Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-09-30
THE M00HSHINERS|
Iorlelnal.1

their stills In the heart OF the Great
Smoky mountains, and never had they
been surprised before. But now their
stills were gone. some of their men had
been shot while the rest, after scatter
ing, had come together at the river
fork to consider what TO dc.
There's jist one thing to do" said
Branagan, .and that is to wreak venge-
ance on the man that give us away
And who was that?' asked Ian Mac
Alister.
"And who knows better n you know
yourself. And you'd own, too, that it's
the sehoolmaster IL you wasn't dead
stuck ON his daughter"
Ian MacAllster had long been lead
er among them, but since their last
misfortune, which they attributed TO
Cameron Swift. the man who taught
their children and who, though he con
demned their occupation, had before
always been their friend, they had bro
ken away from MacAlister's influence.
For Ian would not listen to word
against Swift, and the gang attributed
this to the fact 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"
go back to your father" said one of
the gang, land tell him that we want
no warning from him or any of his
kim"
MaeAlister, seeing that he was pow
erless to protect the girl from insult,
without a word took her horse by the
bride and led her away.
It's 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
Il 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 a 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 farm where he pro
cured a horse and never drew rein till
he dismounted before Swift's cottage
and tod of the danger.
You'll have little time he said ito
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 | know who was the traitor"
said Swift IL revenue told me. 1t
was Branagan."
THAT won't save you. They're blind
with rage, and just now BranaEan has
them completely under his influence.
Go at once
And you?" asked Lucy.
"I'll stay here and stand 'em eff as
long as | can
In less than half an hour there was
a commotion below, men calling to
each other and shouting vengeance
Ian listened with his hand on the
schoolmaster's rifle, which he had TAX
en- down from the wall. waiting till
they should come up lie 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 rifle pointing
between the Stats of the blind, aimed
straight at the heart of Branagan and,
taking advantage of moment when
the traitor was not in motion, fired.
Branagan fell dead.
MacAlister threw open the shutter
and sto"d where his form could be seen,
though his features could not be distin-
guished for the darkness.
"Foolsr' he cried. at 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 it
in pieces. and five new. crisp 500 bills.
fresh from the United States treasury.
futtered to the ground.
Then there was a sudden stiffness,
and MacAlister, unarmed, walked out
to them.
Boys" he said, sit was the school
master, whom you'd have hung if l
hadn't forestalled you, who was told by
a revenue that Branagan was the
traitor. He was worse than Il 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.
syaty ypnra aIuovs tho host hpaJ in