Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-03-16

out the glasses, that's right. Quit PLAYING YOUR
pranks on each other and devote your attention
to .eutsiders-.ssBes scripture men and If yon see
a stranger take him in -.
Strangers Is skurse,Y said Jim, 81 hahn t
seeed chance on one for coon's age
Lee. 'sTha China con pspy np IL Fork @ bon@b, sa
seven chickens Of me this morning: its their
new feaF to-morrow,,and they're going to have
grand blow cut They gayesme thee dollars
apiece for them and made HE divide the flock
and give them half. Now if you two and Fossep
Will go up and steal them chickens, I'll furnish
everything else and my cook skall stew them up
ior midnight supper and II call in all hands
but you have to do it tonight they Il be gone.
Here now was the ground for gan honorable
compromise between the Fiyals bkers. They
would stop their tricks on EACH ather and cele-
brate the fact by grand chicken supper at the
expense of the Celestials Fossen agreed 10 go
with them and it was, arranged they should start
soon after dark. As soon as it was known what
was up the crowd began to lick their chops in
anticipation of the expected treatssa They did
not notice that Lee, called his partner to attend
the bar, disappeared for an hour or two, and
would probably have paid no attention to his
absence if they had. ts
little after dark the three jokers started out
on their 1t raid" The road was a rough, rocky
trail, and they carried no light for fear OF detee-
ton. The Chinese camp was some Two miles
from Bagdad, and was soon reached by the
raiders who set down in the shadow of some
bushes to wait until the Cinnamon had gone to
bed when they would quickly take the chickens
and be off. Chickens are a Chinaman weakness.
No matter how poor one OF them IS, II he can
beg, borrow steal money enough he Is bound
to have chicken dinner his holidays, and
every stationary camp has coop or house where
the chickens are kept, for they never buy them
unless alive. SIS = Ts-stf~
At last the sound of voices hushed in the
house and it was evident that they were in bed.
The chicken house was noiseessly reached, but
not chicken could be found Livery quarter of
the premises was searched with no better success
and they were peering around the door of the
cabin when it suddenly opened and John China
man, candle in hand stalked forth.
''What you look see, John ?" said he, ad-
dressing Bates, who stood nearest.
Jim was nonplused. Generally he had cheek
enough for two sets of teeth, but this time he
was taken abaek. Finally he told the Chnaman
that he wanted to hire and had come up to seeif
he could get Chinaman to work for him. But
John didn't believe him.
"No no, John. You talkee lie. You no likee
Chinaman work. | shabbe you too muchee-
You likee chicken. Mr.. Lee telled me tonight
Melican come steal my chicken, take
chicken housee. You look see."
John stepped back and pulled aside cloth
which was hanging up and there sure enough
they had rugged temporary roost on which sat
the chickens wnking seepily in the sudden glare
of light. Our raiders saw at once that they had
come on FOOLS errand.
80 You ikee chicken, John |' continued Mr..
Chinaman: who was now joined by the remainder
of his crowd of shaven headed, long tailed coun-
trymen. tSpose you likee chicken you come
tomorrow. Chicken velly good You see me
eat him."
The discomftted trio sneaked off followed by
the laughter of the Celestials Well" said
Smith, when they had got little way on their
homeward road, :. Lee has served us pretty
trick this pop. | vote we don't go near that
cussed store tonight; that crowd of bummers
will never let up. What dye say?'
"We've got to face em time, and may
as well meet 'em tonight as any other time,
said Bates. u l vote we 60 ahead, stand the nip
for the crowd and watch our chance to get even (
with that cussed storekeeper."
Wonder if we can't get hold of what chickens
Lees got left" said Fossen, GO that would just
serve him right"
An idea too good not to be acted BY the
time they had fully formed their plans, the lights
of Bagdad were in sight, but as it was no part Of
their intention to be seen until they were ready,
the main street was avoided They got 10 the
rear of the store unseen but found as they ex-
pected, the door locked. The only resource
was to wait until the noise inside should be great
enough to let them tear off board and get at
them in that way. Jim crept up to see what was
going on inside.
The boys were unusually quiet, some smoking
their pipes and few playing cards at some OF
the tables. Lee was standing at the bar and it
was evident from the smile that sat his phiz
that he was expecting fun pretty soon. Jim ap-
piled his ear to the crack of the window and
could hear every word that was said. The clock
struck eleven.
eleven o clock" said one, looking up, :. ain t
it time them fellers were back?h
Lee laughed Are you fellers waiting here
for that chicken supper ~ he asked.
{" Why, sartin we are.
Well, you won't get it, much. I've played
the lot of you pretty well. Not suoot full of
chicken will any of you bat tooth over to-
night Who-o-o-p."
Lee was so immensely pleased at the success
OF his trick that it was time before he could
explain. At last however, ne succeeded and
notwithstanding the loss of the promised treat,
the boys were elated to think that Lee had come
it over the " old he-joker' as Bates was styled.
1t was agreed that nothing short of an oyster
supper should be the penalty of the disappointed
trio.
Jim slipped away and found that The others
had succeeded in prying off board during the
burst OF laughter which followed Lees explana-
ton. Fossen entered, and wringing the necks OF
each fowl as he took it from the roost, silently
passed them out till there was none left Then
cutting across, back of town they got into the
main road and came up to the door which Jim
slightly opened and looked in.
''Come in, old hops. We're powerful hum
gry," said Lee US he caught sight of him.
:. Where's your poultry? ~
a. All safe answered Jim, "I just locked in
to see that of them straight-laced cusses
were here. Come in boys" And followed by
the other two Jim entered, each one having three
or four chickens.
Lee puzzled. He knew that something
had gone wrong, but was far from guessing what
really had happened. Probably the Cinnamon
had not acted upon his advice; was the con-
rusion he came too. The cook called and
the fowls given to him, while some of the boys
went to assist in the picking.
1t was so late before the supper was served
that the boys concluded TO make night of it,
and gave up all thought of working on the NOR
row. BY the time daylight appeared all hands
were glorously tight and ready for anything.
move" said Bates, winking at Fossen, ''l
move we buy Lees chickens and have 'em for
breakfast. l must say that | am fond of that
Kind OF truck, and what we've had has jist gin
g. ls.T-.