The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-24

aud with the brides hanging acros
 their arms started up the gravelly
 rough washed road along the rive
 edge. They kept close to the wil
 lows, peering now and then between
 the overhanging branches to the tow
 ering rock above the pines on tn, | opposite bank. It was almost dayligh
 when they reached the ford. The horse. {, were mounted and spGrred into tht
 cool water, and the journey across we: 1 begun. The river was not deep
 though the men had to draw theii | knees up around the saddles before | they reached the other side. The horses l climbed the bank a1d shook the wa ter from their glossy sides while the | older of the men cautioned tat other | to keep cool and quiet. Then they started up the ravine road. with Cham ney Rock as their guide. For an hour | they walked their horses in silence. They made turn in the road and came out where it was smooth and grassy and where the pines were get ting shorter. Hardly had they turned when the younger man exclaimed in a hoarse whisper, Look there!" and then brought his horse to an abrupt stop
 The other rider drew in his reins and looked ahead in the new bright light of the risen sun There, straight ahead of them, walked a woman. She was hatless and CT red hair glisten- ed in te sun. Sh ewore faded calico
 dress and was barefooted. The men watched her as she approached a stream that crossed the road. She lifted her skirt and waded through, and continued up the mountain with out looking back. The men waited a while and then started their horses on a dog trot. When they reached the
 stream they halted, apparently to wa
 ter the horses. The older man threw
 his bridle to his companion and swung
 himself down to a stone In the stream.
 Then he stepped across to the bank
 and went into the thicket. In mo-
 ment he was at the base of a hollow
 tree and, reaching inside. lifted out
 a stone jug He pulled out the corn
 cob stopper and smelled it's contents.
 Then he walked back to his companion
 and, with a smile, remarked:
 T thought so. If we had the time
 to wait we would probably see our
 friend that brought us across from the
 station"
 He remounted and stuck his spur
 into the horses flank. But the animal
 struck slippery stone and fell on
 its launches. The rider pulled it to ltS ttSl d6il Dul u "d5 tOO Ldic, lOL
 he looked ahead and saw the woman
 turn and then start to walk faster.
 They trotted off more rapidly than be- fore, the woman having begun to all most run. Presently she reached a
 large stone that everhung the ravine, and clambering up on it began to pick berries from one of the bushes. The men slowed and watched her intently. Then to their surprise she began to sing. It was a weird tune. sung with
 a nasal twang. and the words were given with such clear ,enunciation that they caught each one of them. She
 finished and still picking the berries repeated the verse:
 Death goes about with rattlin' bones, An it came to the home of Amandy Jones'
 Take warnin'. take warnin'. Each time there was a peculiar em- phasis on the take warnin', take
 warnin'" It cut through the pines
 like a flash of lightning. and the echoes repeated it a hundred times until 1t died away far up against the rocky
 wall. She did not repeat the song, and | the men kept their eyes on the stoop- 1 ing figure.
 Watch the thicket, there," said the elder man quickly, as he started up the road toward the woman. His com panion, still holding his horse in the stream, drew his revolver, and holding | it at his side turned his eyes on the
 hollow tree. The other rode to the l stone where the woman still crouched | in the brush and stopped his horse be- | fore her. She turned and looked the
 man straight in the eyes. and there I in faatmrp nf her 1 tanned face. He did not speak, but | watched her closely. She did not stil | from her place on the rock, and as she | let the berries run through her fingers | into the faded gingham apron the mar | saw the expression on her face change | from fear to joy. He did not under | stand. Then he called his companion l He started to the road at a lively rate | but suddenly stopped his horse and pointed to Chimney Rock The older man turned and looked up to the peak | cloud of black smoke, with here ant
 there the trace of red tongue of flame l was pouring upward from the base oi | the rock. He understood now. The | moonshiner had heard the warning ant had fired his still. Without a com 1 ment the man in charge turned to thu | woman and spoke with anger in his l voice:
 | Now go; you lead the way
 "Whar?" she answered. her face never changing.
 Up the mountain" said the man
 you know--to Chimney Rock" 1 Without a word she arose and step | ped down to the road and started tc
 walk ahead. the men following he | closely. They rode on for quite
 distance. the ravine path growing
 rougher and harder to climb at eaci l step. Presently they came to cleared