Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-08-01
The Mountain Fiend.
A Tale of Tug River.
BY H. A. COMPTON.
CHAPTER II.

We Will follow Randolph down the
. river {" lis brother store in Matewan.
He never once paused to look back at
his new lends and sympathizers, but
kept ST" ghc ahead, only too thankful
for his escape from the ruffian he had
so recently encountered.
1t was now nearing noon, and most o.
the GRO who had assembled at the
store I'D gone to herr several places
of abOd.' for thair mid csy meal
Sine Randolph walked straight into
his bro acr's store. ook his seat on All
unoccupicd box, ana gazed wildly about
the room. His brother, noticing his ex-
cited actions, asked:
"Wby. Simon, what on earth's the
matter with you. Have you seen old
julie, too? Ha, hSI''
/ Indeed, l have" returned Simon.
L ran upon somebody, that you may
call oil julie, but I'd call him the Dew
IL. He's the very same fellow that has
been hanging arond here so long; and l
tell you, brother, that I'm thankful
l got out of his way unframed, even if
am poorer man than l was before l
met him. "
Are you TESTING, Simon" asked
Pete greatly astonished, ''or is what
you're telling true? You don't tell me
you have had trouble with that sneak
ing old cuss that left here just little
while ago?'
Il don't know about him being here"
answered Simon, but l do know he
was about mile and half up the river
only a short while ago."
And what did he do to you," asked
Pete, looking his brother straight in the
face, you look as if you are almost
scared out of your wits
Il guess that 1 don't deceive my
looks" returned Simon, "for tell YOU
that thought my time was nearing it's
end only short hour ago. 1t seemed
that l was to be ushed before the judg-
ment bar unprepared. tell YOU men,"
he said turning to the few mountaineers
who still fingered at the store, al never
felt that life was so sweet in all my
days; l never heard the chipmunk chirp
so lively, nor saw the gray squirrel so
gay before-everything about SCENE
to be giving me welcome. Even the
old gray cliffs seemed to send out
friendly smile through the drowsy sun
shine. tell you, friends, life never
seemed worth living until this morn
ing"
He then related in detail the story of
his holdup and robbery-greatly exagr
gerated, perhaps, which was listened
to gravely by Pete Randolph and the
astonished mountaineers.
When he had finished, Pete asked:
Aud did you meet two fellows between
here and where the robbery occurred?"
Indeed, did," returned Simon, Il
met two very kind-hearted men, who
may by now be the victims of that
fiend's cruel hands,
How Go you know that they were
kind.hearted mem" asked Pete in sn
FIGURING tone.
why, that's easy enough! Don't !
you think they wanted to overtake that
villain and retake my goods. Why, they
offered to endanger their own lives to |
get back strangers property" Simon (
replied.
why, in the nsrne of high heavens,
did you not return with them," asked |
Pete in establishment. Il am sure if |
you had, you would not only have re-
covered your property but would have
had the pleasure of seeing the Copper
head take his departure"
Probably so, returned Simon, land |
l might have also taken my own, along
with the other two men,
Ibid one of the two men you met up
there tell you his name was Jim Samp-
son, of WHOM we have heard so much?"
said Pete, 81 mean the tai! fellow with
the derby" he continued in explana-
ton.
YES" answered Simon, land he
told me in full of the horrible crime of
which the robber 10 guilty. And fear,"
he continued, ''he hasn't improved any
since committing that henious act''
Their conversation was here inter
rupteo ny the shrill blast of sawmill
whistle on the outskirtS of the village
announcing the dinner hour.
Pete Randolph began closing his store
for his midday meal, for nature was
claiming time for refreshments. He
and his brother made their way to his
cottage in grove of beeches at the
extreme lower end OF the village, while
the mountaineers scattered to their re-
spsetivs cabins.
The brothers ate heartily, but never
once spoke of what had occurred in the
earlier part of the day. The meal over
they started on their return to the store, ,
for Pete was doing q lively business s
with his groceries.
This old DEVILS whole outfit may be
along here any day." said Pete, as he