The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-29
tainly be kept in the buffers pantry or
in some corresponding place.
SECRET OF The STILL.

| from a raid into the moonshine coun-
! ties, stopped at Jared's store and asked
for drink. A jug was taken from
the shelf and a fingers length of clear,
yellow whisky poured out.
No moonshine in this sto', you see,
Captain remarked Mr.. Jared.
"Humph!' and the Captains keen
eyes glanced toward the loungers in and
about the store. Reckon if I took a
notion could unearth some moonshine
an spot some moonshiners not fur off :"
Captain, you mustn't be so suspic-
ious."
Captain Peters only laughed. He was
very good humored. this mountain ter
ror, except when, as they would say,
his blood was up. Then it was as safe
to meet a starving tiger.
Seem to mes if you had somethin
on your mind" remarked Mrs. Peters
that same evening.
"Ye-es.'' said the Captain, I'm
plagued about them Jared boys. 1
can't ketch 'em nohow."
A knock at the door, and young
fellow came in and shook hands eagerly
with the Captain. His name was Mad
dox. Captain Peters had picked him
up in Nashville and employed him "on
| trial.
II was jest a-speakin' of the Jareds, :"
! he said. I'm pretty sure they've got
a still somewhere. They look me- in The
eye too powerful innocent to be all
right Now I've got notion in my
head, if I only had anybody I could
trust" Maddox drew himself up alert,
watchfuE as a listening sentinel. What
! p n ono xx-o hQ an
other said Captain Peters, slowly,
and he and Maddox had a long, whisp-
cred conference.
A few days later a peddler stopped at
Bleylock's and asked for a drink of
water. Old Mother Bleylock sent Eliza
to the spring for fresh bucketful, and
the peddler, after refreshing himself,
opened his pack.
Pear s if We oughtn't ter trouble
you" she said, "'cause We can't buy
pins with.
Jest for the pleasure, ma'am," said
the gallant peddler.
The pack was opened, and three pairs
of eyes grew big with delight.
IF you'll wait till pa comes home
I'll make him buy me that collar"
said Janey the younger of the Bleylock
girls.
"P'raps Dick Oscar'd buy you a pres
ent # he was here suggested Eliza.
IF faint maxim too free, I'd like 10
say I admire Dick Oscars taste" said
the peddler with an admiring glance.
Janey responded with. "Oh, you
hush!" and a toss of her head; and old
Mother Bieylock said, THE boys most
generally always paid Janey a good
deal f attention.
She possessed bold prettiness, this
mountain pink Brown skinned, black
eyed, red Tipped and way of dropping
her head on her swelling neck and look
ing mutiny from under her heavy
brows. Eliza was a thin slip of girl
with demure but vacant look in her
blue eyes, and a shy, nervous manner
'I'L tell you the truth, ma am" re-
marked the peddler to the mother, you
could take these girls o. yourn to Nash
vile, an people in tn streets would
follow them for their good looks An
that's heavens own truth. All yo' fam
ily?"
..Lor' no; I've got three boys"
CAN at home farmin' s'pose?"
''Yaas''
Now, bout these goods o. mine"
said the peddler; IF you could put me
up for few days we might make
trade. I'm S tired s lame horse, and
wouldn't want nuthin' better n to rest
right here
I'D like nothin' better n to take you
But tn amt no use sayin' word ill
pa gifts home. He amt no hand fur
strangers"
We'll I won't be a stranger longer
n can help" said the agreeable ped
Ter. My names Pond-Marcus Pond
Nashville boy; but rollin' stone, you
know. I've peddled books an sewing
machines, an no end of a lot of traps
ginerally. Fond o. travel, you see; but
jest's steady as old Time Never drink
when l travel; promised my mother
wouldn't"
lis good thing" said Mother
Bleylock, with energy. II do despise to
see a fuddled man. Whisky amt fit
fur nuthin' but ter fatten hogs on
Father Bleylock came home, and be-
yond stare and a silent nod took little
notice of the peddler. He was tall
man, thin, taciturn and yellow, and
with a neck so small that his head pre-
sented the appearance of being stuck
vi Will d pm.
He lighted his pipe and after a sooth-
ing interval of smoking, "Peddler'd like
to stop over for PERIOD said his wife.
Puff, puff. Don't see no objection"
Puff, puff
Mr.. Pond, as he had promised, soon
ceased to be a stranger. The old man
d;acoursed on the grievances of taxes,
and the old woman, after the manner of
mothers, talked about her daughters.
My gals is eddicated,'' she would |
say-"been over t. Cookville months an
months a-schoolin' But lor. thar's some
folks you can't weed the badness out'n |
an Janeys a spitfire, she is. Seems
ii Dick Oscar wants to have her, but
he acts kinder curious about it---blow
hot, blow cold. Dunno. Now Lizzy is
different. Can't tell why less'n It's that
1 went to camp meetin an professed a
While befo' she was born. Somehow
she's always been delicater an quieter
like n any of my children
The Bleylock boys, easy, rolIicking |
fellows. treated the peddler very much |
as il he had been harmless though un-
necessary cat about the house, and were |
surprised when Dick Oscar, dropping in |
one evening, informed them that they !
were all q pack of fools for ''takin' in |
a stranger SO free and easy"
why, l amt paid no more atten- |
ton to tn man N if he'd a-been a |
preacher" said Sam Bleylock; seem |
S if tn amt no harm t. him."
Hes a very God-fearin man." said |
Eliza, softly, AN powerful reader O.