Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-09-24
The Evening Story
HUNTING
A STILL.
Bv KATHLEEN ]. M'CURDY

road In the eastern part of that state.
reaching snug farmhouse. drew rein. /
I'm looking for 4 farm to bny." he
said. "Do sou happen to know ri any
good hit OF land about here with some
buildings on !t3''
mo; I don't" said the woman. who
was both young ana eomely.
There ought to he good farming
about here"
stranger" said the woman. "you
hain't booking for farms. You're rev.
enue man after stills
The man was astcnlshed. He had
supposed he was playing q very sue.
cessfui game.
III you'd root out tho stills the peo-
pie about here would 20 to farming
instead Of making whisky"
II can't root out the stills" replied
the man. 'uniess you people help me-"
what kind o help do you wantT
Information"
'WelI. come 10 and have a snack
Perhaps my husband'll be coming
along soon. and he may do something
for you"
The revenue man dlsmouuted. led his
horse to the stable In the rear and en-
tered the house. He chatted with the
woman freely about the illicit distill-
ing. said that It helped the few and
wronged the mauy. A district where
1t was notorious never prospered. II
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 stillT'
mo. I'm 4 new man; Just put on to
this district"
That's the only one We could get
tyou 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 do.
iayed. So after supper she said she
would tell him where the Comstock
still was. and II he liked he could 60
and clean 1t out 1t was the only one
left In that immediate vicinity and
most 1T 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
q diagram Of the route to Comstock's.
1t was rather a zigzag course. extend
ing over several miles. The stranger
asked II there was no more direct
route. and she told him that there was
noue that could be made plain to one
who was not familiar with the coun-
try. When 1t 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
alone?"
That's just what I'm going to do"
you're a plucky one"
The man rode away. following the
route exactly as It had been laid down
by the woman. he was most of the
time climbing a mountain side. and.
though the distance was but . few
miles, he was two hours getting to q
point Just beyond which he had been
! told he would find the Comstock still.
He was to recognize It BY the crossing
Of two mountain roads. peculiarly
shaped oak tree on the point OF one OF
the angles. From the crossroads he
was to pass through an opening be.
tween the trees. 90 over stone wall
follow q tunnei q short distance down
the mountain and he would come upon
the still. Leaving the crossroads. be
! moved on as directed.
| He was moving very quietly down
5 the stream when he dislodged stone
that betrayed his approach. He paused,
but hearing nothing. moved forward
again Suddenly he heard the words
come out o: the darkness. "Hands up!'
He knew that be was on an elevation
that showed the sky line beyond him
aud that doubtless his enemy could sec
, him. while be could not see his enemy
He held his revolver in his hand cock
, cd and. hoping to at least disconcert
r his opponent. fred into the darkness
3 The only response was q bitter laugh
Y 1t sounded like TINT Of woman Graz
r ed. Then came voice which sounded
: distinctly feminine:
"Dr0p your weapon. can Kill you
= = NJ liker' ...,...., 49,
ment. then thought II best to do as ht
had been hidden. Suddenly a bullseyt
lantern was flashed in his face.
you're not the coward the other one
). was to come here and surround thu
a place and kill my Joe. You're brav'
n one II you are revenue. I'm Miss Jo'
q | Comstock. the woman who sent yor
y here. l knew you were q revenue
/; right Oh, and since Two been wishing
r Tor chance to get even with you gov
: eminent men gave you roundabout
. way. coming myself straight up thu
mountains. I intended to kill you. bu
couldn't. You're too plucky."
"wsll, then. since there II to be NJ
. killlng, suppose We shake hands aut
cay no more about Il"
q lyon 20 your way end I % mine
!. Good night"