Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-05-29

Mr.. Bliiie, before his appointment, had
been utterly rcnniess, and ten times as
mean as he was poor. These qualifca-
tons got him the appointment Of quar-
termaster, and out Of this Office he was
stealing a fortune.
"Nr. Blife." said the Squire, with
much feeling, "for the Lords sake don't
take my last 'arthly support Don't you
see my children are all cryin' and carry
in on because they know they'll all be in
their graves aforo Spring, if you rob me
OH"
"Rob?" exclaimed Mr.. Blfe, fiercely.
Don't say rob again, or I'll massacre
your whole nest Of traitors. It's because
you're an enemy to our glorious Confed-
cracy that yen are unwilling to sell the
mule at a fair price. | oughtn't to pay
such as you cent, but Pm n generous
man and you ought to be thankful to
me. Corporal, fill up the note as di.
rected."
"IIold on a minnit," said the Squire.
"lf that paper is what you are goin' to
give me, don't spie it by writin' on it.
The blank paper might be of little use
to me, but the writin' on it never could
"Eou re a cursed traitor to our glori-
GUS Confederacy," said Dife, and he
started to take the mule ont Of the pen.
was hitchel with a halter and had a
broad circinglc around it. He unfastcn-
ed it, and without deigning another word
to the "enemy of his glorious Confeler-
acy," he was off with it to seek another
farmers stable.
Squire Bailey looked sad as he turned
10 go to the house, and, in the bitterness
of his feelings, so far forgot himself as to
d--n "the glorious Confederacy."
Snugly concealed in Squire Bailey
closet was Jack Phillips, the up to-every
firing Ohio scout. AS the Squire enter
ed the room he called out: Come out,
Jack, they've gone, and the internal
scoundrcls have stolen my mule"
81 told you they would" said Jack,
making his appearance, "and if | hadn't
informed You last night, they'd a got all
the rest of 'cm that you sent Off"
"Thats so, Jack; but ia give hun
dred dollars to have that mule back"
Jack looked steadily at the fire for five
minutes.
"What did you say, Squire?''
81 aid I'd give hundred dollars tC
set that mule back, but s'pose thre,
hundred wouldn't get him"
Il don't know" said Jack, abstract
: edly, and he looked in the fire for fv,
minutes more. Suddenly Jack brighten
ed up and said:
"Give me the hundred dollars, Squire
and Pll bring you your mule to morrow
night or your money shall be returned.
5 The Squire locked amazed at Jack fo
a moment, but seeing he was in earnest
put five double eagles in his hand. In &
few minutes Jack left the house, dressed
, in linsey pants, wamus and coon skin
cap.
Next day, as Jack was walking leis
urel mp the road, by coincidence, prob
| ably brought about by himself, he me
the Quartermaster and his man, return
t ing with the proceeds OF the expedition
Jack smiled happy smile when he saw
Blitie behind the rest, leading the Squire
t mule. He walked quietly along until h'
came almost opposite the Qnartermaster
! when he darted suddenly of the side o
tile road, looking at the mule as if fright
ened.
BLASTED scoundrel p exclaimed Jack
"Who? Who is a blasted scom-
drel?" asked the Quartermastcr.
"An't that the mule old Bailey had?'
asked Jack, moving still fur. her out Of
, his reach
"Yes, but who did you say was f
, blasted scoundrcl?" inquired the Quarter
master very naturally taking all gucl
compliments to himself.
"Why, oldBailey, and tn. mule, too
for that matter" replied Jack.
t "What's the matter with the mule?'
asked Blifc, whose former occupation
| had not made him much Of Judge o
, live stock.
"Thc matter Why, he'll kill yor
aforc you get him home. You didn't
pay the old sinner anything for him. did
= you?' inquired Jack.
"Certainly; | paid two hundred and
fifty dollars for him" This is what the
sacrificing patriot intended to return him
at to his glorious Conlederacy.
= iIOIN u HltlC) tAClullllCO buCh'
"But what's the matter with him"
asked Bliiie, looking at the animal hal
! frighte-ed.
! THAT are mule" replied Jack, "ha
S kicked down, in his time, every panel o
fence on old Bailey's place You founC
G him in pen of big logs, didn't you?"
Eyes; why?" inquired Blife.
"And them are logs are fastened by bi!
c iron bolts. It's the only thing that woul,
ever hold him. He has killed all the res
of old BaiIey's stock. and the old rasca
= has kept him on purpose to swindle som
| fellow with"
n Il heard" said Blifc, "that he use
n to have more stock"
"That's what become of it," said Jack
), "Didn't the children cry, and didn't oil
G Bailey whine and carry on about losin
- his three hundred dollar mule?"
It eyes, they did, at a great rate"
81 know'd it," said Jack, "The oil
: woman spanked them children, and sen
= them ont at the nick of time to help tn
+ old rascal in his swinde. And to chea
our glorious Conlederacy in that manner
He ought to be hung !" And Jack wink
G ed his off eye.
! "But if he's so vicious" said DlifC
o hopefully, chow did they get the halte
., orJ a; ;nn,lo ~, b;,,oD