The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-02-01
SECRET OF A STILL.

drink. A jug was taken from the shelf
and fingers length Of clear, yellow
whisky was poured out.
sNo moonshine in this sto', son see,
CAPTAIN remarked Mr.. Jared.
.sHumph!'' And the captains keen
eyes glanced toward the loungers in and
about the store. Reckon if / took 4
notion 1 could unearth some moonshine
an spot some .1oonshiners not fur off. .
Captain, you mustn't be SO suspi-
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 it was as safe
to meet starving tiger.
Seems to mes if you had somethin
OF your mind, remarked Mrs. Peters
that same evening.
sYe-es," said the captain, "I'm
plagued about them Jared boys. can't
ketch 'em nohow."
A knock at the door, and young fell
low 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 ION
trial"
ST was jest a-speakin O. the Jareds, ;"
he said. "I'm pretty sure they've got a
still somewhar. They look me in the
eye too powerful Innocent TO be all
right. Now I've Just got a notion in
my head. if only had anybody l could
trust''- Maddox drew himself up alert,
watchful as a listening sentinel. "What
can't be done one way must be done an
other" said Captain Peters slowly, and
he and Maddox had a long, whispered
conference.
A few days later peddler stopped at
Bleylock's and asked for drink of wa
ter. Old Mother Bleylock sent Eliza to
the spring for a fresh bucketful, and
the peddler, after refreshing himself,
opened his pack.
Pears IS if We oughtn't ter trouble
you," she said, Z" cause we can't bay
pins wuth. y
"Jest for tho pleasure, ma'am," said
the gallant peddIer.
The pack was opened, and three pairs
of eyes grew big with delight.
I" f 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 pres
ent # he was here suggested Eliza.
"If 'tain't maxim too free, I'd like
to say 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 Bleylock said, "The boys most
generally always paid Janey good
deal O. attention. %
She possessed a bold prettiness, this
mountain pink. Brown skinned, black
eyed, red Tipped and a way Of dropping
her head on her swelling neck and look
ing mutiny from under her heavy
brows. Eliza vas thin slip of girl,
with demure but vacant look in her
blue eyes, and a shy, nervous manner.
"I'll 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 the streets would fol-
low them for their good looks. An
that's heavens own truth. All yo' fam
ily?'
"Lor no; I've got three boys %
"All at homo 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 a
trade. Pm IS tired S lame horse, an
wouldn't want nuthin better'n to rest
right here. -
"I'd like nuthin better'n to take you.
But tn amt no use sayin word till
pa gifts home. He amt no hand fur
strangers
"Well, won't be a stranger louger'n
1 can help, said the agreeable peddler.
"My names Pond--Marcus Pond
Nashville boy. but rollin stone, you
know. I've peddled books an sewing
machines an no end O. a lot of traps
ginerally Fond Of travel. you see, but
jest's steady as old time. Never drink
when l travel. Promised my mother l
wouldn't
'Tis a good thing" said Mother
Bleylock, with energy 81 do despise
to see a fuddleG man Whisky ain t lit
fur nuthin but 20 fatten hogs on. +"
Father Bleylock came home and be-
yond stare and q silent nod took little
notice of the peddler. lie was tall
man, thin, tsciturn and yellow, and
with neck so small that his head pre-
sented the appearance of being stuck Oh
with pin
He lighted his pipe, and after a sooth-
ing interval of smoking, "Peddler d
like to stop over a period. said his
wife.
Puff, puff. Don't see no objection. .
Puff. puff.
Mr.. Pond, as he had promised, soon
ceased to be {: stranger. The old man
discoursed Oh the grievances Of taxes,
and the old woman, after the manner
Of inotbors. talked about her daughters.
"My gals is eddicated, she would
say-"been over to Cookville months
an months a-schoolin. But lor, thar S
some folks you can't weed the badness
outn, an Janey's spitfire, she is.
Seem S if Dick Oscar wants to have her,
but be acts kinder curious about it
blow hot, blow cold. Dunno. Now,
Lily is different. Can't tell why, less n
'tis that 1 went to camp meetin an
nrofessed awhile befo' she was born