The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-10-18
A MOUNTAIN GIRL.

Len NIfet, SlOuculuSlt Stdtcu vi tut
rough bench before MS cabin, in the
somber shadow Of a great pine tree, slow.
" pulled at corncob pipe as his in
dolent gaze followed the convolutions OF
the flexible withes curling from under his
knife.
Suddenly he looked like fox at the
bay of hounds. Through the cabin a
small boy ran. DAD, dad'' he softly
Len leaped high to escape tangle of
catbriar, while his pursuev tore and
swore through the OBTAINING vine. But
Len limped as he ran, and the officer
gained upon him. Len stopped low and
lodged to one side. The sheriff pitched
on and disappeared, falling into a
creyasse which served as the chimney to
a cave below.
The sheriff landed upon the illicit still
for which he had been searching, and
bounced off against a moOnshiner, who
held him, while the other men in the
cave dragged bunch of willow withes
from a tub Of water. With these they
wrapped the sheriff as if he had been a
form upon which to shape a basket.
They twisted the bands about him. roll
ing him over and over as they worked
until he looked like a wicker encased
mummy. This finished, a gag put all
end to his swearing.
AS they left him lying helpless on the
floor he could hear them dragging the
echo rendering it impossible for him 20
judge as to the distance.
Drip, drip. drip. On, he was so thirsty.
He tried to move, but that only frightened
his bonds: If only he could cry out, or,
if he could get word to Mary VIM! She
used to 60 to the still every day. He
remembered having heard that she was
M t<,f hn -
help him. She certainly loved him when
he was on the mountain last summer,
and he did not believe that she had ever
found out that ne was a spy. At all
events he had heard that woman would
forgive man anything if she loved him.
g An, perhaps she was coming now!
Someone was surely coming, but it was Il
queer step: a sort Of tap and scratch com
bined. The creature skirted the cave,
moving things with it's snout as it grunt-
ed about. then passed on into the depths.
Next a dog shifted at him. Becoming
alarmed at the unfamiliar thing, the dog
jumped back and barked, but catching
sight of the pig in the distance he gave
chase. Round and round they went un-
til the pig scampered over the sheriff, the
dog in close pursuit.
On, that maddening drip. drip, of the
water! What if he had been left there
to starve. When the withes dried they
would be tighter than ever. He must
burst them now: He braced his muscles
moonshiners had used withes before.
With a slow. shutting tread. there
came within his vision loose-jointed.
shambling figure. with big, conical-
shaped head. dull eyes and hanging I'M
derlip., This object looked vacantly at
him: then slowly turning away it thrust
its limp, useless hands into the assures
n q 0Ec mt + Il
sene can; The thirsty sheriff could hear
the gurgle. gurgle of the moonshine whis-
Ky as it flowed from the can into the
idiots throat. Then he, too. passed on.
a lizard slipped across his face. A
rock squirrel. perched on a ledge above,
dropped nutshells on his head. The light
was becoming fainter. He must have
days. Would help never come?
a soft, quick tread of bare feet and
jingle of tin, and young girl with a
pail dangling from her hand stood near
him. She bent down and looked closely
at him, then wonderinngly exclaimed:
Ben: is't you,,uns? How'd ye KEN
here?' 1t was the work Of few sec
onds for her experienced fingers to undo
the withes. The sheriff removed the gag
and slipped into his pocket badge that
had been concealed by his coat.
AS he put his arms about the pretty
blue-eyed girl she sighed happily. With
her hands on his shoulders she again
asked:
How'd ye KEN here. Benz"
Il fell through that hole" pointing up-
ward, land the men must have thoneht
me a sheriff" He laughed as he glanced
at the girl to note the effects of his
words. 'sYou saw what they did to me-
What have you in your pail. AfaryT
His thirst quenched. he asked: 'sHow
can get out of this?''
But ye ain no sheriff, Ben?'' asked
the girl apprehensively. ~
No. Mary. Have you forgotten me?''
Forgotten ye. Ben?'' as she looked
lovingly at him and nestled to him. :