Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-12-05
HUNTING
A STILL
BY KATHLEEN |. M'CURDY

! II was III the days OF ilItcit dlStlIling
IN Kentucky. man riding along a
road IN the eastern part OF that state,
reaching "A snug farmhouse, drew rein.
I'm looking for a farm to buy" he
said DO you happen to know of any
good bit Of land about here with some
buildings on it,
No; don't" said the woman. who
was both young and cOmely.
There ought to be good farming
about here.
stranger" said the woman. you
hain't looking for farms. You're rev
enue man after stills"
The man was astonished. He had
supposed he was playing very sue
cessfuI game.
III you'd root out the stills the PEG
pie about here would go to farming
instead OF making whisky"
~ cant root out the stills" replied
the man. unless you people help me"
what kind q help do you wantT
Conformation"
"Well. come In and have a snack
Perhaps my husband'll be coming
along soon. and he may do something
for you"
The revenue man dIsmounted, led his
horse TO the stable In the rear and en-
tered the house. He chattcd with the
woman freely about the Illicit distill-
ing. said that it helped the few and
wronged the many. A district where
II was notorious never pr0spered. 1t
was under ban: no credit; no pro
ductiOn of crops: no comfort for any
one, She appeared to agree with him
and when he had finished said:
Ibid you ever hear of Joe Com
stocks stlIIT
No. I'm new man; just put on to
this district"
That's the only one we could get
you on to here II my husband don't
come home purity soon I'll tell you all
about It.
Her husband didn't come home. She
said she supposed he had been de.
layed. SO after supper she said she
would tell him where the Comstock
still was. and II he liked he could go
and clean II out, II was the only one
left In that immediate vicinity and
most of the people thereabout would
be glad to see 1t shut up. The WON
an after she had cleaned away the
supper dishes sat down beside the
stranger and on piece of paper drew
diagram Of the route to Comstock' s.
II was rather II Zigzag course. extend
ing over several miles. The stranger
asked If there was no more direct
route, and she told him that there was
none that could be made plain to one
who was not familiar with the coun-
try. When It was dark he got out
his horse, mounted and, thanking the
woman for her hospitality, was about
to ride away when she asked:
You going to take Joe Comstock
alonef"
'"rhat's Just what I'm going to do"
"Youre plncky one,
The man rode away, following the
route exactly as 1t had been laid down
by the woman. He was most of the
time climbing mountain side. and.
though the distance was but few
miles. he was two hours getting to a
point just beyond which he had been
told he would find the Comstock still,
He was to recognize 1t by the crossing
OF two mountain roads, II peculiarly
shaped oak tree on the point OF one OF
the angles. From the crossroads he
was to pass through an opening be.
fxxgn h.. Gtn a
follow n tunnel short distance down
the mountain and he would come upon
tho still. Leaving the crossroads, he
moved on az directed.
He was moving very quietly down
the stream when he dislodged n stone
that betrayed his approach. lie paused,
but hearing nothing. moved forward
again Suddenly he heard the words
come ont OF the darkness. Hands up!
He knew that he was on an elevation
that showed the sky line beyond him
and that doubtless his enemy could see
him. while he could not see his enemy,
He held his revolver in his hand cock
ed and, hoping to Mt least dsconcert
his opponent, fired into the darkness
The only response was a bitter laugh
1t sounded like that of II woman Graz.
ed. Then came voice which sounded
distinctly feminine:
Drop your weapon. can kill you
II | likew
The revenue man hesitated n mo.
ment, then thought It best to do rs he
had been hidden, suddenly n bullseye
lantern was flashed In his face.
you're not the coward the other one
was to come here and surround the
place and kill my Joe You're brave
one II you are Il revenue, I'm Miss Joe
Comstock the woman who sent yoN
here. knew you were n revenue
right or, and since I'VE been wishing
for chance to get even with you gov
eminent men | gave you roundabout
way. coming myself straight up the
mountains, | Intended to kill you, but
couldn't. You're too plucky."
"Wen, then. since there is TO be no
killing. suppose we shake hands and
{ l.