The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-03-18
The Majors Story

OF my years." said he, running his
shapely fingers through the snow
white locks. sBut, then, have seen
great deal of the world, you know.
Sometimes I think it would have
been better if I had not"
"But what caused your hair to
turn so white? It cannot be age,
for, if l am judge, you are not over
forty" The major laughed.
"No. | 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 a
story here. Let's have it,"
Again the major smiled, but this
time perceptible tremor shook his
frame.
Il never like to think of that
time," he said. ''But be it as you
will.
"When l was thirty years old ]
was employed by Uncle Sam to
scour the country for moonshiners.
My territory lay mostly in the
southern states. It was in 1881 that
| 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.
was of light hearted, daredevil
disposition, and usually such an Or
der would have spurred me to my
4 best, but on this September morn
ing, when, leaving civilization be-
hind, / 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 a feeling Of in
describable dread oppressed me.
con | stumbled, deep in my
gloomy meditaticns, when suddenly
| nearly fell over girl, clad in a
single calico garment, who was
kneeling beside a hawberry bush
filling a pail with the fruit. The
surprise was mutual, and she start
ed up like a frightened fawn. With
out disparagement of the sex | can
safely say that no palmer women
exist on the continent than the av-
erage female moonshiner. AS the
girl turned, however, she displayed
face in pleasing contrast with the
, characteristic high cheek bones and
sague' complexion Of that section.
Her oval features, brown as ber-
ry, but regular in outline, set off by
pair Of ruby lips and jet black
eyes, would compare favorably with
those of any fashionable belle.
"tWha' be you goin'? she asked.
with startled air.
81 am an artist I replied, come
to sketch some bits of scenery. l am
looking for Jerry Bowman
"'Wha' you want wi him?
"1 am going to board at his
house, -
: "Huh! Then you un wants Ole
HOSP
81 was uncertain, but nodded.
By this time had drawn packet
from my pocket and begun making
hurried marks on it. The girl peer
ed over my shoulder and asked:
"FHow long be you un goin' ter
stayY
ssShe gazed at the scrawl and said
WAL, I guess you un can come
on
:. Cup the tortuous path, twisting
now to the right and now to the
left, we went till suddenly the girl
!. pushed aside the thick underground
!. and darted along a trail leading d.
rectly into the heart of the forest. l
said not word, but did considera-
BILE thinking as now and then pro-
truding hawberry brier tore its way
into my flesh or stiff twig, bent
forward by my guide, with zip
flew back, striking me across the
face. Suddenly / heard a bowling
shrek. The girl gave a low, pc.
culiar whistle, and the next instant
four large ours were paving at mel
feet and in most uncomfortable
manner shifting at my heels.
"This is pap the girl whispered
This is Ole Hoss, the man you VI
is a-lookin' fur
"Whence he came and how he got
there I was never able to explain te
myself, but there he was, armed &C
the teeth, q large hunting knife II
his belt, shotgun on his shoulder
- r+o;roor'c Grin on his