Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1882-10-27
Who Stole Those Hazel-NutsI

That was the question which agitated
the family for days. 1t was really most
mysterious where those nuts went to,
and went SO fast
Roy had got them--it was his first
nutting frolic, and no one could tell
how proud he was of that big bag full.
They've got to dry" he declared,
"and where can they be spreadT'
A good many places were proposed.
The barn hoor-but the rats might get
them there; the garret iloor-but mice
might come there; mamma offered .
corner of the kitchen, but Norah turned
up the corner of her eyebrows. as il she
thought they'd be in the way;-(what
could you expect of girl who said
hazel-nuts tasted no better than raw po
tatoes when they were green, and exact
ly like so many chips when they were
dry.) But at last Roy hit on the very
place.
Outside the window of his own room
was the top of por&4. Surely moth
ing could touch them there. and mann
ma gave him leave to put them out, she
holding on to his kilt all the time as he
spread them, and he putting himself on
his honor never to get out there by him.
self.
So Roy's mind was at rest for o few
days. He could reach out and get
few to crack for his mother (who. II she
shared Norah's opinion of hazel-nuts,
never said SOY and his little brother Sam
and himself.
And now the mystery began. Roy.
looking sharply out at his nuts every
evening when he went to bed in the
summer twilight. could not help think
ing more were taken than he took HIM
self He stopped taking any to make
sure.
And then he icds sure.
The nuts were disappearing -disap
pearing so fast that it would not take
many days for all to be gone.
But who was the thief? Not Norah,
naturally. Not mamma, Roy was sure.
although as far rs he knew, she dotted
on hazel-nuts. Rats and mice couldn't
get up there. he thought. Julius Caesar.
the dog (Roy thought he was called SC
because he had way OF seizing things.
but this was Q mistake. IL was simply
his full namc). although fond Of nuts
when you cracked them for him.
wouldn't be likely to try to chew up
those pricking shells for himself. Be-
linda, the cat, never ate nuts.
Still they kept going. Roy went to
his room one evening right after tea. to
watch. But he fell asleep and lay with
his head ON the window-sill till mid
night, when he awoke with dreadful
crick in his neck and bad cold from
the draught. He had felt pretty sure
he had kept watch most Of the time. but
he had seen no thief,
The next day his mother took her
sewing and sat in Roy's room. When
he came home from school what do yon
guess was the first thing he saidP II
was:
:. Mammal = Where's mammal
Mammd2-MAMMAr'
Did you ever know any other boy
who said that when he came home? Or
any girlP
Soon he heard her softly calling:
ssSh-h- h-h-lookp' she said. 1--WE
found the thief" Roy looked out and
saw at once that more nuts were going.
Il declare I'll 90 for policeman
ssWait." she said.
A bluejay had just perched ON the
euge OF tne porcn-rVoi. tho seuoy
rogue took several dainty little hops
towards the nuts He bobbed his hi I'd
from side TO side. looking at Roy first
out of one bright eye and then the
other. giving half-timid. half-pert chirps.
which meant as plainly as bird could
put it,
"Of course you wouldn't hurt meP
And o fconrse you don't mind my helping
myself to few nuts when you've got 50
manyr Then he seized bunch OF
nuts half rs large as himself, and few
away without waiting to say thank you.
s.1his is the third time he has been
here within two hours" said Roy's
mother.
This story Is every word true. for !
could show you the very mother Of the
boy who owned the nuts which were
stolen by that very bluejay.- ioutfs
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