Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 388: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

LIZ BASCOM’S REVENGE. 381 was considered a sufficient reason for putting him out of the way at the first opportunity. * Well, you needn’t say yes or no,” the girl went on, “ but I b'lieve ye be, an’ I’m goin’ to tell ye something thet you’ve been tryin’ weeks to fin’ out. “TI know you ‘low you're here to buy timber land, an’ you’ve made ’em all think so, even paw, but when a woman’s in love she sees a heap mo’n otheh folks, an’ the man I loved keeps a ‘ still’ right up in yondeh mountain.” “The man you loved? Don’t you love him now?” “No, I hate him!” and her white teeth flashed in the faint moonlight. “You don’t need to know why; but I do hate him, an’ I want him to know thet I kin hate as well as I kin love. His ‘ still’ is up in Wil’ Cat gulch, an’ whar you’d neveh find it ’less’n some un tole ye the way.” She kept on rapidly, as if fearing to pause lest her courage should fail her. “ To git to the ‘ still,’ ye go nght up thet road till ye come to the big gray rock ' jes’ at the edge of the bluff. “Tf ye pull away the bushes at the’ foot ye’ll see a narreh path thet runs down into the gully, jes’ ’cross the dry run. Then climb the rocks on yon side. When ye git to the top, keep right on west, till ye come to a little clearin’ ; jis’ beyond thet ye come to the edge of Wil’ Cat. “ Yo’ all ’ull hev to be mighty keerful climbin’ down the rocks there, fur it’s hard climbin’ in the dark, an’ a right smart drop. “Bout a mile up the gulch ye’ll come to the falls; ye kin git acrost below the falls where the water is shaller, and right above ’em, on the far side, back among the big trees an’ close to the steep side of the mountain, ye'll find the ‘ still.’ When ye git 'bove the falls yo’ all want to keep mighty quiet, foh some un is sure to be a watchin’ out.” At this the girl paused, panting, and leaned her body against the tree as if exhausted. Although this was the very information he had been striving for weeks to secure, Jim Brainard was too old a bird to give his hand away at once. »o he said, in the most surprised manner he could assume: “ Why, Miss Bascom, you astonish me. Of course I knew there were moonshiners in this part of the country, but little thought I was so near them. “T must tell you also that you are much mistaken in me, but I shall not take advantage of your confidence by repeating the story you have just told me. I would advise you to say no more about it. Go home now, like a good girl and get some rest; you are excited. Good night!” And he remounted his horse and rode on. Brainard had a double purpose in assuming an air of innocence. First, that Liz Bascom might not feel sure of him, and should hesitate about inform- ing her lover of what she had done, in case she should repent. On the other hand, if it were a clever trap to catch him (which he doubted), he knew the nature of his game too well to think he would be allowed to con- tinue his ride far down that road after the admission was made. Being a man of much nerve and long experience, Brainard’s plans were quickly formed. Having represented himself as a “ land looker ” represent- ing an Eastern syndicate, when he arrived at Dallas, the county seat, he had GOHMGOOO YN| S) CO