Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-09-26

WIS beetS anu "hlcn was cucumDcfS, IL )
enough to rouse cnybody's temper"
at is, So" said Mr.. Hnbcock.
"And that isn't all, for by the looks of
things they must have been rampaging in
the orchard and clover field before they got
into the garden. just you come and see ~
and putting on her sun bonnet Miss Letitia
showed Mr. Babcock over the damaged pre-
cincts.
"You don't happen :, know whose ami
mails did the mi>chief?'' said Mr.. Babcock.
"Well, didn't 'tolserve them in particular
myself, but Isaac said there was one with
peculiar white mark, something like across,
on its haunch.'
"Why, that's Smairs old brindle,' cried
Mr.. Babcock. 81 know the mark as well
rs know the nose on my face. She had
balls on her horns, didn't she p
"Yes, so Isaac said"
"And kind of hump on her back?'
"a perfect dromedary, said Miss Letitia.
81 noticed that myself"
"They were Small's cows, no doubt of it
at ALL" said Mr.. Babcock, rubbing his
hands. ono sheep with them, hey?"
"Well, now think Of it, there irere sheep
they ran away as soon as they saw Isaac.
Yes, certainly they were sheep" said Miss
Lettia.
81 knew it-they always 20 with the
COWS; and what do you wish Of me-"
Its to fix the damageS," said Miss
Lctitia "AS | said before. women folks
are no judges about such matters"
Mr. Babcock meditated moment, and
then said, -
"Well, wouldn't take cent less than
seventy-fye dollars, if were you-not a
cent"
"Scventy-fve dollars! Isn't that good
deal, Mr.. Babcock? You know | don't
wish to be hard on the poor man all
want is Il fair compensation for the mischief
DONE
"Sevcnty-fve dollars i. fair, ma AMIN
fact, might say it's low: wouldn't have
herd of cattle and sheep tramping through
my premises in that way for Il hundred
There's one thing | forgot to state
the orchard gate was open or they couldn't
have got in that may make Il difference"
''Not bit-not bit. You'd right to
have your gate open, but Small's cows had
no right to run loose, l hope Isaac drove
them to the pound, didn't he?'
81 heard him say he shut EN- up some
where, and didn't mean to let 'em out till
the owner calls for 'em. But, Mr.. Babcock,
what if he should refuse to pay the damages?
| should hate to go to law about it.'
''lle won't refuse; if he does, keep the
critters till he will pay. As to law, guess
he's had about enough of that
''l'm sure | thank you for your advice"
said Miss Letitia, "and mean to act upon
it to the very letter"
And Mr.. Babcock took his departure
with happy expression of countenance.
Scarcely was he out Of sight when Miss
LetItia sent Il summons for Mr.. Small,
which he obcyed as promptly as his neigh
bnr 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 should ask the same
question Mr.. Babcock had asked, namely,
whether she had any suspicion to whom the
, animals belonged.
"Weil, one of them observed had ter
ribiy crooked horn
"PreciSey y-it's Babcock' heifer, I should
know her among thousand. She was
| black and white, wasn't she?'
"Wcll, now | think of it, she was; one
seldom sees 50 clear black and white on Il
cow
''To be sure; they're Babcock's animals
fast enough. Well, let me see-what you
want is just fair estimate, suppose?"
"Certninly."
Swell, should say ninety dollars was
rs low as he ought to be allowed to get of
/ with"
''Oh, but I fear that will seem as if
meant to take advantage. Suppose we call
it-say seventy-iivew
''Just as you please, Of course; but
hanged if I'd let him off for cent less than
a hundred, if it were my case"
"And if he refuses to pay?"
"Why, keep the animals till he comes
round, that's ALL"
"But there's one thing l 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 countcnance as Mr.. Bab-
cock had worn.
But at milking time that night he made
strange discovery; old brinde was miss
ing! At about the same hour Mr.. Bab-
cock made similar discovery; the black
and white heifer was nowhere to be found
A horrible suspicion seized them both--a
suspicion which they woald not have made
| Il. Al. Al. L