Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-02-24
Miseellaneous 8saaina.
MooNsHINER SAVES HIS ENEMY.
Revenue Officer Lost In the Mountains
Has Close Call.


Gabe, his son and co-offender against
the peace and dignity Of the Federal
government, being less Injured to hard
ship, crouched closer to the stack OF
pine fagots that blazed cheerfully or
the windward side of fallen tree. and
grumbled volubly.
Hits a dang shame, thet's whut hit
is-nothin' short" he growled, ''an ef
he'd revernooer here I'd break his
back with my gun barrel an leave him
toe die i'm the hresh, like a scotched
snake"
"Y'ain't got no revernooer here, in
the fust place." returned the older
man. "an' we mought thank yer lucky
stars 'steada wishin' fur one. Times
amt like they wuz. Y'cain't shoot a
officer now 'thout reskin' yer neck.
Like to be hailed off yander to JEFF
City or Springfield an stretch fur hit
Yes, 1 know, an thet's jest why I'd
like toe leave him in the bresh with his
back broke"
Sim didn't answer. His heart was
also full of bitterness, but years and
experience had made him more conser-
vative. He felt what he called a
"gredge" against the revenue officers,
for he had been out two nights hiding
in the woods, having taken to the
bresh" Immediately after hearing from
Sam Williams, through the latter's girl,
Sally, that two deputies were known
to be in the vicinity.
A storm was approaching when he
left home with Gabe, but as between
angry elements and representatives Of
the treasury department Sim preferred
to cast his lot with nature.
He had arranged a temporary wind
break. built a fire, and now he felt
reasonably sure that If hailed by con-
stituted authority he could say that
he and his boy were on camp hunt"
and thus evade the law. He did not
doubt that some local informer had
pointed out his still or that 1t would be
destroyed. He was sore.
For ten minutes the man stared at
the fire, the silence being broken now
and then by an audible imprecation
from Gabe.
when did you shoot last, Gabe?"
the old man asked finally. rs yo' gun
clean?'
"Hain't shot sense l got back from
Fo'sythe, 'cept with yo''gun."
You'd better then; the rife mought
hang fire eff 'taint clean, an this amt
no time toe take chances"
Without a word Gabe arose, went to
a tree, picked up an old style muzzle-
loading rifle that had been leaning
against it, and fired into the air. The
gun did not hang fire.
And long before the echo had ceased
to bound and rebound from spur to
spur of the Ozarks an answering shot
came from down in the hollow below.
The report was repeated twice in
rapid succession-so quickly. indeed,
that father and son knew that there
was more than one man in the party,
or else that a magazine rifle was being
used.
Sim leaped to his feet, on his guard
at once, alert, attentive. Gabe, who
hurriedly began the work Of reloading,
had not rammed the buckshot home
when another report was heard. Who
ever it was that had so much ammu-
milton to waste was staying in the
same place. Sim was puzzled. Finally
he said in his unimpassioned way:
Hit might be somebody in distress"
AS if in answer, the report was re-
peated.
After some hesitation Chittim raised
his rifle and fired.
BY the time the work of reloading
was completed another report was
heard, this time little nearer. The
owner of the repeating rifle had begun
to move. 1t was bitter cold, and the
mountainer became convinced that he
need fear no immediate harm from the
stranger. Once more he fired into the
air.
There was instant response, still far
from the camp. The conclusion was
that the wanderer, sore spent. was
making slow progress.
Put some pine knots on the fire,
Gabe, an stay heah," instructed Sim.
whilst 1 go down into the holler an
see what's up. l hate t waste powder,
but you'd better shoot ever few min
it's"
1t was an hour later when Sim Chit
tim half-carried, half-dragged a frost
craZed man into camp. He was hold
ing snow to the strangers nose, while
the latter protested incoherently. Nor
would Sim permit his charge to go
any nearer the fire than the log he
himself had quit an hour before.
There he made Gabe hold him while
snow was rubbed on his face, on his
hands and even on his bare feet,
which, after the shoes were removed.
were swathed in blankets.
At the expiration of another hour
the Illdll, WHO WAS SHOW -DllllQ anu
half mad with cold, could make him.
self understood, but he volunteered lit
tie information about himself And
mountain folk are not inquisitive.
Food, consisting of various steaks and
corn ash cakes, was prepared, but the
guest of an open-air hospitality ate
sparingly. He was weak and indiffer-
ent. Toward morning he slept little.
and at sunrise he developed a fever.
The snow had ceased to fall. 1t was
clear and cold.
Hit nd he onhuman toe keep him
here, Gabe," announced Chittim. I'VE
got toe resk gittin' him toe the house.
I'll taken him toe Elm Spring, on the
big road, and do YOU go crost tn Knob
and drive down after us. 'Tain't sar-
tin tn rcvernooers stayed in tn coun-
ty after tn snow sot in, nohow."
Gabe, who was accustomed to obey.
did not demur.
The stranger followed his guide of
the mountains to the big road, and
tbnrn thev wpra nirkad IN hv Gabe I'm