The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1917-11-24
A Mountain
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By Margaret Daisy Jameson
By Margaret Daisy Jameson

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Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union.
Money will solve the problem, Us
1t freely. The company must and will
exterminate the Boyce-Grinnel raiders
Thus the manager of the Brittil
Iron Works to Adrian Burgoyne, Wit
had been surprised at the strange mis-
sion indicated, but gratified at the con
fidence reposed in him and the sigma
discretion.
II shall do my best" he said mod
estly, although 1t seems hardship
to legitimate business that few law
less men can block the wheels Of In
dustry. Half the amount you are au
thorlzed to spend might bribe the
! gang to let us alone, but the policy
and principle Of the company is to sub
nit to no blackmail extortions."
The word determination" had a
tragic sound. but. according to the in
structions Of Adrian Burgoyne, In
volved only the suppression Of the
lawlesS group to whom the manager
had alluded through isolation or cap
ture.
The Rrittin Iron Works had mag
nestle mine at Tilson. little town
back in the widest part of Tennessee.
In the rugged mountains beyond 1t
some ten outlaws represented the rem
nant of two notorious mOOnShine and
bandit gangs defied the community.
They would ride furiOusly into the set
Elements. and shoot them up and ter
rorize and rob their inhabitants.
Recently they had been after bigger
game. Wherever there was a plant or
business Of any pretentious proportions
they would first threaten trouble
through anonymous letters. In most
cases the smaller companies timidly
submitted to paying regular tribute.
The dealings Of the band with the Brit
tin Iron Works were on large scale.
Their epistOlary menaces were disre-
garded. Within week two explosions
occurred in the pits. Some timid
workmen gave up their positions.
Burgoyne reacher Tilson and looked
over the situation. He found 1t decid-
eddy serious. The workmen were In
Inundated. and the timid police officers
were reluctant to have anything to do
with the hunting down Of the outlaws.
BurgOyne went back to Leesburg.
the nearest city. Here he approached
n private detective agency. Its pro-
prietor was amenable to the liberal re-
wards offered.
"Once we can get the gang rounded
up into court Of law" observed Bur-
goyne, "there is evidence to land them
in the penitentiary for the rest Of their
lives. I will pay one thousand dollars
for the apprehension Of each minor
member Of the band. and five thousand
dollars for their leader. Budd Grin
NELL"
When Burgoyne got back to Tilson
he went over the mines and inspired
the workmen with confidence and cour-
age by raising wages and organizing
an armed group Of special watchmen.
In this he was signally aided by a man
named Zed Baines, who had lived In |
the district for years, was fearless and
independent, and whom the outlaws,
after several encumbers with that sure
shot, left distinctly alone.
1t was the second week Of his So
|ourn at Tilson that Adrian started to
see Baines at his home little beyond
he limits Of the village. It was q
warm day he missed his way, sat down
against tree to rest. and the drowsy
summer Dir fed him into profound
'lumber.
"What Is this!" he cried vaguely, rs
le awOke ut the consciousness Of hui
nan contact. He stared In wonder.
1t his side knelt veritable fairy of
he forest, young girl, bronzed, tawny
laired, In rough frontier garb. She
leld his right hand in firm clasp. To
is back her lips were glued.
Don't stir till l tell your she or
ered.
Then she disclosed steely blue
Mound on the back Of his hand, and
ointed to writing object In the
rass q few feet away.
"A rattlesnake breathed Adrian, q
brill, once he comprehended the stu
ton.
His grateful eyes fell upon the bent l
cad Of the intrepid girl. who had
discovered him just rs the
angs Of the vemenous serpent had {
INK into his hand, had dispatched the
make, and probably had saved his life. {
"Come, quick! you must rum" she
rged. "Our house Is less than half a s
lie away. Fight Off the drowsiness
ntil we get some medicine down you"
A sight oe his hand, now swollen to
ouble its normal size. urged him on.