Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-04-23

"What you'll do when you're big.
l know all that now, aud ! guess l
won't wait to grow citherw ratified
the little damsel, her nimble tongue
crowding in the words SO thick and
fast that she contrived to utter q
dozen in the time Billy would have
required for one.
"What?" asked Billy slowly, but
with an awakening gleam of cnriosi-
ty.
"Keep n toll-gate-that's what. l
know all about 'cin, for me and papa
rode through in q carriage, and 1 did
SEQ it my own self. You have d gate
clear across the rond, SO folks can't
get through, and then they pay you
to open il; and don't have anything
to do but just 1.-Two in nice funny lit
tie house, and get lots Of money" >,
Billy's blue eyes frightened. Down
from his airy heights, at the prospect
of gaining carth's shining dust,
he came as readily as though he had
been older.
81 guess I'll do that too" he an
nOunCed.
"Long of me?"
"Ycs," said Billy, accepting the
partnership as cOndescendingly as
though the patcnt-right for the in
vcntion had net belonged to the other
party.
"Wcll, let's do it now," proposed
the vivacious small lady, anxious to
be making her fortune at once. 81
guess lots of folks go long the road
down by the end of the lane, and if
We have it there then they'll have to
pay u.s."
"Yes," said Billy once more, and
lifting tho latch of the gate, he slip
ded out.
Maggie had ears for nothing that
morning but II footstep that did not
cu:ne, and Amt Polly was too busy
in looking after the whole of creation
to pay any special attention to her
own small corner of it; SO there
was nobody to observe the new firm,
as they trudged otto seek favora-
able locality for their enterprise. 1t
was no long search, however, since
the road at the end OF the lane was
the only one they knew anything
about: moreover it was narrow. and
well suited to their purpose in that
way.
81 don't know how we'll stop it
up, though" Billy remarked, survey
ing il doubtfGlly. But Carlir was
fertile III cXpcdients. Her quick eyes
rested upon an old unused cart
standing little distance up the lane,
and she proposed that they should
draw that down across the road, to
begin with. II was hard work. with
all their united strength and most
vigorous efforts, but they perseyercd
until the task was accomplished.
81 thought it WIS big enough to
reach ever SO far, and it DON'T" said
Garlic disappointed. ''Anybudy
could just 20 around the side of il ii
they wanted TO, and never pay
cent"
Billy expressed valiant lctcrmi-
nation to .knuck any fellow down
that tried it," but Garlic was satisti-
ed. Presently q pile OF bcan-poles in
a neigiboring lot suggested an idea
of relief, and the children, in high
spirits once more, proceeded TO ap-
propriatc them. They could carry
at once, but gradually they piled them
up, with one upon the fence and the
other resting upon the cart, quite
forgetting,in their zeal fora thorough
bar, icastc, to make any arrangement
for opening their gate when the re-
guircd toll should be paid. 1t wa-
slow, toilsom. building but the two
| little faces, through flushed ;ss.d per-
spiring, We're also triumphant AS they
ynzcd upon the completed structure.
with its last pole standing nearly up
right against the cart. Partly for
GOODNESS to herself, partly by way of
/ l, "A al,
moved her sun-boniet from her head
and hung il upon this liie hest point.
"Bet nohoHy can't get through
that!' exclaimed Billy pantingly.
GLOW much do you s'pose Well
make 2"
"Dollar, may be-" replied the SAN
guine Garlic, her eyes growing round
with the stupendous prospect. Pm
too tired to build anv little house TO
live in to-day; let's stay outdoors"
Out of doors was very pleasant.
They sat down on Tho soft grass that
edged the road, and curlcd the long
stems of danheiion while they waited
tor their fortune To come; growing
SO interested in their occupation at
last, they had almost forgotten
HAT they were waiting Tor ANYTHING.
when horse and rider came das!,ing
down the road, and Tom Clifford,
with barely time Ia reach the village
in season for the citv-bound train,
rode full! upon the barricaie. For It
gloomy and desperate suitor, bent
upon rushing to the ends OF the cart h,
TO be stayed in his course by an old
cart loaded with bcan-polcs was ccr-
tainly cNasperating. Neycla hclcss
he could not go on; and as the TWO
bcaniing and satisfied Young faces
pecrci out at him, he demanded in
vcXnd astoE!slMent
| " hat On earth have You got here 2
:.We'rc atol!-gatc,' explained Mss
Garlic with dignity. "Nic and Billy
made 1t, and wc'il let YOU through
! lf-'
| But the statement of terms was cut
short. The horse at that moment
cspied Tie flutterimg white sun-bon-
net, and seizimg 80 favorable an OPP
portunity TO be frightened. spramg
suddenly TO one side, flung his u,l-
suspccting rider to lie ground, aud
sped away up the road again. Tom
rolled over aud sat up III Il bcwildered
sort of way, got upon his feet slowly,
brushed the dust from his clothes, and
looked after his retreating stccd with
Il long whistle.
"WelI it isn't likely anything will
stop him now until he gets home, so
mig ght as we'll stay and pull this
thing down. What possessed you
two youngstcrs"-and there Tom
paused, laughed, and grew more like
his sood-natured self thsn he had
been for twem,v-four hours. The
defiant, indignant, disappointed OK
preston of those little dirty faces
was irresistible. Garlic protested
stoutly when the strong hand began
to demoliSh her work but Tom per-
suaied and explained, and the final
promise Of ride in the cart. when
he rolled il back up the lane, effected
a satisfactory capituiution.
The "toll-gate" disposed Of, Toms
next move was to follow his horse,
and he speedily discovered that the
wise animal had not taken the trou-
bic to so home, but had stopped
nearer by, at a place where he had
frequently been allowed to make hlm-
self quite at home. He had been
recognized at once; and saddied.
bridled, but riderlGss, awakened
suspicion of evil. The trio of wo-
men had gathered about him in the
yard-auntPolly with hands dripping