The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1919-03-06

tied by 'coons and ground-hogs, and these
great, deep, dark old forests look as though
they were never visited by a human being be-
fore. Seems to me old Benton is considerably
off his base in supposing that there are any
'moonshiners' up in this corner of creation
and my idea is that he has sent me on first
class wild-goose chase. Old Bentons been in
the detective business a long time, though,
and he's generally evel-headed and knows his
bearings. It's my duty to follow instructions,
and I'll go on till find something, or come
to the jumping off place, provided | am not
eaten by panthers and bears"
1t was in the Ozark Mountains, up near the
Postum Ridge locality, and a wild, welrdly-
beautiful spot it was.
The road, which was little more than "cow
trail" led along the bank of Coon Run Creek,
and on either side there rose up long line Of
towering hills, whose rough, forbidding fronts
were only broken here and there by deep ra-
vine, through which clear, cold springs, away
back in the hills, emptied their waste water
into the river below.
The abrupt hillsides were clothed with a
forest that had never been married by the
hand of man, while away up along the crest
lay huge rocks as large as houses. so evenly
balanced that it seemed the least jar or weight
would send them rolling down the mountain
side.
Tom Gilbert was not so absorbed with the
matter of business that brought him to the
Ozarks as to be unmindful Of the wonderful
scene about him.
AS a detective his duties had called him to
many parts of the country, and his eyes had
long since grown accustomed to various scenes
but never before had he seen anything so
grandly and maiestcally romantic as this;
never before in all his experience had he stood
awed and charmed by the wonderfuness of
nature.
Following along Coon Run, and gazing down
into its deep, clear water to the pebbly bot
tom, he thought how glorious il would be to
settle down here to live a free, wild-ife
Muslng thus, he came to a point where the
trail led off up a ravine
Following its winding course for half mile
or so, he reached an open space, where he
halted TO look around
The open space was a new ground clear
ing comprising not more than two acres
OF comparatively level land lying along a sec
ond Bench"
Back at the far edge of the clearing, where
the mountain rose again there stood small,
squatty log cabin with a mud-and-stick chin
ney
THE first sign of civilization | have seen
today, Tom said, as he gazed toward the
cabin. 81 reckon somebody lives there though
IT hardly seems probable that anybody could
hive in such a place"
Riding forward until he came within a
few yards of the house. he noticed that the
door as well as the whole front of the build
ing was adorned with cOOn-Skns, which had
evidently been tackled up to dry
Coming nearer, he saw man at the corner
of the cabin, busily engaged in tanning and
curing the skins. Stopping at the fence he
halloed and the man advanced slowly to meet
him.
What yer WANT" the man demanded. in
a gruff voice
q wish to inquire the way to Colonel Blan-
ton's?"
"Whar yer frum ?"
Down the country"
Down the country means err good MANY
places. Whut pint yer hail frum?"
Tom dsliked the inquisitiveness. and at
most any other time would have promptly
cut the old man off. But, realizing that he was
probably IN a mOonshiners' settlement and
the importance of keeping on good terms with
them, he answered, with the utmost gracious
ness:
Il from the Knob"
Air YET" Whut mout yer bizness be in
these pafFsp'
Nothing. | am Just going up to spend
few days with friends"
Yer know Blanton do ye?"
oh yes, | know Colonel Blanton" Tom
answered; and he was glad he could say it in
truth, for he had met the colonel once i'm St
Louis, the summer before. Can you direct
me there" Tom asked.
81 reckon so"
well, please do it then"
Air We in er huTry2"
NO not particularly"
Say, yer hain't goin' ter try none O yer
sharp tricks on Their moonshners, be yer?"
What sharp tricks do you mean?"
''Becase eff We air it hain't gon ter be
healthy fer ye" the old man went on, with
out noticing Toms question.
Are you a mo0nshner?" Tom asked
hafu has A