The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1913-02-07


I'm a better shot than Shorty ever
was"
AN you'd better stop-quit quick.
or you'll be where he is, too"
The woman kept a sullen silence.
You moonshiners are a bad lot
that's all. l warn you to quiet the
others down. or they'll be countin'
bars with Shorty. Let me see your
distillery."
Her slender figure stiffensd slowly
and barred the doorway.
Did you hear me?"
Still no answer.
so the blood runs warm, Ell? You're
one of those wild roses all thorns-!"
He grasped her wrist firmly. Skin
like lily-and reared in the wilder
ness-what If Shorty came back? Ell?
Is 1t WORTH"
"What?"
Say, kiss and"
He stepped back hurriedly. afraid
of the glitter in her eyes. silenced by
the awful agony in her face.
Il reckon the hangin' Of Shorty will
square matters here-an' there amt
no use of no more revenue officers
trackin' our corn down." she said
slowly and bitterly.
You won't distill any more whisky
them"
Il amt sayin' yes nor no-but the
trail down is a sight cooler by night
than by day-an' there amt nobody
to take you away In case Of accidents
like happened to your friend today.
Aimsie, he said this mornin' that he
might lug a load down but not one
an anyway Dark Corner amt SO pow
erful big that 1t can hold you an me
together comfortably"
And so he turned before her eyes
that burned like fiery sea; but later,
when the wind sighed in the pine
boughs denoting the first flush of day
break he crept back. puzzled by
strange hacking sound.
Inside through the chinks Of the
rough wall he beheld the girl, ak In
hand, chopping pine. She had fash
Toned a queer object which her fin
fers touched lovingly, in wonder
ing pitiful way fitting notch to notch
with strange haste. At last she
Strengthened. bent and showed 1t ever
so gently with her foot so that the
clumsy. crude thing rocked to and
fro-while she fell above 1t arms
crossed in a paroxysm Of uncontrolled
grief.
Say, Mary, amt you tired walkin'
every day now in this awful heat?
The man drew her tenderly into his
arms as the iron door changed to.
mo, Shorty, amt never tired when
you are at the end. An an Shorty,
think when we are back alone" She
paused, suddenly confused-"we won't
never be alone again-will we though?
But when We get back, and he grows
I'D 80 big an strong in the forest
Shorty, an you teach him about the
birds an how to trap-we1l be hap
py?"
But I amt never comm back
Mary"
She swallowed hard as she brushed
the dust off her boots. But you are
Shorty-why the birds wouldn't sing
no more, nor the sun wouldn't never
shine again in Dark Corner-nor-nol
could we do without you-Pappy," anG
in the wonder of the new name she
slipped closer within his arms, and
resting her head on his shoulder they
talked as though the cabin walls sur
rounded them and the sweet air wa!
tanning their cheeks. She told hin
of all she had done and how she woulC
show him the little cradle the frs
thing when he came home.
That night she toiled up the trai
for the last time for many, man!
weeks-and each day that drew near
er came the date set for Shorty Billi
death. He scarcely noticed day o.
night, 80 great and terrible was hi
anxiety.
| The jailer got a permit after tina
which gave her the privilege Of spend
ing each night in his cell and leaving
at the first CLEAN of dawn.
A week passed and finally the las
day came, when all hope was aban
doned and they parted quietly at day
break. She chung to him as a wound
ed animal clings to its dying mate
and then with her son in her arm
turned sharply and left the prison.
The jailers and the revenue officer
came promptly two hours later, bu
with reluctant hands they turned tn
lock and entered.
Shorty" one said, we're sorry."
A sob was the only answer.
Brace up, Bill-don't give way
come"
They started to lift him to his fee
but with a trembling wall the bod
stood rigid, hair flung over the wor
coat in a cleaning mass.
"Aimsie was right wasn't a'feal
ed of death, but since-since-the III
tie stranger came-to Dark Corner
was afeared. He needed him power
: full much-to-to teach him abou
birds and-to-trap. A boy needs
Pappy more in the Blue Ridge than
: Mammy-an'-an' maybe the sun wi
shine after"
She paused, throwing her hands b
fore her.
mo, don't you all dare touch me-
I'm comm peaceable an quiet. I ain
skeered O. death an anyway that roa
!, I've travelled for four months wi
, make the beginnin' to He'll easy. lie
1 me alone What Back to Pappy
D..,x Nornar1 Nh Hndf1 an