The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-05-26

~ "a The sky wa
Mzs - heavy with black
81 H-:S clouds, and the
-I w low mutterings
- N ssssa OF thunder which
(-S seemed to issue
from the rayines and gorges, and the
zigzag flashes of lightning which
darted away from the hill tops, all
foretold the coming storm.
Down over the rocks and among
the shrubs young mountaineer was
making his way. He seemed to know
his ground, and moved onward with
unhesitating step until he reached a
point overlooking deep,w lid, gorge,
where, far down through the darkness,
shone the faint glow of light. The
young woodsman stopped q moment,
then muttered:
"He's thar already. Pears to me
that fire makes too much light, though.
Wonder what Bob's gwine to say
when tell him! This is about the
safest pocket in the hull ridge, and
now guess we'll have to move"
He turned away and passed around
to the side of the gorge, where he
made his way down by circuitous
path to the bed of the rav,ne below.
When he came within the glow of the
light, he entered the doorway OF a
small log house built up from the
ground. In one end of the place was
q rock furnace, and on it was large
copper kettle with cap and stem. A
fire was burning under the kettle, and
near the furnace, seated upon rough
bench, was young man with light
reddish hair, sandy mustache, and
blue eyes. His trousers were stuffed
down into his boot legs, and by his
side on the bench lay large, wide
brimmed white hat, the brim turned
up in front and pinned to the crown
with large thorn. In belt about
his waist were two shining revolvers.
The young man who entered the place
was dressed and accoutered very much
like the young man on the bench, and
in his face was blood resemblance,
for they we're cousins-Bob and ALI
Rankin.
ALT entered through the doorway OF
tho cabin and crossed the earthen
floor to the furnace, where he stirred
and replenished the fire. The place
was q blockade distillery owned by the
two cousins, and operated by them,
with the assistance OF Tom Drake, who
worked on profit sharing basis.
Along one side of the shanty was a
high platform on which rested two
large watts. These were the mash tubs,
and entering through the end of the
house was little trough which sup
piled the cool water barrel, in which
the worn" was coiled, with the
waters of bright little stream near
by.
When ALI had "chunked" the fire,
he sat down by the other man on the
bench. After little pause, Bob
asked:
"Where is Tom?"
"What dye reckon?" answered ALI.
"About Tom? Dunno"
"Well, you moughtn't think it.
Bob; but he's jined the revenuers."
"You don't mean to tell"
eyes, but l do, though. He 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.
calf, I never 'spected it, FEVER
did,"
"No more did / but hits fact,
for Sarey told me no more'n a hour
ago."
"Sarey told you herself?"
"Yes, and 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' or
cuttin' scrape atween us--not airy
one. ALT, l don't hardly believe it. -
Bob shook his head slowly and
dropped his chin into his hands again.
"Well," said ALI, 81 guess you'll
have to AFTER while. l seed Sarey
jest about hour ago, and she told me
all about it; and, Bob, she actually
she'd tears, she was SO cut up, she was. .
"What did she say, Alp"
"She said as how Tom had jined the
revenuers, and turned agin us; and as
how we'd all better keep D sharp look
out. b'case Tom knows every smoke
on the ridge
"Poor Sarey, " said Bob, half to him
self. "She sot SIGH a powerful sight
by Tom. and she was gwine to mar
ny him this fall. And I loved her
enough more'n Tom did; but seed
she loved him, so | didn't try to come
'atween 'em-didn't lever try to. And
now he's gone and disgraced hisself,
and maybe broke Sarey's heart. ALT,
we'll meet, him and me, aud faint a
gwine to be long of. And when we
do, Alf-well, it's him or me, him or
me, that's all;" and the young block
ader tapped one of the revolvers in
his beltsignifcantly. "Iloved Sarey ;
and Tom-well, I'd hate tc do it, Alf /;
but it's him or me; thar amt no other
way. as | can see.
Bob arose and 'tchunked" the fire
under the kettle. then walked around to
the side Of the furnace, where little
white stream OF spirits was pouring
from the end of the protudlng "worm"
into long key.
' ow Is it?' asked ALI.
"Gnoa enough; that mash will turn