Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1903-12-25

air, while passing over the house.
Reaching the top of the hill. Emily
looked back
"Oh. Matthew, seel our house is on
fire.
The battle resulted in victory to the
Federal forces. Matthew Dixon did
not return to his plantation until after
the victorious army had gone. Among
the charred timbers and the ashes or
the home he had loved, he found the
seorched and smoky iron chest which
had contained his sisters money and
watch, but the chest had been burst
open. The money and watch were
gone. At that moment the blacklist
thoughts of his entire life flashed
through Matthew Dixon's brain, and
the bitterest hatred ranked in his
heart.
In that part Of West Virginia where
several of the tributaries to the Ohio
River have their source, stands Tur-
key Mountain with its densey wooded
sides, its dark, intricate glades and Its
bare, rock covered summit frowning
upon the country round about. Tur-
key Mountain was considered dan
gerous region; In fact, few dared to
venture Into those wilds. Some did
venture there, but they never return
ed Turkey Mountain hated raiders,
and 1t would fight them to man. Old
Mat Dixon was a desperate character,
and he ruled Turkey Mountain with
an iron WILL He had long defied the
revenue laws and many expert OFF,
GERS, who had endea vored to locate
Dixon's STILL are buried somewhere In
those dark, silent woods.
Twilight was deepening when
woman In plain attire came out of
Mat Dixon's log house, crossed the
narrow field to the edge of the forest
and peering down the mountain path,
paused and listened. Placing her hands
to her mouth, she called, "Ho, Bessp
! From the woods, the shrill notes of
whippoorwill burst on the evening air.
That was the only response to her
| call
Strange what keeps the gal" she
said as she returned to the house.
| The moon rose, bright and full. Save
the occasional cry of some night bird
and the incessant sound of myriad in
sects, deep silence pervaded the vast
| forest
Far down the mountain side Bess
Dixon fingered with her lover. Their
acquaintance had been brief, their
meetings had been clandestine The
girl did not dare let her father know
of her intimacy with this man. In
she had not considered what had lured
Arthur Hedges, her lover, to this rug
| ged wilderness. She was blind to all
| facts save that he loved her. OF this
| she was certain, and she trusted him
implicitly. She had told him that she
was moonshiner's daughter and he
had casped her in his arms and hush
ed away her fears, telling her that 1t
mattered not, so long as she loved
| him.
The night was we'll advanced when
| they drew near her home
I'VE cannot always keep our secret,
| sweetheart" he was telling her. II
shall be discovered, sooner or later If
! | remain among these hills"
Il should die were you to leave me,
now" she said.
Then he drew her to him and their
| lips met.
There, there, don't talk that way,
Bess 1t is not safe for me to go far
Their with you tonight. Now hasten
home. Be at the ford tomorrow" he
said
With her lovers kiss still warm on
her lips, she hurried to her home, the
happiest girl In all that mountain re-
gion.
The sun had begun its westward de
cline as Bess Dixon FASTENED down
the mountain side on the following
day. She had not gone far when u
sharp featured mountaineer suddenly
stepped into the path before her.
"Wha' yer goin' ter, Bess?" he ask
ed.
That's no affair of yours. Tom
Savage. Get out of the path, and let
me pass"
Reckon We think | don't know that
ye're goin' ter meet tibet Yankee.
knowed all along tibet yer was sweet
on him. but | reckon yer wont meet
him ter day"
"AIind your own business and let
me pass cried the girl, with flashing