Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-08-21

tne country over ZOE, mlleS, UuG notfhc0
was found, of lost horses. ;,,,sss:p /,
About a week after that another span
was lost. People, were thunderstruck.,
Had they horse thieves in their midst ?
It began to look So. A vigilance com
mittee was formed, and every precau-
ton taken to guard against further dep
relations by the unknown thieves.
Two weeks went by, and mo further
losses were reported Owners Of horses
began to breathe triAe easier :, aisl
1t was Saturday afternoon; Seth had
been talking for some time of visiting
his brother, who lived about six miles
from Mr.. Bakers, and concluded that
he would 60 over and spend the night
there. So about four o'clock he took
his gun and set of. He went through
the woods, and, as there was plenty of
game to amuse him, it was dark before
be reached his destination. When he
got there be found that there was no
one at home. g.. .l.sE. ...s ...,5s -,.f5 .
He looked around, and finally made
up bis mind that the family had gone
somewhere to spend the evening. Feel
ing rather sleepy, he laid down ON o
bench by the door and fell asleep. 1t
was quite late when he awoke. As his
brother had not returned, he concluded
that they were not coming back that
evening, and resolved to start for home.
It would be late when he reached Mr..
Bakers, but he could sleep in the barn.
He took the road on his return. He
was about half way between the two
settlements, when he thought he heard
the sound of horses feet, and stopped
to listen. wy s''-
4" It is horses, sure enough, p he said,
after listening for a minute or two,
" and they're coming this way. Maybe
there's some more hoss thieves about.
Ill keep dark and see.Y 14a4 .qC
He hid himself behind clump of
bushes on the bank of small creek
that ran across the road, and waited.
Presently the horses came in sight.
There were two OF them. Each one
had rider
"Hoss thieves, I'll bet q Continental"
whispered Seth to himself. I'll be
cussed if it don't look like Billy and
Kate"
Billy and Kate were Mr.. Bakers
horses. .n@f3 Lhls&85;aS ~ 85Bl ii8ET1a4al
sit is Billy and Kateg,' exclaimed
Seth, as the horses came nearer. He
was so excited that he could hardly
keep still. His fingers played nervous
ly with the trigger of his gun. 1t there
was anything in the world he hated
more than Mr.. Eastwood, it was q horse
thief. ..-r.... -.-.
The horses came out of the shadow
and their riders brought them to halt
on the bank of the creek, where the
moon. shone down through the trees.
Seth's heart gave great leap, and his
pulse ran up to a hundred beats with
the wild excitement that took possession
of him when he saw who one of the
men was.
10 ,oas Edst,cood, the singing teacher !
1t was all Seth conld do to keep from
shooting him on the spot. 80. @
Presently the men urged the horses
into the creek, and headed them to the
west. Like fash the trnth came to
Seth. They followed the creek up till
they came to the great swamp, some
eight or ten miles away. There was
probably their headquarters. s,lt 40 9el
He waited until they were out of
hearing, and then started on q run for
home. He reused Mr.. Baker and told
him what had taken place. That wor-
thy could hardly credit Seth's story,
until he went to the barn and saw for
himself that the horses were gone. a'sst
Where's Eastwood r" asked Seth.
"He went off to town this after
noon," answered Mr.. Baker.
I" Yes, rayther guess he did," said
Seth, nysteriously. II s..y ....s.,..s
1t was short work to raise the neigh
bors. They armed themselves with all
sorts of weapons, and set off in the
middle of the night to track the horse
thieves to their rendezvous. ~ as5.
1t was just daybreak when they
reached the. swamp. 1t was as Seth
had surmised. After reaching the soft,
swampy ground the trail left the creek
and was easily followed. About two
miles further on they came upon the
camp of the desperadoes. The horses
were picketed to trees, and the thieves
were fast asleep, after their nights work
dreaming that they were secure.
ea Seth and another stalwart fellow
orept up and secured the two men be-
fore they were awake enough to COM
prehend what was going on. s
A wild shout of rage went up from
the frontiersmen when they recognized
in one Of the thieves the singing
teacher. ar. g.s....1 ,.....-,O4
"Hang himp cried Samuel Benson,
hoarsely. That's the fate Of hoss
thieves, the world over" a39a ia, ~;
a''Yes,e hang him, "ishouted another.
" Hang him! hang him!' went up
from dozen throats.
d Seth tried to interfere, but he might
as well have tried to stop whirlwind
in a its fury. sie. . go =, 7,....,.
"Ihey're coming" cried Nancy, from