Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-08-25
Catching the Dragon.


about the mysterious robberies which were
taking place in the neighborhood, So FREE
quent and unaecountable were these rob-
berries, and there was a story among the
credulJus people proving Hagley Heath
to be haunted by dragon, which way
laid unlucky travellers and carried off
their money, having first rendered them
insenslble by scratch Of his claw. The
two men who were talking over the mys-
terry were in plain clothes, but the one CAL
led the other Tipstaff so we will follow his
example.
ITS all nonsense about the Dragon" said
the one; bot there is something oneer
about the thing. Old Smith Of Hagely
farm swears that when he lost that twenty
pounds thing like bears paw came over
his shoulder
'Bosh = responded Tipstaff gravely-'old
Smith had beer looking into the pewter
/ tell you it's neither a dragon or bear,
but l wouldn't be so certain about
lion'
'Eh?'
Tipstaf looked up the street significant
ly and nodded.
who else would know how to hit upon
the farmer that goes away with the heavi-
est pockets? Tell me that's ] say it's the
lion himself, and if be wasn't as cunning
as an old fox, l should have caught him
long before now
You won't get anybody to believe that.
Why, the farmers all trust him as if he was
a brother to 'em'
The thing is to take him with the mon
ey on his person and he is so keen -
Who's in at the lion now wonder
'NObO0Y Nut Rt,khu Inpau Wbu thie
beats everything; it isn't half an hour
since heard the lion, as You call him, ad-
visiDg old Bobby the safest place in which
to put his brown holland purse
Very likely replied Tipstaff. i wish
know when Mr.. Jones starts. The lion
knows me-
All right. III 60 it,
The two men separated; and in due
course of time Tipstaff was informed that
Bobby Jones, as he was familiarly called
had just ridden of, the host of the lion
having been missing good half hour pre-
viously. Tipstaff started off briskly in the
direction of the haunted heath, but his
pace gradually slackened, and at last he
came to q standstill and began to think
Having made up his mind he shock his fist
at the dark heath, and left it behind him,
going straight back toward the town. 1t
was dark by the time be got the door of
the Lion, and saw that the kitchen was
empty of guests. Within, there was no
light but the fire. which winked cut an oc-
casional CLEAN upon the figure of the land
lords wife, who was sitting on the settle in
her bonnet and cloak nursing a baby
Tipstaff looked at her, and an odd idea
come into his head as be saw the bonnet
| and cloak a small table hid the lower
part of her dress, and the dim flicker from
! the fire showed little but that cloak and
bonnet, and the small white form Of the
! baby Then he went in quietly and got
close to her.
III the kings name he said: sneak
and you go to Jail; be silent, and do as 1
bid you, and you may yet get of SCOT
Free
The woman looked up and relinuuished
Der first impulse Of resistance; but she
would not speak. Tipstaff bent down and
whispered something in her ear that SCUM
ded like:
What did you do with old Smiths TWEEN.
| ty poundsP'
| Then, before she could utter the terrified
| denial that was on her tongue, he had led
u
! the back end of the house.
Now will you swear to be Quiet and
! make no noise, or must use these pretty
little things? You will? The better TO,
! you. / want the loan of your cloak. bon.
net and baby. Tush, don't be foolish;
wouldn't hurt the poor little morsal for the
world, and Ill bling it back in half an
hour. Give it here
! tIor l,cLo1
was small, and would not open. He mold
ed to the panic stricken woman and went
| out, locking the door after him.
In short time after that basty Cootsten.
were heard outside the house, and the land
lord came IN, throwing quick look around
him, which started from and came back tc
the figure OF his vile nursing the baby Oh
the settle.
Here he said chucking purse iutc
her lap; put 1t away now, and look sharp
for old Bobby showed fight and doubt I've
given him harsh tap
The next moment the landlord, who wa,
examining bis muddy clothes, received 9
hardish tap himself, and to his utter amaze
ment, became aware that his wife had pu
down the baby and collored himself, say
ing in mans voice, and one which b,
knew we'll:
In the kings name.'
The landlord cast one look at the door
but it would not do. He bad nothing 70
it but to submit. The dragon was caugh
at last, and it wasn't dragon, but lion
THERE'S WORSE IN TowN.'-A famou
Texan Ranger, who is now enjoying hi
otiUm cum dignitdte across the Bay. is th
hero Of practical joke, which is told wit
considerable gusto by his friends. !
seems that he was riding past the house O
Colonel D., few days since, and wa
hailed by the latter parsonage, who invite
him 10 to test a fine quality of whiskey.-
The Ranger admitted his weaknes tie
bis animal and entered bis friend
house:
I Martha said Colonel D. to bi
daughter, when the Texan entered, 'brin
me that bottle of good whiskey'
Martha returned to the room in fe,
minutes, and placing the bottle and tum
blers on the table, left the two old codger
to hob-no5 alone. 49,
Now, CsIonel,t said Colonel D.
to his visitor, 4 wish you to taste {
that whiskey, and tell me what you thin
Of it, t q
The Texan poured some FIVE fingers q
the liquid into his tumbIer and hid it unde
his vest with evident satisfaction.
We'll, Colonel, said the host, what
you think of itF
oh, 1t will do hereplied, there's wors
in towr =
About this time Martha returned, anC
on removing the bottle, discovered that sh
had made a mistake, and that the yisito
had bolted large glass Of bay rum instes
of wbiskey.
The Texan thought over the matter, an
quietly said 80
i i thought there was pesulisr tasi
about it; but then ] have had such little e!
perienee in first class liquors, that wa
afraid to show my ignorance by sayin
anything about it,