The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-10-02

showed Mr.. Babcock over the damaged pre-
cincts.
''You don't happen to know whose ami
mails did the mschief?' said Mr.. Babcock
well, didn't observe them in particular
myself, but Isaac said there was one with
peculiar white mark, something like cross,
on its haunch."
"Why, that's SmaIl's old brindle," cried
Mr.. Babcock. 81 know the mark as well
as l know the nose on my face. She Id
balls on her horns, didn't she %
''Yes, so Isaac said"
"And kind of hump on her back
GA perfect dromedary, said Miss Letitia.
81 noticed that myself.''
''They were Sualls cows, no doubt of it
at ALL" said Mr.. Babcock, rubbing his
hands. ''No sheep with them, hey?
"Well, now think of it, there ,oerc sheep
they ran away they saw Isaac.
Yes, certainly they were sheep" said Miss
Letitia.
II knew it-they always go with the
COWS; and what do you wish of me-
ITS to fix the damages" said Miss
Letitia. Gas | said before, women folks
are no judges about such matters"
Mr.. Babcock meditated moment, and
then said,-
"Weli, | wouldn't take cent less than
seventy-ive dollars, if | were you-not a
cent
"Seventy-fve dollars Isn't that a good
deal, Mr.. Babcock? You know [ don't
wish to be hard on the poor man all |
want is a fair compensation for the mischief
DONE
"Seventy-fye dollars is fair, ma AMIN
fact, might say it's low; wouldn't have
a herd of cattle and sheep trampng through
my premises in that way for hundred
There's one thing | forgot to state
the orchard gate was open or they couldn't
have got in; that may make difference"
'Not bit-not a bit. You'd a right to
have your gate open, but Small cows had
no right to run loose. | hope I,aac drove
them TO the pound, didn't he 2"
81 heard him say he shut EN- up some
where, and didn't mean to let 'em out till
the owner calls for 'em. Bat, Mr. Babcock,
! what il he should refuse to pay the damages? :?
| | should hate TO 20 to law about it,
''Iie won't refuse ii he does, keep the
critters till he viii pay. As to law, guess
| he's had about enough Of that"
I'm sure | thank you for your advice -
said Miss Le,itia, land mean to act upon
| il to the very letter"
And Mr.. Babcock took his departure
| with a happy expression of countenance.
| Scarcely was be out of sight when Mis-
| Letitia sent a Summons for Mr.. Small,
which he obeyed as promptly as Lis neigh
| Dor had done.
| She made to him precisely the same state
| ment she had made to Mr.. Babcock, showed
| him the injured property, and asked him to
| fix the damages. 1t was remarkable before
| he did this that he shodld ask the same
| question NJ. Babcock had asked, namely,
whether she had any suspicion to whom the
animals belonged.
"Well, one of them | observed had ter
| riby crooked horn
'Precisely-it's Babcock's heifer, I should
| know her among Il thousand. She was
black and white. wasn't she?''
'Well, now | think of it, she was one
| seldom sees 50 clear black and white ON a
| cow
''To be sure they're Babcock's animals
| fast enough. Well, let me see-what you
| want is just a fair estimate, SUPPOSE"
Certainly"
"Well, | should say ninety dollars was
as low as he ought to be allowed to get of
| with"
'Oh, but l fear that will seem as if |
meant to take advantage. Suppose we call
it-say seyenty-fve ?"
"Just as you please, of course but
hanged If I'd let him off for a cent less than
hundred, if it were my case"
.'And if he refuses to pay?''
"Why, keep the animals till he comes
round, that all.
! "But there's one thing | neglected. to
mention-our gate was standing open; that
may alter the case"
| ''Not at all-there's no law against keep
ing your gate open; there is against stray
| animals"
| Very well thank you for your advice" !"
said Miss Letitia and Mr.. Small departed
with as smiling countenance as Mr.. Bah
| cock had worn.
But at milking time that night he made
strange discovery old brindie was miss
| ingl At about the same hour Mr.. Bah
cock made similar discovery; the black
and white heifer was nowhere to be found.
A horrible suspicion seized them both-a
suspicion which they would not have made
known to each other for the world.
They waited till it was dark, and then Mr..
Rabcock stole round to Miss Letita S, and
meekly asked leave to look at the animals
which had committed the trespass. lie
:. would have done it withont asking leave
only that thrifty Miss Letitia always shut
her barn doors at night.
/ While he stood looking over into the pen
where the cows were confined, and trying to
negotiate with Miss Letitja for the release
of the heifer, along came MIR. Small, in
ouest of his brindle. the two men stared
Z ! - a,cb other for an instant in blank dlSmay,