The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-07-05

her-five bushels of wheat to trade out"
she accompanied him on this expedition.
to do what seemed to her an extensive
shopping.
Settlers were few and far between In
those days, in that tract of country where
Mr. Kent had located His nearest neigh
Dor was some two miles; away. This
heighbof was the johnson Mr.. Kent had
spoken of as having lost some corn. Con-
siderable thieving had been h sard of
among. the settlers, and almost everybody
had Lost something. As most of them had !
'but'!it to live on, they aad nothing that
they could afford to lose, and great excite
ment was. aroused samOng the pioneers,
and everybody was anxious to discover,
who the thieves were. -. s5sss
!, Johnnie and Rob busted themselves
about the house and barn all day. When
night came they attended to the chores,
and then began to make their preparations
for supper. During the day Johnny had
shot partridge, and they concluded to
roast it. 4s
.sAnd we'll have some potatoes and
Johnny -cake,n said Rob, "and that'll be
good enough for anybody 80.
Accordingly. they put some potatoes in
the ashes OF the fireplace and covered
them over with hot Goals. Then they hung
the partridge over the fire, and Johnnie
volunteered ~ keep watch of that, and
give it the proper basting, which he had
heard his mother say roasted fowls always
required, if Rob would make the johnny
cake.
Rob was willing enough to try his hand
at this branch of cookery, but he had some
misgivings about his success. However,
he went at it, and SOON had il baking be-
fore the fire in the old tin oven which
housewives used in those days.
IT tell you what, Rob-" said Johnnie,
as he turned the nicely browning partridge
per. Just smell this partridge, will you?
Amt it going to be gOoI ?'' III
az guess twill" answered Rob, whose
mouth had been watering for slice OF it
for half an hour back. Saint it most
done ?p e. S.ss,,a..5 !.
{. @ guess 80, y answered Johnnie. You
look at the potatoes, won't you?" ss--s =
!, Rob scratched away the ashes from the
potatoes and announced that they were
L ought TO have said before that.the
house was divided into two rooms below
Que, in front, was sort Of sitting room,
and cohtained the bed which Mr.. and Mrs.
Kent occupied, while the boys slept up
stairs. s.Upsstairs, also,e was Mr., Kent's.
grnhary. Hs had thought itrsafer TO store
his wheat and cornin the house. Thieves
would Ibe ess likely to get to il there
without being found out. THE second
room below, was used rs askitchen and
dining room, and il was in this room that
the boys were cooking t6eir supper, =.
ssThefe p' declared johnnie, at last, 7" b
do b'lipye this birds done. Yal set tine
table, Rob, and II take up the yictpals !"
: Just us he said this The Boys started, for
they heard steps at the fp1pt door. They
hooked at each other in alarm. Whocould
their vlsiters'be? 9 s@s
seIih goi1g, to see who it IS" said
lsJohnnie, bravely; maybesits some OF
johnson 'sf0lkss1 = eT q fs..7gr.M sg
But their visitors were none 'eof John
sons folks" as he discovered on Open
ing the door between the atwo rooms.
1.-Two men had come in, and. be saT a
once that they were Strangers TheyWere
| rough, brutal looking fellows, and the
bows felt that they had anything but
pleasant visitors 70 deal with nes.gs 800,
lssWhere' your f0lksf" demanded the
foremost man 40 Johnnie looked INTO the
Il !" Gone TO mfil, 9: answered johnnie.
UWhy? DO you want 10 SEQ father ",
"Not nsuch, do we, nEldefs Laughed
! the man who had asked the question,
ii 'sWall, not pertckler,' answered the
] one adfiressedes y Eader,e with cbuckle
\ Wrd like to see some O. that supper
'fsmell, though" s.ssa saasN
vs. & Sod l." said the other. "See here
yot youngsters. when's syyss you. i folks comm
~. don't know answered Johlnie
p from his position in the doorway. 'sFath
tS s.ia msyS.ss sy = he'd e 30 SsoA = night aye
E \ ! guess @ we're 'fe safe enough in stayin
4 to ten, 2 lsuehed thsman. We've cor.e Y.
2 70 borry soin9o' that. corn you've stoYet
taway uD lott,r and here the men 9lee
4 At what they evidently considered high
j ,ly humorous remark. Vow W1Ii''
| we're gettin' it put up, you l1st pnt som
II o. that meat an things you're co0N.n
\ on to the table, an we'll take supper VIZ
. kyos. Be spry, cause We canr Say 9.
i.uight, an we wort lava any AeolAn ssyo'
Il stTse men wenttp' Che ladder leatfing.t
j fhe chamber, .and Johnnie and. Rob looke'
II each other Is il questioning what the
4 tai Won what wish we had John
t1.ssbn here .'sswhispsred Rob. sThem's tn
II ySrv man ,that stole his corn, I'll bet any
e,ui wish we could trap 'em some way,
said Johnnie, thoughtfully. = Everybod
waht's 'em took up. Don't you s'pOse v
! | c6uld get 'em into the cellar Rob -
) "Howi" asked Rob, in an afSe-struc
n &C. = .