Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-03
CHAPTER FOUR.

Six wears had gone by since Flatfoot
o'Ericn had shot Il farmer who threat
cred to make trouble for him. The
.mugglpr was still carting liquor over
the muonlighted country roads. or
through the mountain passes when the
shadows of the great mountains made
the darkness intense. If he was con-
science stricken he never allowed his
rude associates to guess IT.
The smugglcrs were more insolent
than ever. The farmers along the
+, ads over which they hauled their
goods had long ago been frightened
into silence. The temperance people
were Disguised ana the politicians
didn't care.
There We're not many wild animals IN
that part of the State, but for som"
MYSTERIOUS reason whenever IN"
notorious smuggIer, Flatfoot O'Brien,
saw a wild bear in the hills he eVinced
irurdinate terror.
ON this particular night ne was max
ing his way up through the valley with
tWo loads Of barreled Whiskey. 4 ne
roads were bad, a recent storm mad
quilted them out. He very much feared
that couple of deputy sheriffs were
planning to hold him up and seize his
goods that night The sheriff. Hold
Dopctield had evinced too much inter
est in the enforcement of the law Tor
several months. 1t made Flatfoot
rarvni1s when he heard that little
lit,bcn bar-rooms in some of the
towns had been ralded. tie PI"dueu
along beside his wagon thinking al
some way in which he could buy or
scare off the Sheriif.
Suddenly the near wheels OF the
wagon went into a hole in the road
tho hody went down and the frightened
borsas dashed themselves in fright
ono Of them broke away and running
INTO = stone wall fell and broke his leg.
FI,tfoot swore till the air shook
around him. Then he examined ms
Ioad. He drew a revolver from MS
no,kot and shot the horse with the
| broken leg.
.cot fer have. a boss he muttered
and looked around for farmhouse
Woe to a farmer who should dare !"
refuse him the loan of a horse. fa'
nm the road little light shone from
~. window of the croteau house.
FOO, ..No,lldn't dare to refuse me.
Ia rnbitched the leading horse from
~, roar load and mounting his back
y,IIoped up through the darkness -
| HE house. He was about TO turn ~
| whom his horse SHE'D at something ~ :
! ;pr in the lane. The horse was IL Sooo
| on. of an old breed. and noted loi Tue
no,tpess of his long legs. Flat1oot Hit"
| ,v.,d his life to him on many "cca-
! sions when he had anSered the deputy
| bo,;ffs nv his tricks at smuggling anu
| .,-ino heavy cargoes disappear from
! It'll, ,o,d, in the most mysterious man
! ner.
| ,r.a horse refused to enter the lane.
! l.oino down the road again the
,,ro,ar hitched him to an apple tree
md walked back to the house, ON MS
wav he was startled by the roll OF
t,,aav wheels on the road below.
GENE farmer probably. Lucky they
are all afraid Of me. "oulun
tn,,h any Of my STUFF any more INA"
they would the deNli :.
Ne came upon the black object IN 'he
,n,d and thinking that it was Gov"
won't around it and on to the 1roh'
| ,l,,. where he Numbered for ADMIT
! p;orre croteau. ST., lifted window
| , aam.uded to know what 1t was az
ahout When F'latfoot had spoken
pi..rre turned to his wife. :.
| NO not bit of help will he nave
she whispered.
"c,n.t do it," said Pierre.
| ...r,,a, I'll, But he did not finlsh
| az that moment IA great black ped !
came m to the doorstep. stuck ms nose
| ;,,t1 E.Iatfoot's breast and sniHen Sus-
piciousIy at him. -.
Tbe outlaw looked down at him Tor