Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-31
Hasty Judgment.

Hasty Judgment.
al can't bear him - exclaimed Sol.
"Well," replied Eben, doubtfully, " can't
say I've seen anything wrong in him, though
| don't fancy his ways; and his actions do
look suspicious, as you say. But what can
We do about it 2"
"Do2 Ferret him out He has come here
with his money and his condescending man
uers-or want of manners-and he thinks he
can do anything here among us country
chaps. | tell you what it is now, if he don't
run against a stump soon, it's because my
name amt Sol Stebbinsl"
"But, SOL" ventured his companion, "you
lon't know anything positive against him
out his independent treatment of u.s."
"Don't |, Eben Wheeler - returened Sol,
significantly. "Almost every evening he is
IF prowling around alone. | have often
'een him cross my moving, inst at dusk,
md go into the woods towards Tom Smiths.
Now what was he after Z"
Eben could not say.
"You don't know" continued Sol, rather
dramatically; " / will tell you"
"Nearly every night for week Tom has
lost one or more chickens. When he sits
out by them with his gun until ten or eleven
o'clock, nothing dsturbs them. So what
ever or whoever takes them does it in the
'ore part Of the night"
Eben's eyes began to open.
Sand I'm sure he takes bag with him."
added Sol. $50 you see now it isn't all
guess-work."
"The sneak !" cried Eben, Indignantly.
1t would gall him terribly if we country
| ,reenhorns should catch him at it. Can't
we do it, some way 2"
| "Jnst what | came over to talk about.
| We can waylay him on his way home and
| If we don't find anything about him-but OF
course we shall-he needn't know who we
are. You amt afraid, are you p
"Not a bit |" scornfully. "l'll come
Town tonight by sunset; and if he makes
mother trip, we'll just put an end to his
| ,ame. But Sol What on earth should
make him want to steal chickens, rich as he
Gems to be p
"That's the way good many people get
| their money-by meanness," he said. "Be
sure and come down. I'll be ready"
Then the boys separated.
| The subject of their conversation, Maui
rice Fleming, was young fellow of eigh-
teen, who was spending his vacation at
Champion. He made no particular effort
% cultivate the acquaintance of the boys in
| The neighborhood; and his cool manner, to-
i
ish attire, produced a feeling of dislike in
he minds Of the farm-boys, who could not
endure their own notion that they were
looked down upon.
At sunset the boys were posted at win
low in the gable end of Soils barn-a favor
able position for lookout.
| They conversed in low tones, keeping
harp watch of the road and adjoining fields
until dark but they were disappointed.
"Never mind" said Sol, philosophically
$ come down again tomorrow night. He'll
ne sure to come out sometime"
The next night, as the boys began to fear
hey were again to be disappointed, they
caught glimpse of an indistinct figure
moving across the moving.
| "That's him." Sol declared triumphantly.
After waiting until the figure disappeared
in the woods, the two boys walked slowly
Town the road, hating just beyond where
they supposed Fleming had entered.
"When he comes into the road" whis-
pered Sol, we will jump out a. him and
lold him down and search him."
"But suppose he is armed 2" suggested
Eben, doubtfully.
{" He won't have time TO use his arms or
MS legs, eitherl' was the grim reply. Eben
tried to laugh at the joke, but could not
"The truth is, you're little scared !"
| added Sol.
"No, I'm not - protested Eben "wait
and see" And they waited. Perhaps it
vas only the effect of the darkness and sus-
pense, but E,en honestly hoped that Flem-
| ing would return by some other way. By
degrees their whispered conversation ceased,
aud they listened in perfect silence for some
warning of their enemy's return. Two miles
away in the village on the hill, the clock struck
| 10 as the last vibration died away sound was
heard of coming footsteps swishing through
the long grass. Then the sound of boots on
the wall as some one scrambled over, dozen
rods away, and came into view. He held
small bulls eye lantern in one hand and in
| the other what seemed TO be a cane and a
| light colored bag.
There was no installing that slight form
| and stylish dress. 1t was Maurice Fleming.
Once fairly in the road he shut his bulls
| eye and came rapidly along in the darkness
As he passed by where the boys were con-
| cealed he felt himself seized from behind by
| Soils strong arms, and after short struggle,
in which Fleming courageously but silently
defended himself, his hands were bound be-
| hind him according to the established Gus
| tom of war Then Eben held him down
while Sol examined the bag. "Curious
thing !" he muttered. Got handle, too !"
and in moment, " Hello here's the chicken,
and plump one it is Say you young
thief Hello there's pasteboard box in
the bag What else has he been up to ?"
He CROPPED around until he found the little
lantern and opened the slide
As the light fell on them the captive ex-
claimed in establishment;
"What you two fellows2 What on
earth are you trying to do ?"
You may as well own up, young man."
said Sol, sternly. There's your booty in
the bag and here's this box, which I'm
going to open"
=" Hold on |" cried Fleming, struggling des-
perately. "Don't open it. I've worked too
hard to lose them now"
"Ah you're in our power now," replied
Sol, raising the cover "Hold him fast,
| Eben."
"Don'tl" implored Fleming. But Sol
resolutely removed the cover and, three
great green moths emerged futtered around
the light for few seconds, and vanished in
the darkness.
"Gone" groaned the poor captive. "a
whole weeks work for nothing" And he
almost cried with vexation. Besides these
three insects, the box contained nothing
Eben glanced at the long-handled bag, and
and it flashed over him that it must be a
butterfly net, such as he had read Of His
heart sank Had they made foolish blum
der No, for there was chicken in the
net, Sol had said.
"Let's see the chicken, SOL" he said.
Sol brought the bird and turned it over
and over close to the light for moment.
Then he dropped it and looked at Eben with
face of utter Darkness.
ats screech owl, he said family.
| Ehen lnokad at Flaming.