Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-01-13

OF the earth as freely as sprtng Wztef.,
CONC with me for a little stroll. The
thirsty of Dilwell county know the
way to these places as city topers
know the way to a bar. We are now
III the iand 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 seven as they struck
off into the forest beside the cheerful
little brook that came down singing
from the hills. Ardmore had rarely
before in his life been abroad so
early, and he kicked the dew from
the grass in the cheerfullest spirit
imaginable.
Cooke had no been in this region
for sever years, and yet he never
hesitated, but walked steadily on, fol-
lowing the little brook. Presently he
bent over the bank and gathered up
a brownish substance that 1oated on
the water, lifted a little of it in his
palm and shifted it.
That said Cooke, holding it to
Ardmore's nose. is corn mash. That's
what they make their liquor of. The
still is probably away up yonder on
that hillside
He crossed the stream on a log,
climbed the bank on the opposite
shore, and scanned the near land
scape for a few minutes. Then he
pointed to an old stump over which
vines had grown in wild profusion.
If you will walk to that stump, Mr..
Ardmofe, and feel under the vines on,
the right-hand side, your fingers will
likely touch something smooth
and cool"
Ardmore obeyed instructions. He
thrust his hand into the stump as
Cooke directed, thrust again Il little
deeper. and laughed aloud as he drew
out a little brown jug.
Cooke nodded approvingly.
Were all right. The revenue men
come in here occasionally and smash
the stills and arrest a few men, but
the little brown jug continues to do
business at the same old stand. If
you have a dollar handy, slip it under
the stump, 81 they'll know we're not
stingv."
Ardmore was scrutinizing the jug
critically.
They're all alike" said Cooke, but
that piece of calico is a new one
just a fancy touch for an extra fine
article of liquor
I'll be shot If / haven't seen that
calico before" said Ardmore; and he
sat down on a boulder and drew out
the stopper, while Cooke watched him
with interest.
The 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 a tobacco wrap
per was scrawled:
This amt yore fight. Mr.. Ardmore
Wher's he gunner of North Carolina?
That's a new one on me-" laughed
Cooke. You ee, they know every
thing. M~ind-reading isn't in it with
them. They know who we are and
what we have come for. What's the
point about theigovernor?9'
@ the sseyerncs,s ell right" re
piled aardiTnoTe ctreiessiy. lie
wouldn't bother his head about a lit
tie matter like this. The powers re-
served to the states BY the constita-
ton give Il gnvernor plenty OF work
without acting as policeman of the
Jungle That's the reason said to
Gov, Banserfield. Governor / said,
don't worry about this A~ppleweight
business. Time Is heavy on my hands
l said. You stay III Raleigh and up
hold the dignity of your Office. and l
will take care of the trouble in Dill
well. And you can't understand.
Cooke, how his face frightened 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.
| had the hardest time OF my life to
get him to stay at home. 1t almost
broke his heart not to come"
And as they retraeed their steps to
the caboose, it was Ardmore who led,
stepping briskiy along. and blithely
swinging the jug.
CHAPTER X.