The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-24
SHE SAVED HIM.

the daughter of an extensive moonshiner.
He first appeared in that vicinity at
Gutse's tavern, representing himself as
Joe Belden, salesman for a Pittsburg pa
per bag mandatory. He cleverly worked
his way into the good graces of the noun
taineers and captured a large number Of
Illicit distilleries.
After that his superiors deemed it best
for his safety to send him to other noun
famous counties. Late one afternoon he
started on foot from Herriok's to go over
the mountain to Smithyille, where he was
temporarily boarding. He pursued his
way unsuspectingly until well up the
slope, when he noticed that tho hooting of
a supposed owl behind him sounded near
er and nearer from time to time
Tho hooting was answered from the
other side of the mountains. 1t plainly
told Belden that there also was murder
Gus enemy concealed along the road down
which he was travelling Quickly he con-
Cealed himself in a c1ump of bushes and
silently watched for the appearance of his
pursuer After five minutes wait the evil
eyed human bird of prey appeared around
q bend in the road up which Joe had so
lately come. The fellow was a tall, un-
calmly, elderly man, whose forbidding face
was covered with a growth of stubby
beard. In his hand was a rifle and he
lodged behind rocks and convenient trees
in manner that denoted his mission was
one of no good.
As soon as the Desperate disappeared
down the road Joe climbed a henlock tree
and found cOncealment i'll it's branches,
which overhung the narrow road. He left
the tree and in the darkness of gathering
night went to S1nithyille. There he reoog-
nized as visitors to the barroom the two
men who were but a few hours before
plotting to take his life on the mountain.
He concluded that they came to learn in
which direction he would go the next day.
Joe Bell was quick witted fellow and
speedily arranged a plan of action. He
became acquainted with Jack Reed and
Bill Townsend, his would be assassins, led
the conversation to coon hunting, and
with every appearance of qualification and
anticipated pleasure accepted an invitation
to accompany both the next night in a
hunt on Sassafras hill.
The next morning at daybreak he took
a stage for g a short ride to the next vii
lage, and at nightfan he was 40 miles
away. Three nights later two stills were
raided near Smithville, and jack Reed
and Bill Townsend were among tho lBoon-
sinners captured. He was then assigned
to the district that included Parkersburg,
where for a time he made his headquar-
tiers. AIasquerading as a laborer in search
of employment, he secured at Sedgley, IL
miles back in the mountains, a position
as teamster with a man suspected of
moonshining
The teamster before a week had passed
learned that his employer was ono of q
regularly organized band Of mOonshiDers
whose mem bers operated seven Illicit dis
tiIleries concealed in the mountains He
promptly ingratiated himself into the con-
fidence of old Jerry Tucker, the most in
huential moonshiner of the gang, and ul-
tilnately visited each wildcat still. 10 an
ticipated soon making arrests and confs-
cations whom something unanticipated
happened.
One afternoon, when returning with
his mule team from hauling a load of logs
to the mill, Bell overlook pretty Jennie
Tucker, daughter of Jerry, who had ap-
parently been down the slope to the store,
for she carried couple of parcels. Bell
undesignedly asked her to put the packages
on the wagon and said he would convey
them home for her. As she did so, with
thanks, tiny note was slipped into his
hand while the girl in a loud, cheerful
voice exclaimed: mo, thank ye, don't
care to ride. Don't wait for me-"
AS soon as he returned he read this star
thing yet timely message:
They know now who you are and mean
no good. Leave at once, before night.
You have been followed for two days
Bell quickly got his revolver from its
hiding place under some hay, put on his
coat and coolIy walked back to the porch
of the Tucker cabin. Picking up an empty
pail, he told Mrs. Tucker that he would
bring some good water and walked away
toward fine spring in the timber down
the slope. When he arrived there, he did
not pause, but throwing the pail into the
brush struck off at a lively pace across the
mountain for his life.
Just at dark he reached the road lead
ing to White House and walked it all
night in the moonlight. An hour after
daylight he arrived at Braxton Station.
where he subsequently tagged and board
4Io fv-flI in
Wheeling. The next day he headed a posse
and proceeded back to Sedgley, where IN
der cover of the darkness the seven wild
cat stills were raided that night, though
not a single moonshiner could be found
Fourteen arrests were made the next day,
but not one leader of the gang of moon
sinners was taken.
Joe and his men called at the Tucker
cabin and found no one at home save the
old mulatto cook. The officers, with their
prisoners, proceeded, after destroying the
confscated distiIling machinery, back TO
the capital where in early trial the
apprehended mOonshiners were all con-
victed and fined or imprisoned.
month later Bell was surprised to
learn that Jennie Tucker was attending a
young ladies' seminary in Wheeling. He
sought her out was gladly received and
soon became a frequent visitor to the
young lady. Long afterward he learned
that he was first suspected by the Sedgley
moonshiners when they found that he was
sending cipher kilograms from Parkers-
burg. Jennie had heard them plotting TO
take his life on the evening before he re-
ceived her timely warning. Had he ig-
nored the contents of that little note be
would not now be called father" by three
dashing young ladies who look amazingly
like pretty Jennie Tucker.-Exchange
Comparative Success In Life.