The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-03-28

done It, Sim. low thar amt er
doubt about 1t In my mind. I've seen
him more times than one a-talkin' ter
the chief over ter the settlement The
boys didn't know 1t ware the chief
then. else his first time o. talkin'
might a been his las, but now
they've found out, the few what's left
amt aimin' fur him ter do more dam
age"
AZ he spoke. Joe Blackwell looked
furtively into the face Of his half
brother. Sim Gage. and tapped impa-
tiently on the ledge of rock that jutted
out from the mountainside.
Il amt a-doubtin' that Jack ware
talkin' ter the chief. Joe; only lowed
that he might "a been talkin' of some
thin else sides the still. happen ter
know that the chief has brother in
the shops at Knoxville whar Dell says
Jack were aimin' ter go, and he might
q been speakin' o. that"
"He might a. been, but I low he
warn't. Have yer forgot what he said
when he fust run upon the still. and
we'uns tried ter swear him not ter
tell?-T amt never tended ter mo-
body's business 'cept my own says
he, an 1t amt my business ter tell;
but 'longside O. that amt promisin'
nothin'. and mind ye. I'll lie fur no
man. Them ware his very words,
Sim"
Il low I warn't thinkin' o. Coleman
mainly Joe. when said les be sartin
afore we'uns went ahead. / amt
nothin' ergin him II he's KEEP er still
tongue. but 1t ware o. Dell that wuz
thinkin'-o' Leila's little gal. / set
sight by Leila. She ware my own sis
ter-not Just half, as she ware yourn;
and when she died and sent her boy
and gal back ter the mountains ter
we'uns. lowed I'd stan by 'em as II
they ware mine. Dams stubborn and
hard-headed sometimes and won't see
things as he orter. but Dell Is good
gal. The cabins been q different
place since she come-you'uns mind
that. Coleman's picked up a bit Of
learnin' and is more like her sort than
the rest Of us here, and she can't be
blamed fur nkin' him; but II he is
guilty amt nothin' more ter say,
fur amt no more use than you'uns
fur them a. is huntin' US down. and
one who would give his own people
erway to them is worse nor they"
Then you'uns II stand by what
we'uns swore together IL months ago
with Taylor and Bently and Davis!"
"Yer knows I'll do it 'thout askin'.
Joe. I'd stan by II 1t ware my own
son whose neck had ter be stretched
by the halter"
II was an unusual hour for q man Of
the mountains to be awake-almost
IL: but Jack Coleman sat smoking on
the steps of his cabin. He had met
his sweetheart Deli, on his return
from Knoxville and she had told him
that her brother Dan had confessed to
Informing the revenue officers Of the
still. Jack told her to tell Dan to
come over and stay with him that
night. He had just sent Dan up into
the loft to bed. They had talked Of
his journey to Knoxville. Of the won
derful shops and the work they both
liked; then the tools were brought
and looked over.
Among the shadows of the laurels
he saw the outlines Of moving figures
coming toward the cabin. and with a
dread at his heart he thought of the
boy that Dell loved lying asleep In the
loft.
II low you'uns must "a been ex-
pectin' u.s." said the foremost man.
'Tve hearn 1t said guilty conscience
makes folks oneasy and watchful."
The upper part Of the mans face
was covered, but Coleman recognized
him as soon as he spoke.
mo, warn't lookin' for any visitors
tonight, an II there's anything on my
conscience that oughter trouble me
amt knowin' Of 1t. More'n likely you're
judgin' my conscience by your own.
Seth Taylor. ! saw the smoke Of yer
still to-day as come over the gap"
Then you'uns must a been lookin'
fur more stills ter give way as ye did
the one under the falls. low Joe
Blackwell amt 'fraid to look ye in the
face an say It. An more'n that
low that after ter-night you'uns ii
do such work no mo-"
The truth dawned upon Coleman
then. 1t was himself, not Dans they
were seeking. In some manner the
boys guilt had been fastened upon
him.
In the excitement and anger they
were oblivious to all about, and not
until she was among them did they
know that Dell had followed from Sim
Cages cabin where they had laid their
plans. Her long hair had slipped from
its fastenings as she ran and hung
loose in the wind. Her face was set
and white.
"stop!' she sasped. "Stop--for the
love Of Godl It wasn't him that told
III wasn't Jacki"
4 Sim Gage caught eagerly at her
words. and moved quickly forward.
Speak up. lass. an tell what 70
know. Fore God, ware troubled
4fore fur this nights work
Twice Dell tried TO obey, but her
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