The Cairo bulletin., 1911-08-17
THE
SMUGCIE
BY M. QUAD
Copyright, 1911. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

Aunt Jane mad nfty hens. She Oil.
vided their food in fifty equal portions.
II one hen got kernel of corn too lit
tie it was made up toner. She would
have no neutrality-suspicious. the house,
and she believed all tin peddlers hon
est.
This good woman had been conscien-
tious for almost fifty years, when two
startling episodes occurred in her life.
Uncle Joe sold horse and out OF the
money bought her an alpaca dress, the
first she had ever had, 1t wasn't made
up. but there were twelve full yards
of the shiny goods, Some day when the
Innings and trimmings could be had
she would make it into a best dress.
The second episode was a letter from
her sister Nancy, entreatins her to pay
a visit to the home in Canada. More
over, Nancy sent the money for the
journey. That clinched the matter
with Uncle Joe. who had only the av-
erage conscience. He said Get ready
and go and stay two weeks but Aunt
Jane answered;
How can ! even think of such n
| thing? You'd let the clock run down
I, the very first night | was gone, aud
you'd let them two ROSTERS eat up all
the corn for twenty hens!'
After talking matters over for
week. however, and after remember
ing that Sister Nancy was good
drassmaker II was decided that Aunt
Jane should pay the visit. IL was
straight run to Sister Nancy's. All she
had to do was to keep her seat and ask
the conductor every fifteen minutes IL
they were most there. The rails kept
their place. and the cars stayed on the
rails, and in due time Aunt Jane and
Sister Nancy were landed in each 9th
ers arms. After three or four days
the trimmings were bought and work
started on the new dress Aunt Jane
was wearing it when she reached
home.
One day two weeks later, as UNCLE
Joe was hoeing potatoes In the field, he
| heard the dinner horn blow. II was 2
o'clock in the afternoon, and that toot-
| ing could only mean danger of some
kind He dropped his hoe and liked.
Amt Jane awaited him at the Kitchen
door She was palefaced and weeping
aud wringing her hands.
"Wall what Is it?' was asked.
"I've got TO go TO prison for the rest
OF my lifew was the sobbing reply.
Nonsense. What you been doing
"And If | don't go to prison the fine
will be at least 81 900"
"For what? Why in tarnashun don't
you aell me"
shook up. The truth of the matter is
I'm smugglerw
CAS- how?"
Il took that dress goods over to Can
ada and didn't say a word about It,
There | had, my dress made up and
wore it home and didn't say nothing
That's smuggling, and smuggling is an
awful thing"
"No, twan't. II was Jest slip.
'Tain't like hiding stone in the bot
| tom of butter crock Now you Jest
| shet up about il and don't skeer me
to death blowing horns out o time"
| When Uncle Joe came up TO supper
he saw that Aunt Jane was still trou
bed. She had brought the dress down
stairs and wrapped IL up. He refused
to open the subject again, and that
night he knew she didn't sleep wink.
For the first time In twenty years the
clock was left unwound. He was
ready to go to the field when he asked;
Are you going 10 keep this thing up
right along"
Yes, unless it's fixed, was the tear.
ful reply.
"Then I'd better board in the barn"
"But it's my conscience, pamy con
science I've tried to forget 1t, but
can't. II go to sing | hear voice
saying to me;
"'Aunt Jane, you are smuggler. aud
you dasnt look one or your own hens
In the facets You've robbed Canada
and you've robbed America, and you
deserve TO he sent TO state prisonr
That's the way the voice keeps say
ing. pa and what am | to doY'
'HTelEit to'eo TO Texas"
For aaweek Aunt Jane was the most
miserable woman in the state she
i was ridiGuled and scolded by turns
but when Uncle Joe realized that there
was no other way to bring back her
peace. of mind he said
"Waal, tie another string around the
bundle, ana ri go along with ii and
have II over with. It'll cost 81 80 IL
20 aud come, but IL | don't 20 you'il be
fiat IN bed in q week OF more"
| Aud trip was made to the border
and the bundle was put into the hands
Of customs officer with the cxpana
tlon. He looked at Uncle Joe for d long
minute ana then returned the bundle
with remark The remark was saved
lup until the farmer got home Aunt
Jane saw hln while be was yet afai
off, and she was at the gate to meet
him and ask:
"Is II all fixed?" r.
Eyes" AAAA
"Am 10 90 to prisonT w$sassas
"No." Ve~NAe
"What did the man say?"
"That you must be an idiot! ~
Anything morer'
"And that must have come out Of