The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-31
tho missing fowl They'll beat out OF
sight all the sighs ever heavcd over the
flesh pots of Egypt chuckled Sam.
"Hc he! he! "giggled dick.

sight all the sighs ever heaved over tho
flesh pots of Egypt" chuckled Sam.
CHE he! he" gigglcd dick.
'Haw! haw!" gruffawcd Sam
''Lct's do it," s,id one
agreed ~ returned the other.
After laying their heads together for
half ali hour, plan was matured, and the
two separated in great glec.
Thc dcacoD's turkey roasted In the wood
house. which had shutter opening on an
adjacent alley, and fastened by hook
and staple inside. On visit which Sam
Whipple made to the premises on Wedncs-
day afternoon, under prelext Of borrow
ing. the dcacon's sawbuck, he managed
slyly to undo the hook, thus leaving the
way clear for the nights operations.
AT a safe hour after dark, the conspira-
tors started on their crrand first casting
lots to decide which should enter the wood
house and bring OF The prize, and which
should iit ep watch-thc former task fall
ing 10 Sam, and the latter to Dick.
''iou sraud here. said Sam, as they
nearcd The mouth of the alley.
Dick took his station, and Sam, adyap-
cling stealthily. soon reached the shutter.
which he had no difficulty in opening.
Then climbing in he was not long in find.
ing the object Of his scalch
| PUT put - sqawked the turkey, an d
flop, flop went his wings, us Sam gruspes
his legs and pulled hun down from hid
perch.
| After sharp scu1le Sam was trlum-
phant, and held his gobblership fast under
one arm and securely gagged with the
| other hand
lhe noise of the struggle had aroused
the deacon's dog, who growlcd and bark
ga hcrcely; but Sam kept quiet and soon
| all was still
g Is that you Dick?' he whispered, as
he heard steps approaching softly outside.
"Ies," was the answer in the same
| tone.
Here, take him." said Sam, RAISING
out tho turkey, whlcb the other received.
Then climbing out himself, which took
little time, for he moved cautiously, he
looked about for Dick, but neither he nor
the turkey was in sight. lie walked up
and down the alley, but the search was in
| vain.
"Well, call that shabby trick !" NUT
tered Sam-"after my taking all the risk,
too. But maybe he'll turn up all right in
the morning. lie had better, | tell him !"
So saying, Sam walked sulkily home.
Next III ,rn'ng, bright and early, he
started in search Of Dick, whom he net
shortly apparently on a similar hunt for
him.
"Where's that turlseyl Was Sam's first
| question.
Where is he yourscf2" retortcd Dick.
VI handed him out TO you, returned
Sam.
You didn't" replied the other. When
the dog barked lodged round tho corner.
when came back, l went up to the wood
house, and called You as loudly us l dared,
but you had gone"
That's too th:n,"'- -ans.,rnd Sam
"fhat you've turned traitor, and made
away with the turkey"
THAT a lie !"
For the space OF three minutes there
was a rapid and promscuous motion of
four lists, at the end of which time Sam
hauled off with Il blackened eye, and Dick
with u bloody nose. Both seemed to have
had enough for the present and went their
respective ways.
When at the appointed hour they seve-
rally entered the deacon's parlor-cach
fearing that if he stayed away he would
be liable TO susplcon--Sam had concealed
his damaged optic with pair CT goggles,
worn he said, for sore eyes, brought on
by excessive study, and Dick accounted
for his swollen nose on the ground Of a
violent Catarrh.
The deacon, so far from appearing chop
fallen, looked unusually cheerful, and
when the guests walked in to dinner, what
was Sans and Dicks astonishmcnt to see
ut the post of honor on tie table the finest,
fattcst, and biggest turkey that eyer
aroused mortal heart to thanksgiving.
| 81 tell you what, friends" said the dea
con; when lie had finished saying grace,
we have more to be thankful for than most
Of you are yet aware OF. You don't know
what a narrow escape we've had from
losing the best part OF our dinner. Last
night l heard the dog bark, and going
down tho alley back of the wood house,
found the shutters open. Somebody inside
whispered lis that you Dick y Yes"
answered; for you know my name is Rich
ard. ''Hcle, take him." said the other
handing out turkey, which quietly took
and bore away"
The mystery between Sam and Dick was
thus cleared up, but happily moi, as we
have seen, till they had sufficiently pun
ished one another. From twinkle in the
dcacon's eye they more than half suspected
that he knew al. At any rate, neither
Sam nor Dick ever vcnturcd again to visit
Edith Turner, the daoon's pretty daughter
who, six months after, married another,
let us hope, better man.