Part 26 (1/2)
CHAPTER XXVII
bumPUS CALLS FOR THREE CHEERS
THE mountaineer was the first to speak
”'Pears like I was interruptin' a leetle fambly reunion,” he remarked, drily
At any rate, Thad noticed, there did not seeer in the actions or words of the un, which had doubtless brought consternation into the hearts of roup of revenue officers in times past
Indeed, Thad was rather inclined to think Old Phin looked reh his claws had been pulled, and he no longer felt that the whole world was against his in this way He was not aware of the great change that had come about in the Dady fae the ion had ever known
”I'm ready to make that promise you once put before ht fall upon the head of his ventureso theout the secret Still
”Hit's too late fur thet, Mistah Quail!” declared the other gri your mind now?” said the prisoner
”Thet's jest what I done, suh,” answered Phin ”Polly, I'se noticin' as how yuh brung them byes up hyah tuh the old Still Reckons as how yuh never'd dared do thet same on'y foh what's cum ter pass”
”Reckons as houdn't, dad,” replied the girl; who, somehow, did not seem to display any particular fear of the stern parent, such as ht have been expected under the circuo free, Phin Dady?” demanded the prisoner, hoarsely
For answer the moonshi+ner stepped forward, and with a key he produced, released the iron that had been fastened about the ankle of the one-tiive you the pro soul where the hiding-place of your Still lies,” Mr Quail declared, trying to conceal his eood o' ye, Mistah Quail,” remarked the other, with one of his dry chuckles that somehow Thad liked to hear
”And ree never again to enter these mountains in search of the ht to make this moonshi+ne stuff as they please, whether the authorities down in Washi+ngton let thened as a marshal, Phin You and your friends will never have to think of ain as an eneet the sight of this famous Still of yours, that I boasted they would”
”Thet's whar yuh rin ”I reckons now as it's a gwine to be ther trade mark ter be used on ther bottles I be'n tole thet it ort ter help make sales, w'en they knows the new s, an' wich cures all kinds o' shakes an' chills like ic, is manufactured in ther sah on ten hull yeahs”
”What's that?” exclaihed softly, like one who sees a new life opening up before her
Thad began to see gliirl fros were never going to be the same as they had been in the past Accident had opened the eyes of the old mountaineer, and he had discovered a way to ainst hian, rather clu so full of the subject that she just could not hold in
”He used ter ut ther shakes, an'
it did the bizness the slickest yuh ever did see, suh,” she started to say ”Thar was aheah, an' heerd 'bout hit So he sez as how he'd like ter take a bottle erlong, and hev it tested W'ich they done, an' writ as hoas sich a wonder thet p'raps dad, he cud supply ther trade An' on'y yist'day he done gits a letter, suh, as binds ther bargain Old Phin, he ain't agwine tuh o tuh town, jest as soon's we heahs froone ter see Yuh know hit wudn't be nice if they sot on my dad as soon as he showed up, an' locked hi dew on ther sly”
Crudely expressed as it was, Thad understood the whole story now It fairly took his breath away, it was so strange To think of this gaunt oldto prove as great a benefit towas a curse! It was alentlemen who mean to handle the product of your Still in the future are trying to get the authorities to wipe all the past off the slate, and let your father start fresh?” asked Mr Quail
”The her head ”Hand we-uns 'spect ter live in town arter this, whar p'raps I kin wear a hat, an'