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Show I A MOONMIINEIPS SMART TTIFF. Tllk .ClTLa KXl'KBIICK OP A LMTED STVTE, DEfUTY ' XAI.S1LSX. "Hunting moonshiners is just as as exacting a sport as bunting tigers in the jungles of India," said an old deputy United States marshal yesterday, but not to dangerous. The wives and daughters of the moonshiners, as a rule, are smarter than the men, and much more suspicious sus-picious of a stranger. T was over in Clay County on a raid once-, and was in a locality where almost every tnau owned a still. Iu such a place it is hard to locate the still, and almost Imjiossl-bla Imjiossl-bla to obtain evidence against the owners unless they are caught iu the act of makiug 'mountain dew.' I introduced myself as a land agent prospecting for mineral lands,, but the natives did not all believe my story, and I was regarded with more or less suspicion. I was after a noted rroonshlner named Xewt Bledsoe, who was known to bare lieeuoeratIns a still in that locality fur two ears. I had trouble in finding a place wheru they would let rae staj- ail night, but finally a native suggested suggest-ed that I try Deacon iiledsoe. " 1 her Dsakiu' sot on 'ligion, the Bible and sich, on' 'a alius taMrs in stran gers,' said the native. I was direct ed to the Deacon's house, two miles down the valley, and arrived there an hour after dark. I did not once associate Deacon Bledsoe, who was 'ot on the Bible,'' with Moonshiner Newt Bledsoe. In response to my hello, a tall, innocent looking old countryman cams out to the gate, and by the light ot a pine torch vh!i.li he carried in bis hand he looked me over. 'Be you'uns the new Methodist circuit rider?' be asked. I decided to play preacher for once, and answered in the affirms affir-ms ire Miight, parson, I'm a hardshell, but i uu're welcome. I never lays it up agin a man 'cau be don't belong be-long to my churchand the D.arcn received me etith true mountain hospitality. A t bedtime Bledsoe brought out a well worn family Bible and invited in-vited meto lead In prayer. I had not prayed since 1 was a boy at Sunday school, but was in for ii, and, readinga chapter in the Bible, we all knelt don n and I delivered some tort of aprajer. In my petitions peti-tions I referred to those-sinners who defied the laws of God and man by makiugtplrit, and prayed the Eord to turn them from ttielr wl bed ways. To tills Bledsve re-poLdeJ with a loud amen! ' I rose earl next morning, and, finding that breakfast was net ready, I started for a short stroll lu the woods back of the house. Ab I left the yard I noticed Bledsoe's wife watching me with evident suspicion. sus-picion. I walked on down to a small branch which ran through the woods, three hundred yards back of the house. I saw smoke rising among the trees a little ways down the branch, and, walking down that nay, I found my host, Deacon Bledsoe, Bled-soe, building a lire under onoofthe largest moonshine "tills I ever saw. He seemed as much surprised as I was, and in an instant it dawned on me that Deacon Bledsoe and Moonshiner Moon-shiner Xewton Bledsoe were one and the same person. Before be recovered from bis surprise I bad him covered with my revolver, aud telling him who I was, ordered him to surrender. 'Drap that thar weepln'. I knowed you arn't no parson,' said a female voice behind me at that moment, and turning 1 taw Bled-soe-'s wife, hue had the drep on me with a long rifle, and I dropped my pl'lol Bledsoe picked up my revolver re-volver and I was marched to the houe a prisoner. " ' riiar'syour critter ready saddled an' hero's a bite to eat; now git,' said Mrs. Bledsoe, and she kept me covered with tlie ride, while her husband banded me back my pistol when I had mounted my horse. " 'Won't ou pray for us agin, arson, 'fore you go?' said Bledsce with a grin as I rode away. A week later I returned wjth a strong posse, captured Bledsoe and destroyed his still. I could have made a case against bis wife, but I wouldn't do it," liirminqliam Utter In Sl.ZouU Gh$e Pcmocrnt. |