The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-05
Our Daily $bcrt Story

he ts, he's toe handy with CT gun fer you ter take eny risk
 "Enyhow, she added, "ef you'll jes' be patient that cough of hisn will take him, off before a great while, ell then that won't be nuthin in our way
 Dave glanced at he man busy with preparations for their breakfast. The look he gave him was not one of re- spect for his acknowledged leader, or of fricnaship. but rather of cool in- spectfcB.
 Yes, it was true, the long hard win- ter through which they had just pass ed had been too much for Johns fraii constitution. Out night sfter night in rain and snow, he never considered himself so Ions as the men who trusted to his leadership haf need of him.
 Wary as a fox and as fertile in re- source. he was the despair of tho
 revenue officers sent to effect his cap ture In his eyes, if there was any crime. 1t was committed by the govern ment in their unwarranted intefer- ence in the matter Of the mountaineers converting their corn into whtskey in- stead of breaL But q hacking cough told the story cf, the disease that had fastened upon him.
 You're right, Mandy" said Dave after a pause, but we can't git shed of him none too quick ter suit me. fur I'm gitttn mighty tired of your carryins on
 The two then went within the cabin and sat down to the meal which John had placed on the table. Exhausted from his nights work and the exertion of stopping over the fireplace, he made no effort to eat, but kept pressing the food on them.
 Mandy, honey know hit would have been q hear tastier ef you had mixed hit, but eat little of that corn dodger en CT strip of bacon. Hit'll go mighty good with your coffee"
 ''Doan stop, Dave thars plenty more in the house, en hit won't take but CT mint ter fix hit"
 In his anxious concern that their apsetites should be appeased, he did not notice that he was doing all the talking. and that the others were waiting almost fin silence. Johns cough troubled him SO much for few days after that that he hn- ally slipped across the border into Tennessee to consult a physician, Ieav- ing Dave at the cabin to look after his wife. He returned home just as dusk of the second day. He was very grave and there was a settled look of sadness about the clear gray eyes. After vain effort to eat the supper Mandy had placed before him, he pushed his plate back and looked anx-
 
 Mandy. that doctor man told me some bad news. en I want ter AK if you'd mind eff Dave stayed here pretty much all the time fer CT spell?'
 A fit of coughing interrupted him, and he did not see the look that fash ed from her eyes before she spoke.
 T doan see whut's the use of hit, but eff you say. so. hit1l have ter be-" she replied sullenly.
 'H0ney I wtian't aip,fu ter ySAstar y,y,, with hit now. but you might ez well know the whole truth" thcr doctor sed hain't got long ter stay here, en be- fore 1 SC I want ter teach Dave all I know erbout hidin' frum them revernus. SO ez he kin take my place."
 Wont you please let him stay. Mandy? Hit1l be or protection ter you havin' him around. fur the doctor sed the only medicine fur mo ter take wuz ter stay out doors in the sunshine. en I won't be able ter stay down here In the valley ez much es I'd want ter.'
 T ain't CT carin' ef he stay finally agreed Mandy. She didn't seem as shocked at hts condition as John had feared she would, but he was thankful for this. as the slightest sign of suf- ferine on her part was harder for him to Bear than his own pain. More and more he had Dave stay with him in hisS cabin home. instruct ing him in the wiles and woodcraft that would be necessary for the preser- vation of his people when he should be no longer with them
 Sometimes he would walk as far up the mountain as his failing strength would permit. and drink in the wild beauty of his surroundings, which was to his uncuItured soul all that art and music might be to the more fortunate. There were whole days when he would back in the warmth of the spring sun shine and dream of his wife not with out an anxious thought of her future. One morning when he had gone out expecting to spend the day, these thoughts oppressed him so that he grew restless and uneasy. and there came ever him a sickening sensation of lone- liness and longing just to be near the | woman he loved so passionately. His feet made no sound as he came down the mountain path, and as he neared the house an open window gave him a full view of the interior. As eager for a sight of his wife as any Iovesick boy for his sweetheart, he shaded his eyes with his hands and peered within. He saw-not only his wife but his friend--and what he saw made him know that he. sick and alone. was for gotten and betrayed-betrayed by those who had eaten his bread and for whom he would have given his life. They haS not seen him. and stunned and mortaIly wounded he crawled back up the trail, nnd when his strength failed. dropped down behind some bushes.
 Gradually it all became clear to him and as piece by piece ho put events together and realized how basely and contemptuously these two had treated him in his physical weakness. while he was giving them his all. his blood be- gan to boil. aEi for hours he lay there cursing and ravine. sometimes In an- ger, sometimes in despair. but ever with growing hatred of the man who had made so unutterably bitter the few re- mainfne days of his span of life. and he determined that he should not be left behind him.
 strength must come for this-and then-and then he was ready to go. 
 The court room Of the mountain town was crowded at the special term called to try the case of John Davidson for the murder of Dave Duncan. Moving feebly. with the assistance of the shsrfff, John Davidson took his place it the bar ana the case was