The National tribune., 1903-10-22

What would lido? Why I'D leave
him. I'd cut loose from him too quickr'
This iudicrous; threat produced a roar
of merrment on the part of the men. John
Redgrnve WHIP owed the clothes he wore.
the house he Lived In, and the food he ate
to his uncle, Owen, could i'll afford to
make such threats.
| What d you, think would become o.
yonr uncle if you left him?' asked George
with a laugh,
He ouldago 70 the dogs. that's what
| he'd do =, 20.
This produced, another roar of laughter.
John RedSrare was prominent person
his foolish motheE until he became a way
ward boy. from hayward boy he grew
to reckless man, and fell in with evil
companions. Being the only heir of the
wealthy Owen Redgrave. he was shown =
great many favors by men of wealth. 1t
was money he had borrowed from his
uncle that purchased the necessary ma
chnery for the moonshine distilery in the
| old hulk. Here they had run for two
years without being discovered. 1t was
| rnm"red that the gang of men which Capt.
| Mark and American George had gathered
ABOUT them were even worse than moon
sinners, and that they sometimes broke
| int" stores along the river and robbed mer-
chants safes. That was a very faint
| rumor. however, though there was no
question that hand of burglars had been
| operating in small towns along the river.
American George. after laughing at the
threat of John Redgrave to abandon his
| uncle to his fate, asked:
We'll, John, now that you are going to
narry, tel, us what fair creature has won
your heart"
Lille Bunkles, the prcttiest girl in all
Kentucky" cried John.
IL ~
heard of Lille buckles. and many had
seen her. Even Kentucky, noted for beau
tiful women, had never Il fairer maiden
than pretty Lille Bmnkles. the merry
laughing-eyed, jolly girl plump as n
partridge, pretty rs a picture and misrhev-
ons as a playful kitten. One could not
blame John Redgrave for falling in love
with her, even if his love should be hope
less. for Lille had scores of lovers.
"IOhn, don't We know we've got a rival
in Frank Vermont George asked.
At mention of Frank Vernon John Red
grave again leared tn his feet, giving ut
terance to some terrible oaths.
Frank Vermont" he Kissed Hell die
one of these days, boys. Look here, he's
our worst enemy. l tell We he's a spy of
the revenues, and we ought to do him up
To save ourselves. Don't you understand"
Frank Vernon was hated and feared by
an tit uitH III lHe ONl HULK, LOT ne WIS
believed to be secret agent of revenue
officers. Though George hated and feared
him as much as John Redgrave, he could
not resist the temptation to annoy the
young man.
''Tohn. it would be rather hard on We,
If Frank Vernon stole your sweetheart and
sent you to the PEN"
John Redgrave drew n revolver from his
belt under his coat. and. hourishing it in
ha Dir hn fo1r h. g..
he crossed his path. Between the dread
of Uncle Owen bringing home wife and
Frank Vernon gaining the good graces of
Lille Bunkles, JOHN was as miserable as
one can well be. M !
1t was alreadyipast midnight, and the
carolsal showed no signs of terminating.
A boat containing solitary occupant
glided with ppiseiess oar down the river.
1t came opposite the hulk, gradually drew
near to it, and the, occupant. making fast!
to the side. seizeff,a rope that hung over'I
the hulk and noiselessly climbed to the
deck. Here he paused b q moment to
listen, and hearing the surfnd OF voices in
the main cabin. stole to window througf-i
which thin shafts of light were emitted. |
and listened 70 the boistrous talk within /
He heard the threats against Frank Yer
non and Uncle Owen, should the latter
marry. hut not a hint was there about
m"onshining or any Illegal business.
b The eyes Of the young man keenly sur
veyed tie interior of the apartment while |
he listened to every word they said. The |
conversation was long for the men were
under the influence of liquor and talked |
with thckening tongues
Suddenly a tall man came down to the
river bank and stepped noiselessly on the
long gangplnnk thrown from the shore to
the boat. His tread was light as a cats. |
The boys are making - of n
rnise," he said as he paused a moment to
listen. This must be stopped.' -'7
Naturally cautious, the new conner
stalked silently forward until, in the dark
ness. he discovered the young man who
had Goated down the river in his boat
ia! a spym
He crept nOiselessly upon the listening |
man and at bound seized him by the |
throat. But he little dreamed he had
aroused tiger. In moment the new
conner was hurled aside as though he were
Il child. |
"Eaves-dropper. die,' The man who
had discovered the spy snatched a pistol
from his belt and leveling it at the heart |
of the young man pulled the trigger. The
weapon missed fire. and before he could re-
cock it, the spy leaped over the side of |
the hulk into his boat and went flying
down the stream. A shot fired from the
hulk whizZed close TO the cheek of the
fugitive, but he sped on unframed.
What's the matter; who fred that
shot!' demanded the revelers, rushing to
the deck.
at was l." said the stranger.
Capt. Marki At whom did We shoot"
asked George.
..You are fine set of idiots. While
you were carousing in there n spy was
listening to you"
where is hep
"There he goes.' answered Capt Mark,
pointing to dark speck on the river.
Half n dozen pistols were drawn, but he
said:
mo; it's no use: you would only make
matters worse. You've got to get out of
the hulk, sink the still and lay low for a
few days"
Meanwhile the young man in the boat.
who was none other than Frank Vernon,
lulled down the stream three or four miles
and drew into shore to listen and make a
few mental calculations.
81 gathered nothing about the distl-
lery," he said. "Yet, l believe there is
one in the old boat" After n few mo-
ments, he added: "John Redgrave dares
to polnte the name of Lille with his lips
Franks face was deathly white. but he
was firm. He loved Lille Bunkles,
though he had never plucked up courage
to propose. He was poor. and his rival
was John Redgraye, the only heir of a
man rcputed TO be worth several millions.
Even though John was dissipated, he pos
scssed a decided advantage over the pen