The times., 1899-01-08
The Secret Of the Still,

pretty things Seems S if the boys don't
have any money left after buyin' the sugar,
an -four. an molasses. an things
Meat, l spose," said the practical ped
dler.
No: we raise our own meat. Pa has a
powerful lot o hogs
But l expect you don't take much inter-
est in country life. Mr. Pond?"
Why, my dear''-and MIR. Pond slipped
his arm around Eliza-"I'd like the best in
the world 10 settle down in country just
like this. a fellow gets tired trampin'
around. But I'd want two things TO make
me happy
Eliza looked at him with happy conf
dence.
First. little wife at was gentle in her
ways, and a good. religious girl, an one
with black hair TO set off the pink ribbins
I'd buy for her, an fleet foot an red
mouth"
Here Mr.. Pond came to full stop with a
kiss.
And the other thing" with bright
blush.
The peddler grew practical again. We'll,
it's nothin' more n some way to make
livin'. Now. say l married n sweet girl
up the Cumberland. and made little crop
It's too far to git it to market. l might
/ turn it into whisky, but lately Comments
turned meddler, an is a breakin' stills
, right an left through the country"
They do hide 'em sometimes" said
Eliza, in half whisper, so t a blood
hound could hardly scent 'em. An very
good business it is. an the hogs live on the
, mash.
DO you know of any such stills, my lit
tie darlin'?'
But she drew back little. EFF I do
know OF any" she said, I've promised
not to tell of en-
Not to the man as is goin' to be your
husband"
Not to him until he is my husband"
And, blushing but resolute. Eliza filled
her pail and started for the house.
Under the water Janay ciinched her
| hands. "Dick was right" she thought;
and l see his game. He's a spy, and
Eliza's a fool"
She knew that she had heard enough to
justify her lover in his suspicions-enough
to put them all on their guard. a pas
sionate exultaticn fred her blood as she
thought of the service she should render
Dick Oscar, his praise, the reward OF his
rude kisses.
But. alas for Janey, Something had
ruffied her sweetheart temper when they
next met. Before she could approach the
subject of which she was full. stinging
words had passed between them.
Dick" said Janey. hoarsely, dye
mean that you're going back from your
word-that you amt a-goin' to marry
me?''
Marry hell" said Mr.. Oscar, and he
walked OH.
Il want to speak TO you" said Janey that
night to the peddler. Can you git up in
tn mornin' befo tn folks is stirrin ?''
'Of course 1 can, when it's TO meet a gal
like you
Privately ne wondered at her pallor and
lurid eyes.
Morning came As the stars were
dTowsily getting out of the suns way
Janey and the peddler met by the spring.
You needn't lie 10 me, said she, harsh
l.. I've found You out. You're up the
Cumberland spyin' for wildcat stills. I'll
take you to one
But, my dear. is this a trap? I'm
nothin but 4 poor, harmless peddler."
Come, then, my harmless peddler." said
the girl, with a sneer. AN I'll show you
somethin' [ make your mouth water
She struck through the woods and he
followed. alternately blessing and wonder
ing NJ his luck. What thread led her he
knew not. Fallen logs lay in the way.
thickets opposed. dense foliage hid all
signs of paths, but on she went, above,
around, amidst, athwart obstacles Of every
h4uu-r anu IIdiik. ElTlleG ana Dy
trees and rocks, there was the hidden still,
where the corn was changed into the flow
ing moOnshine that maketh glad me heart
OF man.
The peddler could hardly keep back
shout. He had won his spuIs. It was
/ much larger concern than he had expected.
Some hogs were roofing about the sod3en
earth. The monotOnous dripping Of water
mingled with the grunts Of these poetic
| animals
Janey leaned against a rock, breathing
| heavily. The peddler thought he would
about as soon touch wildcat as speak TO
| her. Nevertheless he did.
"B'long to your folks?'' he said.
ct b'long 10 Dick Oscar an you know
it, said the girl Gercely. Now, I'm going
back home"
You don't know of any more such,
said the ipsatiate peddler, lynn round
loose up here
I've done enough An. look here, keep
yo' tongue between yo' teeth. Tell that
fetched you here an you wont see many
more sunups with them spyin' eyes,
| Mr.. Pond was tolerable woodsman, and
he led Captain Peters and his scouts to
the mountain sill without trouble They
were all there-the Bleylock boys, the ia
ther and young Oscar. They were hard at
work, and, surprised, were handcufed
without the firing of u gun.
VINO so crestfallen as the toiling moil-
| ing moonshiners? Who so jubilant as the
| long -whiskered captain lie would have
| sung paean had he known how. AS it
| was, he chewed great deal of tobacco
! and unbuuoned his flannel shirt for ex-
| pansion.
! The prisoners were halted at the Bley-
| lock cabin for baggage and goodbys. They
were to go TO the penitentiary.
Mrs. Bleylock and Liza wept and moan
| ed their fate: but Janey was still, her
brown lids yelling the dull fire OF her
eyes.
"Janey, my girl" said Oscar. drawing
| her apart, Il spoke up rough to you t'other
day. But don't you mind it. 'Twarn't
nothin' but JEALOUSY
Her eyes softened. Mountain pinks as
we'll as some fine women, consider jeal-
ousy as a tribute 10 their charms
Perhaps III never come back" said he
She seized him by the arm
Dick, what can they do L you?"
Dunno, Nest likely I'll kill somebody
| tryin' 10 get away and be strung
.Ianey burst into tears.
| Shouldn't wonder I you married one o.
| the Jareds. he said. piling on the gloom.
Dick Oscar, l promised to marry you,
! an don't go back from my word"
No, an | don't cried Dick There
amt as pretty shaped girl as you on the
! Cumberland; an if ever do Kit back
| He whispered the rest in Janeys ear.
! and She clung TO him, blushing a deep
/ deep rose.
$ jest one thing ! want to know"
! said old Beylock as.thry tramDef In Nash