Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-09-01

"Me got anything, gen'lcmenP' ne
said, in a tone of great surprise. "Why,
lor' was sick in bed with the rheumatic
all day, an wouldn't a-been able ter
hav' acted like dem harem-scarem mig
gers in town Of 1 had a-wanted to.
obey here, he went in, an somebody
gin him an ole powder flask. an can
o pineapple. We done eat de pineapple
las night; but 1 know Mr.. Lincoln
wouldn't begrudge dat much ter good
Union niger like me-"
This eloquence was not convincing,
and the soldiers made a pretty good
search. But they did not think of
looking under the house, nor up the
trees, nor in the rabbit holes. So Jim
saved his prizes, and held his head very
high all the rest of his life in conse-
quence.
Tobey said nothing about the pretty
green pictures; he kept them for rainy
day as it were. when Aunt Betsey should
be cross. His night-dress was exactly
the same as his day dress; so the bills
rested safely where he had placed them
and nobody suspected what walking
bonanza he had become.
Van Dorn's raid was on Saturday.
On the Monday following Tobey was
hanging about the smoking pile that
had been the foundry building, when
two officers rode up and looked sadly
on the ruins.
There's no use lamenting," said one
OF them at last; 'let us light our cigars
and CO."
the other felt in his pocket mechanic
ally. II have no matches" he said:
have your
"No, but we can light them from the
fire--so much good it can do us, at least!
Here, boy! fetch me coal"
Tobey neared the smoking heap eau
tiously. 1t did not seem possible to get
a coal, but he could get the gentlemen
light by twisting up one of his green
pictures for spill. He had strong hopes
of receiving dime in return.
He took out one of the bills, twisted
a long lighter and stuck it in the fire.
1t blaZed quickly, and he ran with it
to the officer, who took it, lighted his
cagar, blew it out suddenly, and cried:
"What the dickens is this?'
Look, Foster" as he spread out
the remnant, "a greenback bill as I'm
aCaptain! Here, you little scamp! how
did you come by this? Have you any
more"
"Oh! yes, sir!'' said Tobey, in all
simplicity. Then he told the story of
how he came by them, the officers list
| ening like statues of attention. When
he had finished they turned and stared
at each other, pulling their mustaches
very hard. Then the Captain said, mild
ly: Come to the camp with me and
I'll give you some better pictures. These
are all alike. You may just hand them
over to me-"
Tobey relinquished the bills, not so
crisp and fresh as they were, but worth
quite rs much, while his captors grew
almost speeches. with establishment as
they saw the value the notes represent
ed. They were careful not to enlighten
Tobey, however, as to the value of his
treasure trove, and he was sent off COM
pletely happy with a silver dollar and a
pile of illustrated newspapers. Uncle
Sam got his own again, for the officers
were honest and loyal gentlemen. AS
| for TObey- he never knew that for two
days he had been rich enough to buy out
Holly Springs, or to found an orphan
asylum, or TO run race horses, or to own
yacht, or to start a daily paper. Aunt
Betsey never knew-Jim Kinkle never
knew, or, fear, like certain old heroes
in Roman history, they would have died
of modification. Tobey to-day thrives
in the ignoble state of a barber, sup
| porting his mother, who has grown too
fat even to waddle. and his father, who
is almost too lazy to breathe. He is in
dustrious, honest, popular and gay-but
what might he not have been had his
fortune stuck to his fingers until he had
found out its value!-SherUood Bonner,
IN orr Continent.