The Florence daily tribune., 1899-02-11
SECRET OF A STILL.

stopped at .JaIsd's store and asker for
drink jug was taken from the shelf
and fingers length of clear, yellow
whisky wac poured out
"No moonshine in this sto'. you see,
captain, " remarked Mr.. Jared.
"Humphr' And the captains keen
eyes glanced toward the loungers in and
about the store. Reckon If l took
notion could unearth some moonshine
an spot some moonshiners not fur Off >
Captain, You mustn't be 80 suspi
oious "
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 u starving tiger,
Seems to mos if you had somethin
on your mind, >" remarked Mrs. Peters
that same evening.
"Ye-cs, said the captain, Pm
plagued about them Jared boys. l can't
ketcb em nohow.
A knock Mt the door, and "a young fell
low came in and shook hands eagerly
with the captain. His name was Mad
dox, Captain Peters had picked him up
trial.
IL was Jest a-speakin o. the Jareds, &"
he said. Pm pretty sure they got
still somewh ar. They look me in the
eye too powerful innocent to be all
right Now I've just got IA notion in
my head, if l only had anybody l could
trust Maddox drew himself up alert.
watchful as n listening sentinel. "What
can't be done one way must be done an
other, said Captain Peters slowly, and
he and Maddox had long. whispered
conference
A few daye later a peddler stopped MT
Bleylock s and asked for drink of wa
ter Old Mother Bleylook sent Eliza TO
the spring for fresh hucketful. and
the peddler, after refreshing himself.
opened his pack.
Pears Is If we oughtn't ter trouble
you, she said. " cause we can't buy
pins wuth
Jest for the pleasure, ma am, said
tho gallant pedder.
The pack was opened aud three pairs
of eyes grew big with delight
f you'll II wait till pa comes home,
I'll make him buy Inc that collar, SAID
fancy, the younger of the Bleylook girls,
"p'raps Dick Oscar'd buy you IA pres
ent + he was here, suggested Eliza
IF faint maxim too free, I'd like
10 say admire Dick Oscars taste. p"
said the peddler with an admiring
glance
fancy 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 II 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
bIIws Eliza was thin slip of a girl,
with emure but vacant look in her
blue eyes, and shy, nervous manner,
I'm tell you the truth, ma am, F." re-
marked the peddler to the mother, lyon
conld take these girls o. yourn TO Nash
Vile, an people in the streets would fol
low them for their good looks, An
that's heaven own truth. All yc' fam
ily?"
''Lor no; I've got three boys"
'All at home farmin, | s'posef"
"Yaas
Now. bout these goods o. mine. :"
said the peddier IF You could put mo
up tor few days, we might make Il
trade I'm $ tired S lame horse, an
wouldu want nuthin better'n to rest
right here
Ira like nuthin better n to take you
But tn ain no use sayin word till
pa gifts bone He amt no hand fur
strangers,
Well, 1 won be stranger longer'n
| 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 Foud of travel. you see, but
Jest s steady as old time. Never drink
when | travel. Promised my mother /
wouldn'
lis u good thing, said Mother
Bleyiook, with energy. II do despise
to see fuddled man Whisky ain t lit
fur nuthin but to fatten hogs on.
Father Bieylook came home and be-
you'd stare and silent nod took little
notice OF the peddler. He was tall
man. thin, taciturn and yellow, and
with neck SO small that his head pre-.
senred the appearance of being stuck on
with pin
He lighted his pipe, and after a sooth.
ing interval Of smoking. "Peddler d
like to stop over period, said his
wife
Puff. putt 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 mothers. talked about Der daughters.