Smyrna times., 1880-07-21

was III LH6 dFHEy3 you sec anu ne HlHksU
solemnly. "By the way" he continued,
have you any more of these? They are
as neat u pattern as | ever saw, and odd, too,
| should like to see tho rest Of the dozen, if
you have them"
Mother has only eleven" said Carrie, in
her innocence, "and she is very proud of
them but l will show them to YOU"
Then sho brought the little box wi h the
precious able-slver-.elevcn teaspoons, four
tablespoons and an ancient cream iug-all
pure silver n@shining brightly-,and placed
thcrn before her inquisitivo visitor to
admire.
He had finished his "light lunch ~.
That is, the pie was demolished and the
teapot empty. As the little girl handed him
the treasure he arose, took the box to the
window, examined its contents with a criti
cal movement, and then as if in joyful sur
prise, said;
81 am right! They are tho very spoons |!
The very same identical spoons that my
friend lost when he was q boy How lucky
it is that have found them at last ~
With these words, and very low bow,
the rascal opened the door and slipped
away with the spoons and silver cream
pitcher down the path toward the gate.
For an instant Carrie stood motjOnlcss,
then rushing after him she shrieked:
"Givo me those spoons They are my
mothers spoons, and you are trying to steal
them You are a thief, thief! Bring
them back, bring them back p
The man, however, paid no attention to
the child's cries, but ran rapidly down the
path carrying the box in his arms; and the
spoons and the pitcher would have been
lost forever if q new party had not appeared
on the scene.
Old Dan was quietly nbbling the grass
near the gateway. Hearing his little mis-.
tresss voice he looked up at the very
instant that the tramp passed. What he
saw about the man that disturbed him |
don't know; but erecting his head, with a
hoarse B.a.a.a.a! !" shot at him like can
non ball.
The man turned to receive him and
defend himself, but tho ram struck him
fairly in the front and knocked him, half.
senseless. fiat on his back, scattering the
silver in all directions.
For an instant the fellow remained
sprawling i'll the dust, then ne slowly arose,
limping and groaning, and with bu. glance
at his enemy, began to gather up his stolen
spoils.
lie had partly completed the task whom
Old Dan, who had all this time been watch
ing the proceedin Is from beneath his shaggy
eyebrows, shook his long beard, and with
another tremendous " Baaa-aw dashed at
him again, and over he went a second time,
his treasures flying from his hands.
And now began q strange battle. With
cries OF rage and pain, the man recovered
his feet and turned upon tho ram, kicking
and striking at him furiously, while Dam
accustomed to such wareare from years oi
experience with the boys oF the countryside
easily eluded him, and in return butted
him 70 the earth again and again.
The spoons and cream pitcher were
knocked hither and th;ther as the combat
ants struggled, the road was tramplcd iRtC
something like race course, the air was
filed with very bad luggage, very angry
- baas and great cloud Of dust.
But after some five minutes. victory de
ciared itself upon the side Of the quadru
ped and, bruised and bleeding, with
clothes in rags, minus hat and shoes, the
vanquished man suddenly turned away anC
ran lmping down the read, leaving hi'
antagonist in full possession Of the field and
the stolen silver.
Old Dan remained mstionless. gazing
after his enemy until he disappeared
around a distant turn in the road; ther
shaking the dust from his coarse wool, h'
gave utterance to low grumble Of satislac
ton, and wagGing his tail returned to hi
| dinner in front of the house.
Half an hour later. as Carrie washed thC
coveted spoons and the bright little pitcher
and laid them carefully away once more
she told her brother the story; and how
the robber was foiled; and Ned. full o
enthusiasm, cried:
ave will not kill old Dan at all, for d'
not believe that father would shoot hin
now for hundred dollars"
And the boy was right. The old ran
was more than he knew when he Tough
the tramp and conquered him. lie woI
his masters regard, aud a free, happy lif'
for the remainder of his days.