Nebraska advertiser., 1864-02-11

dangerous-him longer 10 retain. Tn,
farmer. moresyer, was mounted upon +,
splendid mare, which Dickey, with hi
peculiar ideas on the subject of msuH
and ts um, at once resolved, by fail
means or foul, to secure. He therefore
willingly accepted the farmers hospita
Bile invitation to accompany him to bis
house in order that they might ''crack'
bottle Of wine in honor Of their bar.
gain. Presently Dickey inquired Of the
farmer if he would sell him his mare!
"Sell you my mare" exclaimed hi.
a,Jsc, uIE gIs1Sl ssss s---~ 49,
--oeft my mare 10, thank you! Why
there's not her equal in the whole north
country p
Il do not doubt ii, Mr.. Musgrave, D
responded Dickey; "and from what
saw of her PAGES this morning, am
quite of your opinion that there's not her
equal within hundred miles of US; but, q
added the obsequious Dick, "since you
will not sell her, / can only wish you
long life and good health to enjoy her.
This sentiment was of course duly
honored in bumper.
"I hope, Mr.. Musgrave," next obser-
we'd Dickey, "that you keep close look
out after your stable.door, because now,
when that confounded rascal Dickey of
Kingswood is allowed to be at liberty, a
man cannot be sure but that any fine
morning he my find his stable empty. :"
stable ha hap chuckled the far
mer. C think, +" he continued, that
Dickey Of Kingswood would find 1t rath-
er difficult to steal my mare out of her
stable !'
Indeed where may her stable be
situated z" inquired Dickey.
"Her stable God bless you, sir J" an
swered Mr.. Musgrave, cher stable is in
my bedroom / am bachelor, and SO
every night l fasten her to my bed-post
l have had manger put up for her in
the room, and no music Is SO pleasant to
me as to hear her grinding her corn all
night by my bedside
Dickey was astonished-as well he
might beat such unheard. of precautions
but, Disgusting his astonishment, he
contented himself by simply expressing
to the farmer his hearty approval of the
means he adopted to secure the safety of
his favorite.
Il suppose you have good lock upon
your bedroom door ?' was Dickey's next
"feeler."
Come with me, and l will show it to
you" replied the unsuspecting farmer.
This was of course just what Dickey
wanted. He examined the lock carefully
and soon satisfied himself that he could
pick it without much difficulty. He,
however declared to Mr.. Musgrave that
it was '.just the right sort of lock )" sit
was quite .pickable," &c., &c.,
Again the loving cup passed round,
und after draining a bumper to their
"next merry meeting" Dickey departed.
The old farmer, after his guests
leave-taking had been completed, care
fully went the rosnds of bis house, lock-
ing doors and closing windows with all
precaution. He then, as usual tied his
mare to her accustomed post, retired to
bed, and was soon lu!led to sleep by the
sound of his favorite' s 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
the cause. To his astonish-
ment, he found that all the coyerlets had
been taken of his bed and that his blank
cts had been spread out upon the floor.
For what purpose ? thought Mr.. Mus
grave. Was he the victim of some hor-
rible nightmare, or was he really awake!
Mechanically, his eye glanced to the spot
where his mare should have been. She
was not there She was gone-stolen!
During the night some daring thief had
broken into the farm house, had picked
the lock on the door Of the bedroom, had
spread the blankets over the floor, 50 that
the hoofs of the mare should make no
noise, and had thus triumphantly made
off with his prise.
Of course Mr.. Musgrave reused his
household, and commenced a vigorous
search after the thief. 1t was useless.
The despoiler had left no traces behind
him, and so Mr.. Musgrave was obliged
TO reIure 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 distance between her outraged owner
L. Il e