Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-01-23
HUNTING
A STILL
By KATHLEEN !. MCURDY

I'm looking for a farm TO buy" he
said. DO you happen to know nf any
good bit of land about here with some
buildings on it,"
NO: don't" said the woman. who
was both young aud cOmely.
"There ought to be good farming
s,vs., here
stranger" said the woman. you
hain't looking for farms. You're a rev.
enue man after stills"
The man was .aStonished. He had
supposed he was playing Il very sue
cessful game
If you'd root out the stills the peo-
pie about here would go to farming
instead of making whisky"
81 cant root out the stills" replied
the man. "unless you people help me-"
"What kind O. help do you want?"
Information"
"Wel. 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 chattPd with the
woman freely about the illicit distill-
ing, said that it helped the few and
wronged the many A district where
it was notorious never prospered. 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:
Did you ever hear of Joe Com
stocks still?"
NO, I'm new man; just put on to
this district"
That's the only one we could get
you on to here. If my husband don't
come home purity soon I'll tell you all
about it,"
Fer 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 if he liked he could 20
and clean it out. 1t was the only one
left in that immediate vicinity and
most of the people thereabout would
be glad to see it shut up. The wOm-
an after she had cleaned away the
supper dishes sat down beside the
stranger and on piece of paper drew
a diagram of the route to Comstock'S S.
1t was rather a 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 he 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 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 a few
miles, he was two hours getting to o
point just beyond which he had beer
told he would find the Cnmstock 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. go over a stone wall,
follow a tunnel a short distance down
the mountain and he would come upon
the still. Leaving the crossroads. he
moved on as directed.
He was moving very quietly down
the stream when he dislodged stone
that betrayed his approach. He 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 at least disconcert
his opponent. fred into the darkness.
The only response was bitter laugh
1t sounded like that of woman Graz.
ed. Then came a voice which sounded
distinctly feminine:
Drop your weapon. I can kill you
If like"
The revenue man hesitated n mo-
Ihent, then thought 1t best to do as he
had been bidden. Suddenly bullseye
lantern was dashed 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 II brave
one if you are revenue. I'm Miss Joe
Comstock. the woman who sent you
here. knew you were revenue
right Off, and since I've been wishing
for a chance to get even with you gov
ernment men gave you roundabout
way. coming myself straight up the
mountains. I intended to Kill you, but
couldn Z. You're too plucky."
well. then. since there is to be no
killing. suppose we shake hands and
say no more about it."
You 20 your way and l go mine.
Good night"
The next afternoon the stranger
again rode up to the Widow Comstock' s
house and after long interview per
suaded her to give up still that she
had been running ever since her hus-
band had been killed There was some
thing persuasive In his makeup. some.