The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-13
J eeeoeeeeee . eoaoo q
HOW CAME TO
BE A FARMER.

IOriginaLl.

I went. Reaching the locality that I
sought, l began operations by pump
ing the inhabitants. Passing a farm
house I saw good looking young wo-
man on the porch taking care or a
couple of little children l dismounted,
went in and asked for a drink of wa
ter. The woman pointed to a gourd
hanging in a well house, and l helped
myself Then, before asking any ques-
tons. l played with the children with
a view to opening a way TO the moth
er's confidence.
Sorry your husband isn't at home"
l said I'm looking out for timber
lands. Perhaps he might know of
some to SELL"
Il haven't got a husband" she re-
piled: 'I'm q wilder"
She went on to tell me that 1t was
hard for her to get on since her hus-
bands death. The country was ruined
by the illicit distilling that was going
on. Instead of farming, everybody was
making whisky, and that kept respect
able people away.
Would you,'' l asked, "be willing to
do something to get rid of the moon
shiners?"
''Well, l don't like to git my neigh
bors down on me-"
But supposing you could make
nice thing of it."
What d'y' call a nice thing?"
named sum 1 was willing to pay
for the information l desired
Look a-here, stranger" she said.
"'You hain't after lumber; you're
a-huntin' stills. Now, if you double that
what yo' said, it's a go.'
complied with the terms, and she
gave me minute information as to
where l could find a half dozen secret
whisky manufactures, with the names
of persons who knew all about them
and ownership in court.
Having kissed the Children want
/ ed to kiss the widow, too; she was
very tempting-I mounted my horse,
confirmed the information given me
by pretending to stumble on the stills
while hunting timber lands, then rode
to the county seat and Swore out war
rants for the persons whose names
had been given me as the owners and
| subpoenaed the witnesses.
Some time was required to serve the
papers, and 1t was several weeks be-
fore we were ready for trial. Mean
while 1 called frequently on the widow,
| becoming quite at home In her house,
taking the children out to walk with
me while their mother was busy with
her household duties. l feared that
my being so much at her home would
lead those whom was prosecuting to
suspect that she had given me the
necessary information, but they didn't
seem to trouble her. l began to feel
that I would not mind settling in Ten
nessee with a view to ministering to
the widow and the fatherleSs.
When the case came up for trial II
became apparent that the stills 1 had
seen were small ones, the main stills
where the bulk of the whisky was
made remaining undiscovered. The
fees paid the witnesses-whose testi
mony was worthless-cost the state q
round penny, and the amount paid
the widow was a dead loss TO me.
was riding away from the courthouse
much discounted when one Of my
witnesses overlook me.
stranger" he said, 'what'd you une
give for some more informationY
Nothing"
"Well, I'll give it to you anyway
The wilder that put y on to 'em owned
the hull kit. Her husband owned al
the big stills about hyar, and when ht
was shot year ago by a revenue Off
Ger his wilder tux the property and
has been runnin' it ever since. Hyar''
a paper she writ you uns.'
He handed me a missive from the
widow inviting me to take supper witt
her that evening. 1 thanked the mar
for his information and, turning, rode
: to the widows home.
: stranger" she said, 81 hain't NJ
great lover fer still hunters, SEEM N!
husband was shot by a revenue blu
l hain't got over your takin' a shine
to Tommy and Maudie. Here's thu
money you uns paid me fer putin yoV
uns on to the stills. l own 'em, AMI
the witnesses I give y air all in NJ.
employ. Reckon it wouldn't be RICH
| to take pay fer that. The state cal
; afford to pay the witness fees"
We were soon seated at a table OF
: which was delicious supper Of han
and eggs, biscuit, corn bread and cot
! fee The widow did everything sh
could to make me forget my failure Z
break up moonshining in Polk county
] and by the time l had finished my SUP
+ per / was in very contented fran
Of mind While l smoked she put he
children to bed, and during the tim
! she was doing" the dishes went int
the room where the little tots lay an
! played with them till she had finished
When they were asleep the widow SO
: down beside me and said:
IT want to git out O this moor
: ghinin'. I'm lone woman, and, thong
Y I'm no fool at turnin' of revenues
i hain't got the head fer turnin' m
S nronerty into money"