Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-09-24
DAILY SHORT STORY
The Moonshiners.
GOriginaLl

their stills in the heart of the Great
Smoky mountains, and never had they
been surprised before. But now their
stills weTesgone, some of their men had
been ah0t, whileIthe rest, after scatter
ing, had come together at the river
fork TO consider what TO do.
There's ,jist one thing to do" said
Branagan, Land that is to wreak venge-
ance ontheman that give us away"
"AndVwhotwas that" asked Ian Mac
Alister.,
"And who knows better N you know
yourself. And 'you'd own, too, that it's
the schdOlmaster if you wasn't dead
stuck on This daughter
Ian MmAlister had long been a lead
er amongi them, but since their last
misfortune, which they attributed to
Cameron Swift, the man who taught
their chiEren and who, though he con-
deInned their occupation, had before
always been their friend, they had bro
ken,awaW from MacAlister's influence.
For Ian would not listen to q word
against Swift, and the gang attributed
this to the9fact that Ian was the slave
of Lucy Swift, the schoolmaster's
daughter ;Branagan had scarcely spo-
ken when there was the sound of
horses hoofs, and young girl riding
astride pulled up in their midst.
Scatter boys, scatter. The revenues
have got wind that you're here and be-
fore morning they'll be here"
eco back to your father" said one of
the gang. "and tell him that we want
no warning from him or any of his
kim
MacAliSter, seeing that he was pow
erless to protect the girl from insult,
without n word took her horse by the
bride and led her away.
Its no use, Lucy. The men have
been informed that your father put the
revenues on to them, and they're not
to be convinced to the contrary. Go
away from here at once"
81 wish you'd come with me-" she
said as she started on, land quit the
gang forever"
But Ian had work before him just
then. He feared the men were going
to move upon Cameron Swift, seize him
and hang him. In moment he was
back, and just in time to hear Brana-
gan propose to do exactly what he
feared. Turning before he was seen
he ran after Lucy to warn her, but was
too late. He kept on, however, on foot
till he came to a farm where he pro-
cured a horse and never drew rein till
he dismounted before Swift's cottage
and told of the danger.
You'll have little time" he said, 'to
get far enough away, for they're near
behind me. Mount my horse and let
Lucy mount again and ride as fast as
you can"
But L know who was the traitor"
said Swift "a revenue told me. 1t
was Branagan." a.
'"That won't save you. They're blind
with rage, and just now Branagan has
them completely under his influence.
Go at once
"And you?" asked Lucy.
'I'll stay here and stand 'em off az
long as can"
In less than half an hour there was
commotiOn below, men calling to
each other and shouting vengeance.
Ian listened with his hand on the
schoolmaster's rife, which he had TAX
en- down from the wall, waiting till
they should come up. He had locked
and barred the house and taken posi-
ton at an open window, where he
could fire through closed blinds. He
had no mind to hurt any of his COM
rades; he wanted the blood of Brana-
gan, the man who had betrayed them.
On came the gang until they emerged
from behind the trees and stood in
front of the house. Then MacAlister,
with the muZZle of his rife pointing
between the Stats of the blind, aimed
straight at the heart of Branagan and.
taking advantage of a moment when
the traitor was not in motion, fired
Branagan fell dead.
MacAliSter threw open the shutter
and stood where his form could be seen,
though his features could not be distin-
guished for the darkness.
"FOolsr' he cried. ct is Branagan
who gave US away. Search him. Like
as not he has his bride in his pocket"
John Hanson, a friend of Ian's, was
the only one who recognized the voice
Jumping for the fallen body, he thrust
his hands in the pockets, but pulled out
nothing. Taking off the coat, he tore 1t
in pieces, and five new, crisp 500 bills,
fresh from the United States treasury,
fiuttered to the ground.
Then there was q sudden stiffness,
and MacAlister, unarmed, walked out
to them.
Boys" he said, sit was the school
master. whom you'd have hung if 1
hadn't forestalled you. who was told by
revenue that Branagan was the
traitor. He was worse than q traitor,
for he not only took bride for giving
us away. but to turn suspicion from
himself led you on to murder Cameron
Swift. You're spared a crime"
1--WE wronged you as we did the
schoolmaster," said one.
you were always the best head in
the lot. Tell us what to do said an
other.
'What / am going to do is TO give up
'moonshinin' forever, and I'd recon-
mend to each and every one of you to