Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-02-09
WHOLE NO. 1O1.

pretty set OF block-heads you must be 10
sit here and lie, the Master Thief steal
. the horses from between your legs"
So they all got good lea,hering be
cause they had not kept sharper look
out.
Further on in the day came the Master
Thief again. and told how he had man
aged the matter, and asked for the Squire's
daughter. as he had promised: but the
Squire gave him one hundred dellars
down, and said he must do something
better still.
DO YOU think now" said he. you
can steal the horse from under me while
am riding on his back?'
20. yes! dare say csuld." said the
Master Thief. "if were really sure Of
getting your daughter"
Well. the Squire would see what he
could do; and lie told the Master Thief
day when he would be taking ride on q
great common where they drilled the
troops. So the Master Thief soon 60,
hold of an old worn out jade ofa mare.
and Set TO work. and made traces and COL
lar of ofwithes and broom twigs. and bought
an old beggarlv car: and great cask -
After that he said to an old begga, wo-
man. shat he would give her ten dollars
If she would get in the cask. and keep her
mouth agape over the taphole, into which
he was going to stick his finger. No
harm should happen 10 her. she should
only be driven about little; and if he
took his finger OUT more than once. she
was 10 have ten dollars more. Then he
threw few rags and tstiers over himself
and stuffed himself out. and put on wig
and great beard of goats hair. and set
off for the common. where the Squire
had already been riding about, good bit.
When ne reached the place, he went
along SO softly and slowly that he scarce
made an inch of way. Gee up! gee up!
and so he went on d lil;le. then lie stood
stock still, anu SO on again; and alogeth
er the pace was SO sero bic that it never
once came into the Squire's head that
this could be the Master Thief
AT last the Squire rode right up to
him and asked if he had seen any one
lurking about i'll the woods therea bouts.
No said The man, Il haven't seen q
soul"
"Hark ye, now" said the Squire. "if
you have mind to ride into tue wood.
and hunt about there. you shall have the
loan Of my horse. and a shilling into the
bargain. to drink my health. for your
pains"
81 don't see now l can Co." said the
man. for am going TO a welding with
this cask OF mead. which | have been to
town to fetch, and here the tap has fallen
out by the way. and so | must 60 along.
holding my finger in .ae .aphole."
"Ride OF. said the S4ure, III look
alter your horse and cask."
We'll, on these terms the ma was will
Ing TO go: but he begged the Squire to be
quick in putting his finger into the taphoie
when he !Uok his own OUT and 10 mind
a ad keep il there till he came back. Yes
the Squire would co the best he could,
and So the Master Thief mounted The
horse and rode off. But time went by:
and hour after hour passed. and sill no
| one came back. At last the Squire grew
weary of standing there with his finger
in the taphole. so he took il out.
Now | shall have ten dollars more!"
screamed the old woman inside the cask:
and then the Squire Saw al once how the
land lay; aud took himself of home: but
he had not gone far before they met him
with fresh horse; for the Master Thief
had already been to his house, aud told
them TO send one.
The day after. he came to the Squire
and would have his daughter. as he had
given his word; but the Squire put him
off again with fine words. and gave him
two hundred dollors. and said he must do
one more masterpiece. If he would do
that, he should have her. Well. well.
the Master Thief thought he could do il.
if he only knew what it was going 10
he.
do you think. now" said the Squire.
''you can steal the sheet off our bed, and
the shift off my wife's back! Do you
think you can do this?"
cit shall be done." said the Master
Thief Il only wish was as sure of
getting youf daughter"
So when night began to fall. the Master
Thief went out and cut down a thief who
hung on the gallows. and threw him a.
cross his shoulders. and carried him off.
Then he got long ladder and set it up
against the Squire's bedroom window.
and SO climed up, and kept bobbiug the
dead man up and down. just for all the
world like one who was peeping in al the
window.
That's the Master Thief. old lass!"
said the Squire. and gave his wife nudge
in the side. Nov see if don't shoot
him, that's all
SO saying he took upa rife that hs
had laid at his bedside.
No! no! pray don't shoot him after