The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-02-04
BILL GOT THE EGGS.

of North Carolina, where prohibition coun-
ties abound said nomadic New Yorker
land | had been there but a few hours when
l discovered that many sharp eyes We're on
the lookout to detect the presence any
where of a surreptitious jug, and particular
ly surreptitious jug with 'moonshine' in
it. This didn't disturb me any, as | was in
no way pining for drink, but there seemed
to be heap of trouble on the mind of Capt.
Bill, the old-time Tarheel citizen at whose
house | was stopping.
Il had been there couple of days, when
Capt. Bill came round with his old horse and
rattly wagon
Tn goin' after some aigs, said he
How'd yo' like to be carried round the
Scountry little mite!
Il said would like it, and Jumped into
the wagon. 1t was a raw, windy day in
January. Capt. Bill drove and drove, and
all the time there seemed to be this burden
out into the country, then circled round
and came back until we were within half
a mile of our starting place.
There we came to one of the general
stores that are scattered about in the rural
south, where everything is kept, from
grindstones to box of pills. was chilled
through and Capt. Bill looked much the
worse for the weather, too. He pulled up
his horse in front of the store.
81 declar! said he. I reckon l can
git them aigs here
Handing me the reins, he got out of the
| wagon and entered the store. He was gone
long time. When he came out he had no
eggs. He stepped slowly to the wagon,
stopped, looked up the road and down the
road, pondered awhile, and then glanced
at me.
".Say, cap'n,' said he, presently, in a
hoarse whisper. DO you ever drink
whisky?'
"He took step or two backward, and
seemed ready to fly the country in case
my reply was unfavorable. | answered on
| the word.
Eyes, l do said 1, whenever l want it.
| And | want some now
''You should have seen Capt Bills eyes
| light up. The burden seemed lifted from
his mind at once.
| "'Jump out!' he exclaimed. Come in!
The hoss'n stand!'
81 jumped out and followed Capt. Bill
into the store. There was no one else there
but the proprietor. Capt. Bill introduced
me, and | could see that he and the store
keeper had been discussing the all-impor-
tent question. Capt Bill passed on around
| the end of the counter, which at that part
was piled high with rolls of calico.
Come round here!' said he.
Il followed him around.
"'Scrootch! said he.
81 'scrootched' behind the counter and
the pile of calico. There, on a shelf under
The counter, stood a brown jug and big
old-fashioned glass tumbler. Capt. Bill
tipped the jug and poured the tumbler
more than half full with what the jug con-
tanned, and the identity of the instant
aroma of it could not be disputed. 1t was
white corn liquor
"'Shirt it,! directed Capt. Bill, in his
hoarse whisper.
81 'shirted' it, and the storekeeper, see
ing the water pour out of my eyes, and
my frantic efforts to get my breath, made
excuses for it.
"'rhis here amt as good as usual, said
he 1T was made Yesterday up yon in the
hills, an l reckon it's mite peart yit.'
while Capt. Bill was still scrootching
and shifting I walked out and stood by
the high sheet iron stove in which bright
wood fire was roaring. As l stood there a
great big roseate-looking native came in and
stopped on the other side of the stove. In
stantly he turned he began to eye me in a
way that made me uneasy. Then he began
to sniff, and presently poked his nose along
toward me. Before he got within three feet
of me his eyes began to glisten. He had
struck the trail
"'Gawd, captain!' said he, eagerly.
'Whar did yo' git that?"
Knowing the feeling that was abroad,
didn't know what to say. This might be a
law officer. l was becoming alarmed. Ths
storekeeper came to my relief.
faint nobody but the sheriff of the
county, said he to me, introducing the
stranger Come an scrootch, sheriff, an
shirt one!'
"The sheriff FASTENED to scrootch, and he
shirted couple without winking. Capt
Bill shirted another, and went out and got
into his wagon, with no more burden OF
his mind.
"'Capt. Bill said l. as we drove toward
home, where are your eggs"
HE simply winked and grinned, and
said:
q got 'em!
"And after that when Capt. Bill took me
out with him after eggs he didn't drive Il
miles before he made up his mind to gel
them."-N Y. Times.