The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-07-01

host, all aghast at this proposition
"Sell my mare No, thank you Why
there's not her equal in the whole nortl
country !"
II do not doubt it, Mr.. Musgrave,
responded Dckey !" and from what
saw Of her PAGES this morning, an
quite Of your opinion that there's no
her equal within hundred miles Of us
but" added the obsequious Dick, !" since
you will not sell her, l can only wisl
a long life and good health to enjoy her. .
This sentiment was Of course duly
honored in bumper.
81 hope, Mr.. Musgrave," next observ
ed Dickey, "that you keep close look
out after your stable door, because now,
when that rascal Dckey of Kingswood
is allowed to be at liberty, man can not
be sure but that any fine morning he
may find his stable empty"
"Stable ha ha !" chuckled the
farmer. "I think" he continued, "tha,
Dickey Of Kingswood would find ii rather
difficult to steal my mare from her sta
BILE %
"Indeed !! where may her stable be
situated ?" inquired Dickey.
Her stable bless you, Sir - an
swered Mr.. Musgrave, cher stable is
in my bedroom I'm bachelor, and
SO every night faslen her to my bed
post have had manger put up for
her in the room, and no music is SO
pleasant to me as 10 hear her grinding
her corn all night by my bedside"
Dickey was astounded-as well he
might beat such unheard-of precau
tions !; but Disgusting his astonishment.
he contented himself by simply express
ing to the farmer his hearty approval of
the means he adopted TO secure the safe
ty Of his favorite.
suppose you have good lock up
on your bedroom door ?" was Dickey's s
next +" feeler."
Come with me, and | will show it TO
you" replied the unsuspecting farmer.
This was just what Dickey wanted.
He examined the lock carefully, and soon
satisfied himself that he could pick il
without much difficulty. He, however,
declared to Musgrave that it was Just
the right sort OF lock E" il could not have
been better, in fact 1t was quite nonpick
able etc.
Again the cup passed round. and af.
ter draining a bumper to their "next
merry meeting Dickey departed.
The old farmer, alter his guests leave
taking had been completed, carefully
went the rounds Of his house. locking
and closing windows with all due pre-
caution. lie then, as usual, tied his
horse to her accustomed post, retired
and was soon lulled to sleep by the sound
of his favorte grinding her corn.
So the night wore away. Presently,
as the first gray streaks Of day began to
appear, Mr.. Musgrave awoke, and feel
ing very cold and chilly, looked round
to acertain the cause. TO his astonish,
ment, he found that all the coverlets had
been taken off his bed, and that his
blankets had been spread out upon the
floor. For what purr ose thought Mr..
Musgrave. Was he The victim of some
horrible nightmare, or was he awake ?
Mechanically his eye glanced to the spot
where his mare should have bee She
was not there She was gone-stolen
During tie night some daring thief had
broken into the farm house, had picked
the lock on the door Of the bed d-room,
had spread the blankets over the floor, so
that the hoofs Of the mare should make
no noise, and had thus triumphantly
made off with his prize.
OF course Mr.. Musgrave reused his
household, and commenced vigorous
search after the thief. 1t was useless.
The despoiler had left no traces behind
him. and SO Mr.. Musgrave was obliged
to return home disconsolate, and TO con
tent himself with venting curses neither
few nor far between-upon the thief.
In the meantime our friend Dickey-
for his was the deed-was comfortably
mounted upon Mr.. Musgrave's favorite
mare. and was every moment increasing
the dist between her outraged own
er and himself. So great was the speed
Of the mare, that by the break of day
Dickey felt himself secure from pursuit
He had directed his steps to the cas-,
ward, and while crossing Ialtwhislle
Fell. whom should he encounter but the
veritable owner of the oxen he had stolen
two or three days before, and had Just
sold to Mr. Musgrave
Dickey knew the owner Of the oxen
.x.nIt