The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-07-21
miscellaneous
SECRET OF THE STILL.

from raid into the moonshine coun.
ties, stopped at Jared's store and ask
ed for drink. A jug was taken from
the shelf, and u fingers length of clear
yellow whiskey 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 l
took otion l could unearth some
moonshine, an spot some moon
sinners not fur off,
"Cantain, you mustn't be SO suspi-
cious."
Captain Peters only laughed. He
was very good-humored, this mount
ain terror, 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,i said the captain. I'm
plagued about them JareI boys.
can't ketch them nohow."
A knock at the door and a young
fellow came in and shook hands eager
ly with the captain. His name was
Maddox. Captain Peters had picked
him up in Nashville and employed
HIM 'on trial.
II was jest -speakin; of the Jareds,n
he said. I'm pretty sure they've
got still somewhat. They look me
in the eye too powerful innocent to be
all right. Now, I've got a notion in
my head, if l only had anybody /
could trust Maddox drew him
self up alert, watchful as q listening
sentinel. What can't be done one
way must be done another" said
Captain Peters slowly and he and
Maddox had a long, whispered con-
ference.
A few days later pedler stopped at
Biey lock' and asked for a drink of
water. Old Mother Bleylock sent
FL "a to the spring for fresh bucket
full, and the pedler, after refreshing
himself. opened his pack.
''I'll tell you the truth, ma'am,"
remarked the pedler to the mother,
you could take these girls of yourn
to Nashville, an people in the streets
would foller them for their good looks.
An that's Heavens own truth. All
yo' family"
"Lor' no; I've got three boys"
"All at home farmin' l s'pose?'
"Yaas."
Now, bout these goods O. mine"
said the pedler: "'f you could put
me up for few days we might make
a trade. I'm s tired IS lame horse,
and wouldn't want nuthin' better N
to rest right here"
I'D like nuthin' better N to take
you. Bnt tn amt no use sayin' a
word tin pa gifts home. He amt no
hand fur strangers"
well, l won I be a stranger longer
II 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
nv mother l wouldn't"
"'Tis good thing" said Mother
Bieylock, with energy. II do despise
70 see fuddled man. Whisky amt
fit fur nuthin' but ter fatten hogs on. :"
Father Bleylock came home, and
beyond a stare and silent nod took
little notice of the pedler.
L liz oleylOCh OOJS3 CdSJ3
fellows, treated the pedler very much
as if he had been harmless though
unnecessary cat about the house, and
were surprised when Dick Oscar,
dropping in one evening informed
them that they were all pack of fools
for ''takin' in a stranger SO free and
easy"
"Why, amt paid no NOR attention
to tn man n eff he'd a been a preach
err" said Sam Bleylock; seems if tn
amt no harm T. him.
II see he's a-dressin' you up" said
Oscar with a sneer at the new ribbons
the girls wore around their necks.
Janey sprang up. Her face redden-
ed. In an instant she had torn of
the ribbon and stamped her foot on
it. THAT'S how much l care for him
an his ribbon ?'' she cried.
Don't fly quite off the handle,' u
said Mr.. Oscar, coolly.
Poor Janey. She had hoped to
please her lover by her scorn of the
pedler's gift, but she was coming to
the conclusion that he was a hard
IL an to please.
Naturally she turned against the
pedler, and from this time set herself
to watch him.
Chance favored Miss Janey. She
was bathing one warm day, in the
creek that rJn out from the spring
when she saw Eliza and the pedleT
coming, like Jack and Jill, to fetch q
pail of water. Being naked, Janey
could not get away, but she slid along
the cool inlet overhung with tres
branches, and so hidden waited fol-
them to do their errand. OF course
they stopred to talk.
"Why. my dear"-and Mr.. PonC
slipped his arm around Eliza-''I' {
like the best in the world to SETTLE
down in a country just like this. A
fellow gets tired tramping around
But I'd want two things to make III
happy"
Eliza looked at him with happ!
confidence.
First, little wife at was gentle il
her ways, aud good, religious girl
au' one with black hair to set off tn
pink ribbons I'd buy for her, an
fleet foot an "A red mouth"
Here Mr.. Pond came to II full stol
with kiss.
"And the other thingf" with
bright blush.
The psdlrr grew practical again
"Well, it's nothin' more n some wa
to make Twin. Now, say married
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