the stuff when 1t was otssl'ed
him again. But Meg feared for kim
and for herself
Toward the end of that week she
became suspicious. Two of the worst
of the woodmen came over to the iuac-
ton and held long conversation with
Mcguire, the conductor of the tie train,
ard Bill Thomas. When the loaded
flats had gone she overheard one OF
the choppers say to his mate
Jack, did ye hear that? Well have
regular howl Sunday. Andy prom
ised ter bring up some of tn rale stuff. "
II card 'im," said the other. NO
more o. this blue lightnin' tn peddler
brings us. I'm sick of it"
"Oh, dear" thought Meg. sitting on
a heap of ties outside the cabin, what
ever shall | do? l know gran daddy
IL get the nasty stuff again-sare!
They amt no business to bring rum up
here, an III just tell EN- So
But she knew il would be a waste of
words to take Mcguire and his crew
to task. and before Sunday morning she
had formed another and more daring
plan.
The long train of empty flats, with
the eaboose on the end, was shunted
on to the branch road about ten o'clock
that forenoon. The brakes were set
at either end, and the crew left the
train and walked up the track. Meg
knew where they were going. They
were going to meet their friends from
the camp.
"Now's my chance" thought the
child, and she darted into the caboose
which Mcguire had left unlocked. III
he's brought rum, I'm going to smash
the Jug" she muttered, setting heI
white teeth hard. But no jug, OF
other receptacle which might contair
the liquid poison, was in sight.
ITS in the locker" she thought
But that was locked However, Mes
determined to get at the stuff She
caught down an AK from the wall, anc
quickly sprung the lid of the chest
Sure enough, straw-covered jug anc
a dozen bottles met her gaze! Withou
a moment of hesitancy the girl carried
the jug outside and returned for the
case of bottles. As she approached the
door of the caboose with her burden
she heard voices. The men were re
turning. She reached the platform
with bound. The train men, with q
crowd of dozen or more choppers
were at hand.
Bring it out, Andy!" cried Bill
Thomas, who evidently had already
sampled the contents of the locker
Boys, it'll be a treat for you"
At that moment they caught sight OF
the girl.
Hey what you doin' up there
Bricktop?" demanded Mcguire, hurry
ing forward. Then he saw the jug
sitting between the rails and the case
of bottles in the girls hands, He
sprang forward with an oath.
Drop that" he yelled, as he sprang
up the steps,
II have" she told him, calmly, anc
sent the bottles crashing down upor
the jug.
"You little spitfire!" he shouted seiz
ing her by the shoulders, while tn,
others stood aghast. What have yol
been doin'?"
I've just split yer fun for ye to
day, Mr.. Andy Maguire!" she replied
with satisfaction. Every one of EN-,
busted, an I'm glad of it. So now yol
can let go of my arm-you hurt"
"lll hurt you worse than this.'
growled the angry man, pitching her
off the steps.
He ran back into the caboose and saw
what she had done.
you little wretehi" he exclaimed
from the car platform. You'll rue
this. Boys, she's split every drop"
A groan rose from the thirsty men.