Evening journal., 1899-12-16
SECRET OF THE STILL

OEChEI Of i HE STILL
Captain James Peters, riding home
from a raid into the moonshine cOun-
ties, stopped at Jared's store and asked
for drink. A jug was taken from
the shelf, aud n fingers length of clear
yellow whisky poured out.
mo moonshlne in this sto', you see,
captain" remarked Mr.. Jared
"Humphw and the captains keen
eyes glanced towrad the loungers in
and about the store. Reckon il
took a notion l could unearth some
moonsbine, an spot some moonshlners
hot fur on
Captain, you mustn't be SO suspl-
cious."
Captain Peters only laughed. He was
very good-humOred, this mountain ter
ror, except when. as they would say,
his blood was up. Then IL was as
safe TO meet a starving tiger.
Seem to mes il You had somethin'
on your mind" remarked Mrs. Peters
that same evening.
"Ye-es, said the captain, I'm
plagued about them Jared boys.
can't ketch 'em nohow."
A knock at the door and a young fel-
low came in and shook hands eagerly
with the captain His name was
Maddox. Captain Peters had picked
him up in Nashville and employed him
ION trial"
Il was jest a-speakin' Of the Jareds, 4"
he said. Pm pretty sure they've got
a still sOmewhar. 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 himself
up alert watchful as a listening senti-
mel what cant be done one way
must be done another" said Captain
Peters SLOWLY and he and Maddox
had a long, whispered conference.
A few days later a pedler stopped
at Bleylock's and asked for drink of
water. Old Mother Bleylock sent
Eliza to the spring for a fresh bucket
full, and the pedler, after refreshing
himself, opened his pack.
"I'll tell you the truth, maam," re-
marked the pedler to the mother, you
could take these girls of yourn to Nash
ville an people in tn streets would
foller them for their good looks. An
that's Heavens own truth. All yO'
familyT
A4pA nOf 4 Nt SUI thACN b09ns
"All at home farmin', l s'poseY
"Yaas"
''Now. bout these goods O. mine
said the pedler; 4 you could put me
up for a few days we might make O
trade. I'm s tired IS a lame horse, and
wouldn't want nuthin better n to resi
right here
"I'd like nuthin' better n to tax.
you. But tn amt no use sayin' 9
word till pa gifts home. He amt nC
hand fur strangers"
"Well, l won't be n stranger Longer
n l can help" said the agreeable ped
Ter. MY names Pond-Marcus Pond
Nashville boy; but a rollin' stone, yot
know. I've peddled books an sewing
machines, an no end Of a lot of traps
ginerally. Fond O. travel, you see
but jests steady as old Time. Never
drink when ] travel; promised m.
mother / wouldn't"
F" 'Tis a COED thing" said Mother
! Bleylock. with energy. Il do despise tC
see a fuddled man. Whisky amt Il
fur nuthin' but ter fatten hogs on"
Father Bleylock came home, and be
yond a stare and silent nod took lit
tie notice of the pedler.
The Bleylock boys, easy rolliclinl
fellows, treated the pedler very mucl
as III he had been n harmless thougl
unnecessary cat about the house, ant
were surprised when Dick Oscar, drop
ping in one evening informed then
that they were all q pack of fools fOl
"takin' In a stranger so free and easy.
why, / aln't paid no more attention
to tn man N eff he'd a-been preach
err" said Sam Bleyiock; seems if tn
amt no harm t him."
II see he's a-dressin' you up." sait
Oscar. with a sneer at the new ribbons
the girls wore around their necks.
Janey sprang up. Her face red
deDed. In an instant she had torn of
the ribbon and stamped her root on II
That's how much care for him an
/, his ribbonw she cried.
Don't fly quite off the handle" sale
Mr.. Oscar, coolly.
, Poor Janey She had hoped L
please her lover by her scorn of tn,
pedler's gift. but she was coming I,
the conclusion that he was a hard mar
TO please.
Naturally she turned against the ped
Ter. and from this time set herself t
watch him.
Chance favored Miss Janey. Sh
was bathing. one warm day, in thl
creek that ran out from the spring
: when she saw Eliza and the pedle
! coming. like Jack and Jill. to fetch
pail Of water Being naked. Jane,
could not get away. but she slid alon.
z TO cool inlet overhung with tre
} branches and so hidden waited 70
: them TO do their errsnd. OF course
} they stopped to talk
"Why. my dear'-and Mr. Pom,
! slipped his arm around Eliza-"I'd lik
| the best In the world to settle down II
5 country just like this. A fellow get
r tired trampin' around. But I'd wan
: two things to make me happy"
!, eliza looked at him with happy con
I ndence.
First. a little wife at was gentle \
her ways, and a good, religious girl
an one with black hair to set of tn
lpink ribbins I'd buy for her, an
fleet foot an a red mouth"
I Here Mr. Pond came to a full stol
I with kiss.
'And the other thlngT with brigh
! blush.
! The pedler grew practical again
w ell. it's nothln' more n some wa,
+, TO make a livin'. Now, say married
sweet girl up the Cumberland. ant