Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-10-07
sisters angry tone, but Colonel Gardner

sisters angry tone, but Colonel Gardner
laughed approvingly.
"You'll do to ito to. young missi
That's the sort like. You git all the
work out of your hired people, aud you
don't let 'em shirk 1t. Halloo, II here
aint job Lyonsp' ms another wild
looking horseman dashed up to the
gate. "Got him, JobP"
"No, Cnrnel, but we've got your
hosscs. They was a-grazing near
Boggy Creek. You brought us, Curnel
on a wild-goose chase. fur them hosses
aint bin stole. jest slipped their halt
ers and got away. I'm of to my work."
and he galloped away.
Delight and dismay chased each other
over the Coloners broad face.
"Wall, now, gentlemen," he said
dcprecatingly to the mon who had risen
and were preparing to move of, "Pm
mighty sorry l troubled you"
"You mought have got us in heap
worse trouble Of we had broken that
youngster neck, as you and johnson
wanted" said one of the men sternly.
1--WE ought to thank our stars he got
away"
"Wall, now," said the Colonel, help
lesslv, we've bin chasin' n fellow fol-
nothin', ehP"
"Looks monstroHsly like it," said
the man who had just spoken; "aud
we were within an ace of hangin' him
to the first convenient limb, furnothin',
too. Look here, Curnel, you don't git
me out agin when your hosses git
away"
They rode off, leaving the crest-fallen
Colonel to follow Mt his leisure.
AS he rolled his portly bulk to tho
gate, Martha heard him muttering:
"Wall, now, how in thunder did
them hosses break looseP"
1t was over-the fear and suspense
Martha had never tainted in her life,
but she felt faint and sick, and closed
her eyes for few minutes. When she
opened them, the young man had taken
of his disguise and was in his own
clothes, and looking Mt her gratefully.
81 can't thank you," he said
you've done so much for me that /
can't express myself. But for you /
should have been dangling to one of
those trees. They wouldn't have given
me ten minutes"
YOU'RE safe now" she said.
"Yes. But wouldn't have showed
myself even when heard all, because
it might have injured you with your
neighbors-for assisting supposed
horse-thief. My name is Burton--Har-
ry Burton; and my mother will thank
you some day for this"
"Why did YOU leave home to wan
der around in this wayP" Martha asked
curiously.
Harry Burton looked little confused,
but said:
"Well, the fact is, / thought I'd see
little of the world. To tell tho truth,
I've been away from home two months,
and had written my mother that was
coming back to look after matters on
the farm again, when all this Happened
to me. l will go and look for my horse
now, and perhaps, when your father
returns. he will set me across the river.
Pm going to ride all night, for I'm just
wild to see home again.
Martha directed him to the place
where his pony had been turned loose,
and then sat down to think quietly.
What an afternoon it had been! And
all these things had happened in few
hours. Robbie was looking every
where for the supposed Bertha, who
had vanished, and wearied his sister
with questions as to where she hat
gone. and who was the strange mar
who had come from behind the house
1t was sunset when Mr.. Willis re
turned. He was seriously angry ant
frightened at Martha's imprudence
and the risk she ran in sheltering s
possible felon; but he was proud, too
of her bravery and presence of mind.
"Never do such an act again, my
girl" he said. at was q dangerous
experiment, can tell your
"But he was innocent, and I knew
it," Martha urged. "Must we run n,
risks to shield the innocentp'
1t would have been an interminabl
argument, but by this time Harry Bur
ton had returned, and Mr.. Willis dit
not retain his anger long at the sigh
of his pale, sensitive face.
"My mother will thank you," wa
all he said to Martha, us he shook he
hand warmly at parting. Youths Com
panion.