The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-14

And now. Mr.. Ardmore, II you would
| Ike 10 see fire-water spring out OF the
earth as freely as spring water. come
with me for a little stroll. The thirsty
Of Dilwel County know the way 10 these
/ places as city topers know the way to a
bar We are now in the land Of the little
/ brown jug. and while these boys get
| breakfast. I'll see II the people in this
region have changed their habits"
1t was not yet o'clock as they struck
of into the forest beside the cheerful
| little brook that came down singing
/ from the hills. Ardmore had rarely be-
/ fore IN his life been abroad SO
early and he kicked the dew from the
grass in the cheerfulest spirit imagin-
able Within few days he had reared
pyramid Of noble resolutions. Life al
last entertained him. The way Of men OF
action had been as fabulous TO him as
the dew that now twin6led before him.
| Grtswold knew books. but here at his
side strobe a man who knew far more
amazing things than were written in any
| book. Cooke had not been In this region
/ for seven years, and yet he never hesi-
tated. but walked steadily on, following
the little brook. Presently he bent over
/ the bank and gathered up a brownish
substance that floated on the water. lift
ed little OF II in his palm and shifted
/ II.
That" SAID Cooke, holding II 10 Ard
mores nose. is corn mash. That's what
they make their liquor out Of. The still
Is probably away up yonder on the hill
Side. IL seems 70 me that we smashed
one there once when was IN the service;
and over there. about a mile beyond that
pine tree. where you see the hawk cirol-
ing. three OF us got into a mix-up, and
one OF our boys was killed"
He crossed the stream on log, climbed
the bank on the opposite shore, and
scanned the near landscape for a few
minutes Then he pointed to an old
stump over which vines had grown in
wild profusion
IF you Will walk 70 that stump. Mr.
Ardmore. and feel under the vines on
the right-hand side. your fingers win
very likely touch something smooth and
COOL
Ardmore obeyed instructions. He thrust
his hand into the stump as Cooke direct
ed. thrust again a little deeper. and
laughed aloud as he drew out little
brown tug.
Cooke nodded approvingly.
We're all right. The revenue men
come IN here OCCASIONALLY and smash the
stills and arrest few men. but the
little brown Jug continues TO do business
at the same old stand. They don't even
change the hiding-places. And while we
stand here, you may be pretty sure that
a freckled-faced, tow-headed boy or girl
Is watching us off yonder. and that the
word will pass all through the hills be-
fore noon that there are strangers abroad
in old DilwelL II you have a dollar
handy. slip IL under the stump. so they'll
know we're not stingy."
Ardmore was scrutinizing the jug criti-
cally.
They're ST. alike" said Cooke. but
that piece OF calico is a new one--iust
a fancy touch for an extra fine article
OF liquor"
'T'H be shot II I haven't seen that
calico before" said Ardmore; and he sat
down on a bowlder and drew out the
stopper. while Cooke watched him with
interest.
Tho bit OF Irvine was Individually the
same that he had unwound before in
his room at the Guilford House. and
the cob parted in his fingers exactly
as before. On a piece Of brown paper
that had been part OF n tobacco wrapper
was scrawled:
This amt yoTe fight. Mr.. Ardmore. wher.s
the gunner Of North Carolina
That's a new one on me-" laughed
Cooke. You see. they know everything.
Mind-reading isn't in it with them They
know who we are and what we have
come for What's the point about the
governor"
oh. the governors all right" replied
Ardmore carelessly. He wouldn't bother
his head about a little matter Ike this.
The powers reserved 20 the States bv
the Constitution give a governor plenty
OF work without acting as policeman OF
the jungle. That's the reason I said TO
Gov. Dangerdeld. Governor I said. don't
worry about this AppleweIght business
Time is heavy on my hands. I said You
stay in Raleigh and uphold the dignity
of your Office, and I will take care Of
the trouble in Dilwell' And YOU can't
understand, Cooke, how his face bright
ened at my words. Being the brave man
he Is, you would naturally expect him
TO come down here in person and seize
these scoundrels with his own hands 7
had the hardest time OF my life TO get
him 70 stay at home. II almost broke his
heart not to come"
And as they retraced their steps IN the
caboose, it was Ardmore who led stem
ping briskly along, and blithely swinging
the jug.