Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-06-29

cup of tea, and little cold meat, or
something Of that sort
'Oh, certainly; only can't give you
the meat for we haven't it in the
house." said Carrie, rising; "but 1 will
find something" And she took from
the pantry a whole apple pie, which
she placed before him, with knife
and fork.
eff you'll help yourself I'll have the
tea ready in three minutes"
Cali right, my DEAR" said the man,
Selling the knife and drawing the pie
toward him. III will act upon your
advice. The last time 1 took dinner
with General Grant," he continued, as
he cut great piece and began to eat,
she said to me, Governor, governor
said he, never disregard lady's ad-
vice. and 1 have always remembered
what he said" and he chuckled merri-
ly, and nodded his head at the delicious
looking pastry before him.
Carrie wondered a little at the table
manners of the man who had dined
with Grant, but she STEPPED his tea,
favored it with rich cream and sugar,
and passed it to him.
81 am not much of hand for tea"
said the man, as he drained the cup,
'but doctors say that must drink it
for my digestion. Ruined my diges-
ton while in the army, you see," and
he winked solemnly. "By the way"
he continued, picking up the silver tea
spoon from his saucer, shave you any
more of theseP They are as neat a
pattern as ever saw, and odd, too. l
should like to see the 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 will show them to you"
Then she brought the little box with
the precious table-silver-eleven tea
spoons, four tablespoons and an ancient
cream jug all pure silver, and shining
brightly-and placed them before her
inquisitive visitor to admire. He had
his light lunch. That is, the
pie was demolished and the teapot was
empty. AS the little girl handed him
the treasures he arose, took the box to
the window, examined its contents
with critical eye for moment, and
then. as if in joyful surprise, cried:
81 am right They are the very
spoonsl The very same identical spoons
that my friend lost when he was
boyl How lucky it is that 1 have
found them at last~
With these words, and a very low
bow, the rascal opened the door and
slipped away with the spoons and a
silver cream pitcher down the path to-
wards the gate.
For an instant Carrie stood motion
less, then rushing after him she shriked:
'Give me those spoons They are
my mothers spoons, and you are try
ing to steal them You are a thief.
a theifl Bring them back (! bring
them backr'
The man, however, paid no attention
to the child's cries, but ran rapidly
down the Tath, carrying the boxes in
his arms; and the spoons and pitcher
would have been lost forever if a new
party had not appeared on the scene.
Old Dan was quietly nibbling the
grass near the gateway. Hearing his
little mistress voice he looked up at
the very instant that the tramp passed.
What he saw about the man that
him 1 don't know, but erect
ing his head with hoarse "Ba-a-a" he
shot after him like cannon ball.
The man turned to receive him and
defend himself, but the ram struck
him fairly in the front and knocked
him half senseless, nat on his back,
scattering the silver in all directions.
For an instant the fellow remained
sprawling in the dust; then he slowly
arose, limping and grooming, and with
out glance at his enemy began to
gather up his stolen spoils.
He had partly completed his task
when Old Dan, who all this time had
been watching the proceedings from
beneath his shaggy eyebrows, shook
his long beard, and with another
tremendous Ba-a-al dashed at him
again, and over he went a second time.
his treasures flying from his hand.
And now began a strange battle.
With cries of rage and pain, the man
recovered his feet and turned upon the
ram, kicking and striking at him
furiously. while Dan, accustomed to
such warfare from years of experience
with the boys of the country side
easily eluded him, and in return butted
him to the earth again and again. The
spoons and the cream pitcher were
knocked hither and thither. as the COM
batants struggled, the road was tram.
pied into something like race course.
the air was filled with very bad Ian
guage, very angry "ba-as" and a great
cloud Of dust.
But after some five minutes victory
declared itself upon the side of the
quadruped, and, bruised and bleeding.
with clothes in rags. minus hat and
shoe, the vanquished man suddenly
turned away and ran limping down the
road, leaving his antagonist in full