The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-27

u in the sombre shadow of the
- great pine tree slowly puffed at
a corncob pipe as his indolent
gaze followed the convoutions of the
flexible withes curling from under his
knife
Suddenly he looked like a fox at the
bay of hounds Through the cabin a
small boy ran Dad dad he softly
called. "Sheriff-run."
Len leaped high to escape a tangle
of catbriar, while the purauer tore and
swore through the OBTAINING vine. But
Len limped as he ran, and the ofIicer
gained upon him. Len stopped low and
lodged to one side. The sheriff pitched
OH and disappeared, falling into crew
asse which served as the chimney to
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 q 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, rolling him over and over
as they worked until he looked like Il
wicker encased mummy. This finished,
gag put an end to his swearing.
AS they left him lying helpless on the
floor he could hear them dragging the
still on and on, deeper into the cave
the echo rendering it impossible Off
him to judge as to the distance.
Drip, drip drip. Oh, he was so
thirsty. He tried to move. but that
only ightened his bands. If only he
could sry out or, if he could get word
to Mary Winn! She used to go to the
still every day. He remembered hay
ing heard that she was purveyor to the
moonshiners. She would help him. She
certainly loved him and when he was
on the mountain last summer, and he
did not believe that she had ever found
out that he was spy. AT all events
he had heard that a woman would for
give man anything if she loved him.
All, perhaps she was coming now.
Someone was surely coming, but it was
a queer step a stort of tap and scratch
combined. The creature skirted the
cave, moving things with its snout as
it Srunted about, then passed on into
the depths
Next a dog shifted at him. Becom-
ing alarmed at the unfamiliar thing,
the dog jumped back and barlSed, but
catching sight of the pig in the dis
tance he gave chase. Round and round
they went until the pig scampered over
the sheriff, the dog in close pursuit
Oh, that maddening drip, drip, of the
water! What if he had been left there
to starve When the withes dried they
would be tigher than ever. He must
burst them now. He braced his
muscles and strained with all his force,
but the moonshiners had used withes
before.
With slow, shuffling tread, there
came within his vision "a loose -jointed.
shambling figure, with a big conical
shaped head, dull eyes and hanging
under lip. This object looked yacantly
at him; then slowly turning away it
thrust it's limp, useless hands into the
assures in the rocks until it dragged
out kerosene can. The thirsty sheriff
could hear the gurgle, gurgle of the
moonshine whiskey 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 ledge above,
dropped nutshells on his head. The
light was becoming fainter. He must
have been in the cave many hours-it
seemed days. Would help never come?
A soft, quick tread of bare feet and
a Jingle of tin, and a young girl with
a pail dangling from her hand stood
near him. She bent down and looked
closely at him, then wonderingly eX-
claimed:
ben, is t you-uns? How d ye kem
here" 1t was the work of n few sec
onds for her experienced fingers to
undo the withes. The sheriff removed
the gag and slipped into his pocket a
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"
II fell through that hole" pointing
upward, land the men must have
thought me a sheriff." lie laughed as
he glanced at the girl to note the eff
feet of his words. You saw What they
did to Inc. What have you in your pail,
Mary?" His thirst quenched, he asked
"How can | set out of this?'
But ye amt no sheriff, Benz" asked
the girl apprehensively.
NO, Mary. Have you forgotten me?"
Forgotten ye, Benz" as she looked
lovingly at him and nestled to him.
"Rut, Mary" said he, II must get
away"
Come, then" sadly said the girl, as
she took his hand and led him from
the aim cave through the low en-
trance. Before them precipitous banks
rose grimly. The girl, still leading,
turned into narrow trail ascending
the seemingly unscalable cliff, Enter
ing vine covered, shallow cave ON the
way, they rested The gin asked;
Mus ye go ag'in, Ben, ana sc hey
ony jes' KEN back?' Then with
sigh she added: What mus / do fer
ye?" She passed her fingers softly
over his palm as she sat beside him.
bur the man was impatient OF delay
and found Il hard to be gentle with
her, lie slowly twisted one of her
crlls as he answered;
~ must tell you al! about IT, Mary.
I came to see you, and taking a short
cat, hurryng, not seeing that hole,
srl II bled into II, and although, as you
kaaw. 1 am neither sheriff nor
spy"-he rose and peered through the
vines as he spoke-"still, of course /