Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-07-16

balls on her horns, didn't sheI"
eyes, 80 Isaac said.''
sAnd kind of hump on her back?"
GA perfect dromedary," said Miss Lett
tia; II noticed that myself"
ssThey were Small's cows, no doubt, of
it at ALL" said Mr.. Babcock, rubbing his
hands. 'sNo sheep with them, hey?"
sWell, now think of it. there were
sheep-they ran away as soon as they saw
Isaac. Yes, certainly there were Sheep"
said Miss Letitia.
II knew it-they always 60 with the
COWS; and what do you want of me?"
s'It's to fix damages said Miss Letitia,
GAS Said before, women folks are no
Judges about such Matters
Mr.. Babcock meditated moment, and
then said
"Well, I wouldn't take cent less than
seventy-five dollars, if were you-not a
cent"
s'Seventy-five dollars! Isn't that good
deal, Mr. Babcock? You know I don't
wish to be hard on the poor man; all I
want is fair compensation tor the mis-
|
chief DONE"
sSeventy five dollars is fair, ma'am--in
fact, might say it's low. wouldn't
have had herd of cattle and sheep tramp
ling through my premises in that way for
a hundred.
s'There's one thing forgot to state; the
orchard gate was open or they couldn t have
| hot DO
ssNot bit-not bit. You'd a right to
have your gate open, but Small's cows had
no right to run loose. hope Isaac drove
them to the pound, didn't he?'
81 heard him say he'd shut 'em up some
where, and didn't mean to let 'em out till
the owner calls for 'em. But, Mr.. Bah
cock, what if he should refuse to pay for
the damages! I should have to go to law
about it,"
s'He won't refuse; If he does, keep the
critters till he will pay. AS to law, guess
he's had about enough of that"
'sI'm sure thank you for your advice, .
said Miss Letitia, ssand mean to act upon
it to the very letter"
Scarcely was he out Of her sight wher
Miss Letitia sent summons for Mr.. Small
which he obeyed as promptly as his neigh
Dor had done.
She made to him precisely the same
statement she had made to Mr.. Babcock
showed him the injured property, ant
. asked him to fix the damages. 1t was re
markable before he did this that he should
ask the same question Mr.. Babcock ha(
! asked, namely. whether she had any sus
picion to whom the animals belonged.
"Well, one Of them [ observed had
, terribly crooked horn"
"Preclsely-its Babcock's heifer,
. should know her among thousand. Sh
was black and white, wasn't she?"
"Well, now I think Of it, she was, ON
seldom sees so clear black and white on ;
| cow"
ssTo be sure, they're Babcock's animal
fast enough. Well, let me see, what yol
t want is just fair estimate, suppose9''
: ssCertainly."
q 'sWell, should say ninety dollars wa
0 as low as he ought to be allowed to get OF
2 with.''
.'Oh, but fear that will seem as if
: meant to take advantage. Suppose we cal
/ lt-say seventy-fve.'
}. "Just as you please, OF course; but hang
s ed if I'd let him off for cent less than
s hundred, if it were my case."
''And if he refuses to pay?"
} ."Why, keep the animals until he come
:. around. that's ALL"
s'But there's one thing I neglected t
u mention-our gate was standing open
I; that may alter the case"
mot at all: there's no law against keeI
q ing your gate open; there is against stra
~ animals"
every well; thank you for your advice.
said Miss Letitia; and Mr.. Small departe
:. with as smiling countenance as Mr.. Bal
cock had worn.
But at milking time that night he mad
) strange discovery brindle was mis-
# ingl At about the same hour Mr.. Bal
; cock made similar discovery; the blac
~ heifer was nowhere to be found. A horr
le BILE suspicion seized them both-a susp
= cion they would not have made known
each other for the world.
lg They waited till it was dark, and the
ID Mr.. Babcock stole round to Miss Letitia'
K and meekly asked leave to look at the an
mails which had committed the trespass.-