Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1921-02-09
The Fugitive
By WILLIAM FALL

JAIN w cSSOll, lcteEul IeNtuuc Obi-
Ger acting in Kentucky, pulled in his
mare and coolly surveyed the heights
in front of him. The trail, which
wound sluggishly through the detile,
disappeared into the heart of the for
est, to reappear, Il sinuouS, winding
ribbon, along the flank of the crest.
There was no sign of human habta-
ton in that rugged and abandoned
| land.
Yet somewhere on the mountain
was the cabin of the Winters men,
''moonshiners" and outlaws. And for
the arrest of Charlie Winters, the
| youngest, Wesson held warrant. He
had set forth to bring him into Coon
vile. Others had held warrants, too;
but Wesson, newly appointed to his
| post, was more reckless than they,
and he had dared to ride alone into
the heart Of the Winters stronghold.
He refined in suddenly for his quick
eyes had caught glimmering flash
from the peak in front Of him.
His weapon in his hand, Wesson
leaped forward, scaled the boulders
on the summit, and appeared before
the door. Upon the threshold, a rifle
In his hands, stood young man. His
back was turned and he was attempt
Ing to eject a stuck cartridge.
Hands up!" yelled Wesson.
The man started, stared at him for
an instant, and then, with sudden
dash, leaped across the cabin, gained
|
running like deer. Wesson followed
him. He was certain that this was
Charlie Winters, whose appearance
had been particularly impressed upon
him by his superior officer when he
started on his mission.
Looks like his sister," he had said.
you've seen that Winters girl down
at the store? Her image! Don't go
arresting the girl instead of him. he
had laughed.
Charlie Winters had only recently
returned from parts unknown, to re-
sumo his 'moonshining" operations,
which had been broken up by the au-
thorities two years before. The rest
of the gang was hiding somewhere
across the Tennessee boundary; Char
lie alone had ventured back to the
cabin on the mountain.
His revolver in his hand, the young
officer followed the fugitive. But,
though in the pink of condition, he
could not lessen the distance between
himself and the young mountaineer.
His hope, however, was in his supe-
rior staying powers.
But just where the crest dipped
down into the valley below, the fugi-
tive flung himself painting upon the
ground, and, as Jack Wesson ran for
ward, held up hand and called:
"Stop! You can't come nearer!"
Wesson did stop, from sheer sur
prise. For this voice was a distinct
and clear woman's voice and, as he
looked, he saw strand Of long, silken
dark hair floating freely from below
the old SLOUGH hat.
Miss Helen!" he gasped.
The girl sat up and laughed. Eyes,
I'm Miss Helen" she said. Il reckon
It's Charlie you're after"
"Where is Charlie?' he demanded,
savagely, standing over her. He had
often seen her in Coonville, this dark
haired and blue-eyed mountain girl,
of that perfection of type which
f1ourishes, as in its native soil,
in the Kentucky hills. The sight of
her, flushed with her race, her eyes
alight with triumph, set his heart flu
riously beating, and, mingled with
this new emotion, was one of anger
and shame at having been outwitted.
"Charlie?" she drawled. "Oh, Char
lie was in the woodshed when you
came up. l reckon you won't find him
now, though. Charlie is swift run
ner. l reckon Charlie is swifter than
me, and you couldn't catch me-" she
Knocked.
"Then-then" he stammered.
"Now, Mr.. Wesson," said the girl,
soOthingly, 'if 1t hadn't been for me
you'd never have reached the noun
tain. Charlie had bead on you all
along the trail. You've got me to
thank for saving your life by this
here change of parts"
swell, I've got you, anyway" said
Wesson, sullenly.
II reckon not" she drawled.
| "Why notW
Because" she answered, "this is
! Tennessee, and l reckon your terri
tOry'S Kentucky"
WeSsOn was dumfOunded. He had
forgotten the warning, carefully con-
veyed that the Winters cabin was de-
signedly perched upon the border line
and that therefore he must take his
captive within the cabin itself
"You stop right where you are"
said Helen. IF you lay a finger on me
I'll tell the governor Of Tennessee"
A light Of amusement flickered in
NELSON'S eyes. Deliberately he
stretched out his hand, found the cool
slender fingers of the girl. and held
them.
II guess the law doesn't say any