The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-08-31
The Major S Story

white locks. 'But, then, 1 have seen
8 great deal of the world, you know.
Sometimes l think it would have
been better if / had not"
'But what caused your hair to
turn SO white? 1t cannot be age,
for, if l am a indge, you are not over
forty The luajor laughed.
'sNo. l was forty on my last
birthday, and my hair has been its
present shade for the last ten
years"
"Come, major, I'm sure. there is
story here. Let's have ito
Again the major smiled, but this
time perceptible tremor shook his
frame.
FI never like to think of that
time," he said. "But be it as you
will.
"When I was thirty years old
was employed by Uncle Sam to
scour the country for moonshiners.
My territory lay mostly in the
southern states. 1t was in 1881 that
I received an order from the chief
of the division to 60 into the Ten
nessee region and locate several
stills that were turning out kegs of
illicit liquor near Little Tucksoe. I
was of light hearted, daredevil
disposition, and usually such an or
der would have spurred me to my
best, but on this September morn
ing, when, leaving civilization be-
hind, I struck the trail leading up
the side Of Little Tucksoe, strange
feeling Of foreboding came over me.
The birds twittered over my head,
and the purling brook rippled be-
meath my feet. All nature was at
her best, and yet q feeling Of in
describable dread oppressed me.
"On I stumbled, deep in my
gloomy meditations, when suddenly
I nearly fell over q girl, clad in a
single calico garment, who was
ikneeling beside a hawberry bush
filing a pail with the fruit. The
surprise was mutual, and she start
ed up like frightened fawn. With
out 'disparagement of the sex I can
safely say that no palmer women
exist or the continent than the av-
erage female moonshiner. AS the
girl turned, however, she displayed
a face in pleasing contrast with the
characteristic high, cheek bones and
<ague' complexion of that section.
Her oval features, brown as a ber-
ry, but regular in outline, set of by
a pair of ruby lips and jet black
eyes, would compare favorably with
those of any fashionable belle.
"sWha' be you goin' p she asked,
with a startled air.
CT am an artist replied, come
to sketch some bits of scenery. I am
looking for Jerry Bowman
"sWha' you want VII him?'
"1 am going to board at ais
house
Huhl Then you un wants Ole
Hoss?'
II was uncertain, but nodded.
by this time / had drawn a packet
from my pocket and begun making
hurried marks on it. The girl peer
ed over my shoulder and asked:
"How long be you un goin' ter
steyy !! r.. .,t,,.
s. She gazed at the scrawl and said:
"tWaal, I guess you un can come
on
Cup the tortuous path, twisting
now to the right and now to the
aeft, we went till suddenly the girl
pushed aside the thick undergrowth
and darted along trail leading di-
rectly into the heart Of the forest. ]
said not word, but did considera-
ble thinking as now and then a pro-
truding hawberry brier tore it's way
into my flesh, or a stiff twig, bent
forward by my guide, with q zip
flew back, striking me across the
face. Suddenly I heard a bowling
shrek. The girl gave low, pc.
,culiar whistle, and the next instant
four large ours were paving at her
feet and in most uncomfortable
manuer shifting at my heels.
This is pap, the girl whispered.
This is Ole Hossa the man you un
is a-lookin' fur
whence he came and how he got
there I was never able to explain to
myself, but there he was, armed to
the teeth, q large hunting knife in
his belt, a shotgnn on his shoulder
and the mountaineers grin on his,
face. AZ. A & b. S #.i. &
s sWha. do you un want r he de-
manded. u I'D .s s38
!" T am an artist, I I replied, sand
jim Bludsoe, whom I met in the
village, thought I could get board
with you for day or }so.' SIS. :!
-. 90 Iifon1a frioaaSa q - "a nina Il es