The Red Cloud chief., 1879-01-16
rnE TARxER's STRATEGY.

Farmer Evans walked around his
wood.pilc and surveyed it. diminished
proportions with u considerable lower.
ing Of his shaggy eyebrows. some
body's helping tdemsolvcs,' he tho't
II must set my wits Ia work Ia dis.
cover the offender"
II. sat down on u log, rested his 81.
bows ON his knees. and after scratching
his head a~ bile by WAY ~ Frightening
>his ideas, he settled his head In the
palms ~ his hands and meditated. His
cogi,ations must have been sa,isiacto-
~. for he rose BY and by with n queer
smile ovcrsprcading his weathcr-bc beaten
face. aud walked into the house chuck.
ling. IN do It, that'll let the cat out
of th. bag
lie found Harry Baily. n Young, like
Unlocking farmer. In the Kitchen with
his daughter.
That young fellow Is counting Jcn.
ME. SURF ,noughr' Thought the old gen.
,leman. as he discrcetly passed into the
hitting room. We'll, he's as likely Ia
make her n good husband M any one.
II she likes him. l shan't object"
And he fell into u III ~ pusing W.
the memory Of the gentle Wife who had
been living under the flowers since Jcn.
MES Firth.
Meanwhile. in the kitchen. Jennie
Wa tripping about. engaged In some
household work. and Harry WAS watch
ing her vi b love-lit eyes, and could
not make up his mind To tell her no
loved her.
The Rev. Mr.. " Walker. of the ortho-
dox church. In Bolton. had prepared .
discourse for his sinful congregations.
upon the subject IL endless punish.
meut The parable :of the rich man
and Lazarus was his basis, and he hurl-
ed the anathcmas Of wrath nj the black
sheep al his flock ~ though he were
nm avenging angel. and many members
Of his congregation felt guilty tcrrors.
Little Tim Bates shIvered In his shoes,
and thought u the pie he had taken
, the wight before, and then told his
mother q lie, and debated whether he
should confess. or run the risk 81 the
punishment Illuminated by the parson,
But he did not settle the matter that
time. for the minister was suddenly
brought 10 a full stop in the midst al
his ui~ HpuIr'- hhh WV ''bki'kuAi'
WAS electrified by n tremendous crash
and report in their very midst, as II the
very heavens and earth had come to-
gethcr.
Farmer Evans arose to his feet stimuli.
ltaneously with his daughter and the
rest Of the congregation, and poor lit
tie Tim vas not sure for the moment
that his future had not already begun.
The cause Of the noise Ma fosnd Ia be-
an explosion in the stove, through the
Internal agency known as ~gunpowder.
How IL came there WAS q mystery To all
except Farmer Evans. Harry Bailey
who made the fires and found the wood
for q stated sum. came forward aud ex.
planned. with a white face, that the
thing Was unknown Ia him.
The farmer walked home thinking.
Bad. bad I'm very sorry that he's al
that sort; ! never suspected him. ii MI
others; and Jennie likes him"
The farmers first impulse was to mir
in the bud the acquaintance between
Jennie and young Bailey; but his nstu.
raj kindly feeling ultimately prevailed
over his anger. and on his next meeting
with the delinquent he abruptly ad'
dressed him:
You are counting my d~augh,er7"
Harry Bailey admitted the fact bash
fully.
} And you make the fires for the Or
' thodoX church, continued the old
man.
Harry Assen,ed.
And you furnish the woodY'
Yes" said the young man. growing
red and white by turns.
Perhaps you would like To have th'
mysterious explosion In church las
Sunday explained knew my wood
pile WAS going somew here, and put
small charge Of powder In one Of tn
srcks. need not say tha, ! was sur
ykised 10 find you we're the thief. an
YOU dared TO come counting my dangh
terri
Harry quailed before the stern. cles
glance 81 the old man.
II know I'm too mean TO live. nue.
less tn love her" be broke out. II don
expect you 10 overlook f. IL had
hard year on the farm; you know wha
losses met. ! meant io pay II bscl
again, but ] don't expect you 10 beliey,
me. One thing I beg-don't tell he
anything about IL; ! couldn't bear Q
have her think 50 badly 81 me"
The old man regarded the ashamed
repentAni face With pity.
'.Look here, Harry" he said; III
forgive you. and Will not mention IL Z
soul II you'll look me In the face an
premise solemnly TO be strictly homes
from this time forth"
Bailey caught bis hand gracefully
md he tsls kis reward begin - be sa'