St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-10-15

Crosstown this morning, and hasn't
come back yet.
"WeIl, let's reconnoiter, bows; may
be he tried to swim it. You johnson,
stay here till | come back"
In short time he was back again
with the rest OF the party.
mo signs he drawled. 1--WE lost
the track in that ar thicket, and certain
sure he amt thar
Job Lyons and the fellars will come
up with him, reckon said one OF
the men. "You told 'em to meet us
here. didn't you, Curnel?'
Eyes" and to Martha's dsmay the
whole party, dismounting from their
horses, secured them to the paling, and
leisurely marched to the house Indian
file.
"You needn't be Uneasy, Miss Will
lis" said the fat leader. ''Jist give
us cheers out here under the trees and
we'll sot here, and admire the pros
pect."
Poor Martha would have given worlds
to have got them into the house and
out of sight of the fictitious German
woman. who, as if her curiosity had
been gratihed, was now industriously
raking the leaves in a pile. Having
nothing to do, all the men gazed in
teptly at her To take off their atten-
ton, Martha forced herself to talk to
them.
You don't often come this way,
Colonel Gardner" she said.
"No, my dear; but COMPOUNDED
horse-thief has stole my Romus and Re-
mus my two best horses-and we
after him. you see."
"How do you know he stole them?"
Martha ventured.
know! Well, my dear. johnson he
seed strange lad wandern' about near
my stable, bout nine o'clock at night.
He had come to the tavern that even
ing, and he walked about town pros
pectin', as you may say, and johnson
he says he's.the moral of young Cave,
and he's the right hand man Of Amos
White, the boldest horse-thief in this
county. Wen catch up with him."
1--WE amt sarched these premises
grumbied the rk-looking ruffian they
called johnson. MAYBE he's hid in
the hen house, or somewhat"
"You are welcome to search, gentle
men," said Martha, rising with alacrity.
The strain was too much for her, and
she felt as if she was in danger of
screaming aloud, or going into a tit OF
Mysteries before them.
There's pony tracks up to this here
gate, said johnson, scowling at her.
Had anybody been here to-day"
drawled Colonel Gardner who was
striving to be courteous.
80 yes," she answered readily; sold
Mr.. Maxwell brought our meal, and
Jim Pendleton rode here to get father s
scythe.'
"Well, We'll sarch-meanin' no of.
tense, my dear" and the Colone
waddled into the house, while the mer
scattered into the outbuild.ngs. Nervec
on by the emergency, Martha strove t.
60 on quietly with piece of work she
had hastily caught up. In few min
utes they returned, the old Colone
putting and blowing, and tanning him
self with his hat He sank into a sea-
near her.
"rm sorry your pa wasn't here, " M
said; "but l hope, my DEAR you ain
scared. My girls don't scare worth
cent, but YOU re stranger, and punl
to boot, and you're not used to on
ways. You see, in Texas we don't low
criminals to git away.
"Aint that woman a master hand tt
work?' looking curlously at the leaf
raker. "Aint she that German woman
your pa hired last week?'
Martha had not time to reply befor'
Robbie, his nap over, ran out on tn
porch.
"Why. if there amt Bertha" h
cried, spying the we'll known dress ant
suubonnet, and was running out to joil
her, when his sister caught him.
YOU'RE not to disturb Bertha till sh
finishes her work, Robbie. If you do
I'll punish you"
Rob looked up in establishment at hi
sisters angry tone, but Colonel Gardne
laughed approvingly.
you'll do to tie to. young miss
That's the sort l like. You git all tn
work out of your hired people, and 20
don't let EN- shirk it, Halloo, if her
amt Job Lyonsn' as another wild
looking horseman dashed up to tn
gate. Got him, Job?'
"No, Curnel, but we've got you
" bosses They was a-grazing nea
Doggy Creek. You brought us, Curne]
, on wild goose chase, fur them hose
amt bin stole. Jest slipped their halt
ers and got away. I'm off to my work;
and he galloped away.
Delight and dismay chased each othe
over the Coloners broad face.
"Wall, now, gentlemen" he sal
deprecatingly to the men who had rise
, and were preparing to move Off, "l1
! mighty sorry troubled you"
"You mought have got US in hea
worse trouble eff we had broken tha
YOUNGSTERS neck, as YOU and Johnso