The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-08-15
The Anti-Nono7oolist.

teachers stern "Skelton, take your place
in the smelling -class!''
All through the spelling a voice inside
was saying, over and over: you're q
thief" You hush up! amt thief. I tell
YOU" he said. in answer.
You see boy may have money and
be miserable boy. Thoff found this
out that day, and he found out another
thing.
He had lost his hat band.
Now the less of an old strip of b..uc
cambria is no great affair, especially to a
young man OF means, but this set Thoff
TO thinking. He wondered if he had lost
1t on Spruce hill.
"Look here, Observation-Disclosures
your name-Skeltonl"
The Squire had driven up and storped
his horse near Tnof on the bridge one
morning. The hoy glanced up and met
a pair OF keen gray eyes fixed on him,
glanced down and longed for hole in
the bridge floor, that ne might drop into
1t. Hole there was none The eyes
we're still on him, and he stammered:
INV name is The-Theophilus."
''Well, Theophilus, then, / want you to
come along with me, up on Spruce Hill
Day grew black for an instant 70 Thof.
Then he heard; II want boy to help me
get up some sheep. Got to have 'em down
here tor the noon freight train. Pay you
twenty five cents. Up with you?' And
the boy took his seat beside the man,
though he wouli have preferred to sit
anywhere else.
"Cold2' growled the squire; for Thoff
was thaking all over
Eyes, sir,-that is-not much" He
wasn't coward naturally. but he was
mere afraid of the squire that DAY than
he would have been OF band of Sioux
with all their war-paint on
The squire was silent man, some PEG
pie said a surly man, So there was no talk
irg tor a while. Up the Hill they drove,
and oat Oh a high level where the wind
was blowing.
"Tnere goes my hat. :" cried Thoff. He
was out over the wheel and back into the
wagon again in a twinkling.
''Say fort you re not bad jumper"
tho squire said. Better have band to
that hat. hadn't you?"
IS! did have one, si-, but The stopped,
remembering.
Lost it, most likely. Stop 1 believe
I've got a hat-bad someers"
The squire put his h ana in his pocket,
and produced from it strip of folded
blue cambria.
"There found that mp on Spruce
HILL" The gray eyes seemed to Thoff to
60 through him and come out on the
otner side. His fingers trembled as he
tied on his own hat-band. "Some fellow
lost it up there, l s'pose. Ever go up on
the hill much?"
'Sometimes,- black berries
Bad pace to lose things up there
Don't find EN- again so easy" And the
man added, Somebody else does, may
be-"
HE knows I've got that money"
thought Thoff; watched me or some
thing"
Tell him all about it, said Con
science. 'Dursn't; he'd kill me if l
should
No. he'd forgive you if you gave him
back the money. Come; now's your
time"
'.Good mind l will" And Thoff drew
big breath to start with.
Here we are.' cried the squire
"Out with you. n see how quick you'll
get those southdOwns together. Lively,
now!'
No chance for confession then, but
with that drive wen. the last of the Toff's
peace of mind.
He knew something. l haint a doubt
Of IT." he sad to himself, wretchedy
Il dare say he does, answered Suspicion
and Conscience chimed in, Perhaps
you're right"
Tne boy didn't dare now take the
purse and run away. The sheriff would
tie on his track In rwentv-four hours, he
thought. ~ kaow the squire's just hold
ng of soft he can catch me aud pounce
down on me. I'd carry t IN to his house
n Il NJ il into his window some night
nnly he'd know twas me I did it. n be
have me to"k up all the same. Mercy
wno's thatl'
He ha6 got back TO the bridge. and
u-t ready To climb up to his den. when
ne heard u footstep on the loose boards
above him. He raised his eyes. had
giimps" of poilc-nans blue coat ano
yellow buttons. and then he rau.- ran ss
he never ian before, nor stopped till he
reached the ireis h. pot and platform.
under which he could crawl In tn,
policeman 3. arching Lis rrfreat he had
recognized a Springie detective. Tn.
wallet was M: in the fridge, but among
the stones Of The pier
Twenty -four .ours later, Thoff crouchinr
and cranlpsd under the platform from
which he dared not stir. heard voices near
him.
Wonder if Pixley found what he was
Alter Yesterday
-P'xieyf' the squire's voice. didn't
know he'd been over"
Yes. Stolen goods; surm ;sed they'd
heen smuggled Over heret Diarmid.
O,nt believe he found 'em, thongh.- A
psuse- watt of tobact o-snoke. and then
the words. do you know, squire. be-
ii-ve Jour wallets hid away round here
somea here"
so do l." answered Squire Granger:
but the thing is to lay hands on it =
And then the voice passed beyond hear
n g. and ragged. faint. wre,ched boy
cra~led out, and skulked off through
the soft dark of the sumne- night.