The Irish standard., 1910-03-12

mystical twilight. the train passed
now and then great cotton factories
that blazed out from their thousand
windows like huge steamships.
When they sought lonely siding
to allow a belated passenger train to
pass, the conductor brewed coffee and
cooked supper and Ardmore called in
the detectives and trainmen. The
sense of knowing real people, whose
daily occupations We're so novel and
interesting, touched him afresh with
delight. These men said much in few
words. One Of the detectives chaffed
Cooke covertly about some adventure
in which they had been jointly asso-
ciated.
81 never thought they'd get the lead
out of you after that business in Mis-
souri,. You were regular NINE"
said the detective to Cooke, and
Cooke glanced deprecatingly at Ard.
more.
Hes the little Joker, all right"
"You can't kill him." remarked tho
detective. 1--WE seen 1t tried"
Before the train started the detect.
ives crawled back into their car, and
Cooke drew out some blankets,
tossed them on bench for Ardmore,
and threw himself down without ado.
Ardmore held to his post in the tow
er, as lone as the lookout in a crows.
nest. The night air swept more cool
ly in as they neared the hills, and the
trains single brakeman came down
as though descending from the sky.
rubbed the cinders from his eyes, and
returned to his vigil armed with q
handful of Ardmore's cigars.
For the greater part of the night
they enjoyed free track, and
thumped the rails at lively clip.
Shortly after midnight Ardnore
crawled below and went to sleep. At
five o'clock Cooke called him.
We're on the switch at Kildare
One of your men is here waiting for
you"
Big Paul, the German forester, was
called in, and Ardmore made his toilet
in pail Of water while listening to
the big fellows report. Cooke
joined in the conversation, and Ard.
more was gratifled to see that the
two men met on common ground in
discussing the local geography. The
forester described in clear, straight.
forward English Just what he had
done. He had distributed his men
we'll through the hills, and they were
now posted as pickets on points ia
vorable for observation. They had
found along the streams four widely
scattered stills, and these were being
watched. Paul drew a small map,
showing the homes Of the most &C.
tive members of the Appleweight
gang, and Ardmore indicated all these
points as nearly as possible on the
county map he had brought with him.
Here's Raccoon creek, and my
own land runs right through there
| just about here, isn't 1t Paul? I al
ways remember the creek, because I
| like the name so much"
"You are right, Mr. Ardmore. The
best timber you have lies along there.
and your land crosses the North Car
DINA boundary into South Carolina
about here. There's Mingo county,
South Carolina, you see.'
We'll, that dashes mel" exclaimed
Ardmore, striking the table with his
fist. II never knew one state from
another, but you must be right"
Pm positive Of 1t, Mr.. Ardmore.
One of my men has been living there
on the creek to protect your timber.
Some of these outlaws have been cut.
ting off our wood"
| 1T seems to me I remember the
place. There's a log house hanging
on the creek. You took me by It
once, but it never entered my head
that the state line was SO close"
ut runs right through the house!
And some one, years ago, blazed the
trees along there, so 1t is very easy
to tell when you step from one state
to another My man left there re.
Gently, refusing to stay any longer.
These Appleweight people thought he
was spy, and posted a notice on his
door warning him to leave, so shift
ed him to the other end of the es-
tate"
did you see the sheriff at Xii.
dare?"
II haven't seen him. When I asked
for him yesterday I found he had left
town and gone to Greensboro to see
his sick uncle"
Ardmore laughed and slapped his
knee
who takes care Of the dungeon
while he's away?"
There are no prisoners in the Kill
dare jail The sheriff's afraid to keep
any; and he's like the rest OF the
people around here. They all live in
terror of Appleweight."
"Appleweight is a powerful charac-
ter in these parts" said Cooke, pour
ing the coffee he had been making,
and handing tin cupful to Ardmore
"He's tolerable we'll off, and could
make money honestly if he didn't op-
crate stills. rob country stores. mix
YIN IN noli+icc and steal horses when