The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-05-04
che Burning u Dixon'$.

DIXON must have informed on them,
IL The egovernmentd detective could new
er have found their well-hidden center of
operations without the aid of one in the
secret Of the mountain paths and the
cave so cunningly hidden away. They
had always distrusted Dixon. He was
not mountaineer born, but had come
among them several years before, had
married mountain girl and entered
into the moonshining industry with a
zeal that should have left nothing to be
desired. But in spite of all this the
traces of suspicion still lurked about
him, and more than one of the distillers
denounced in strong terms the i'm
pulse that had prompted them to let
him into their confidence.
Now their worst fears had been real
lied. The still had been raided, the
men caught at work were taken away
prisoners, and the fortunate few who
were elsewhere at the time of the raid
were left to stare blankly at the ruins,
and then to look into each others eyes
and swear vengeance on the informer.
The punishment was decided upon in
stantly, without minutes hesitation
or dissenting voice; the only thing
that remained for them to do was the
drawing of the lots TO decide who
should apply the torch to the little ca b.
in where Dixon and his family were
sleeping soundly, all unconscious of
the awful fate that every moment
brought nearer.
AS they stepped forward one by one
todraw lots, the character and thoughts
of each might almost be read in his
face and action. One might well shrink
from the pitiless sternness that showed
in the faces of the ma ajority. Here and
there was one who looked relieved
when he found that he had drawn a
blank, and that the job had not fallen to
his share.
At length someone said: Now, Haw-
kins, it's your turn. Take your pull"
And in obedience to the summons a
tall, shambling figure rose from the
darkness of the outer circle.
AS he stretched out his long, bony
hand to take his turn fit of coughing
seized him and when it passed it left
him trembling with weakness. He
drew the lot quickly, as if fearful that
he would lose his turn and sank weakly
down on an upturned keg, without look
ing at his draw.
Lets see it, Hawkins" said several
OF the men, and he opened his hand me-
chanically. On the upturned palm lay
q black bean. He had drawn the lot.
II say, Hawkins, you trade with me.
the men, looking down with rough pity
at the shrunken figure. But Hawkins
closed his fingers over the bean with
fierce gesture and a smoldering fire
crept into his eyes. He rose slowly to
his feet and said with firmness and
steadiness of tone that surprised the
others:
II will do it myself. I hope am man
enough to not play the sneak" and
then he walked out of the cave.
Out on the mountain side Hawkins
wandered aimlessly until he stumbled
and fell from weakness and exhaustion.
He lay passive where he had fallen and
then there began struggle that he
had been vainly trying to ward off by
action-a struggle of which none ever
knew save the silent stars and the all
seeing One above and beyond them.
As he lay there scenes from the past
came drifting across his memory-of
the time when he was young and strong
and happy, while pretty Jennie Watson
was true to him. Then Dixon came,
With his handsome face and fine man
1ers, and won her away from him. In
iess than year they were married and
Hawkins-well, he had grown careless
and justice had found him out. Now
had come the chance for revenge on
them beth-a revenge that would in
volve their helpless children as well rs
themselves.
He rose stifly, like one In q dream,
and went by the shortest and most di.
rect cut down the mountain side to the
little settlement in the sheltered valley.
Swiftly and slillfully he did his work.
A. he watched the tiny tongue of Aame
thaA had crept up the hesp Of kindlings
he had prspared, he thought Of the Asgy
b9TieS that would soon cut his enemy
% fson ssesps With . Asres exuita&isa.