Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-04-15


he lives hereabout. | hope not, any
way. He looks to me, he continued,
with quiet humor, cas- i he might
make as the man said In the story, q
first rate stranger.
They both laughed, and iourneyed
on.
1t was now bright daylight, and the
breakfastless men and horses began
to feel tired. Some had turned back,
and Mr.. Savage and Mr.. Blinn were
beginning to think of doing the same
thing. and wondering if they had not
been pretty foolish to start off so inn
pulsively, when great shout rang out
far ahead of them.
Caught Jerusalem crickets Ibe-
lieve they're caught y cried Mr.. Blinn,
his fatigue all gone in a moment.
A boy, fair faced and with curly,
faxen hair, who had just ridden up
behind them, gave q joyful exclama-
ton. He was about Is, perhaps, and
| of slight and delicate build.
"I'm tired almost to DEATH" hecon
fessed, frankly, riding up alongside,
"but I'm going on if you think they re
caught. for my pony, Lightfoot, is
| missing this morning. door open
and tracks all around and | believe
they've got her with them. She's g
sorrel, with darker main and tail-the
prettiest horse in Tolland."
Last night! You don't sayn' said
! Mr.. Blinn. "I'm sure [ hope you'll
| get her again. Hark." as the shouts
rang out again, this time much nearer;
/ 81 declare to goodness, | believe they
/ have caught the varmints."
/ The men ahead of them had left the
! turnpike and turned off into the
woods, where presently our party
/ came upon thenl-a hundred men or
/ more, all gathered about three ugly
looking fellows, who wore handouts,
and six or eight horses. The pOlland
/ sheriff had not had the honor OF bag
/ ging the game" alter all. y separate
/ party, which had started out from the
| adjoining town OF Hesper, had headed
them off, and had caught them "ere
| they were aware"
/ Two or three men were claiming
/ their horses, and as the sheriff and his
men knew all the claimants by sight,
and were familiar with the teams that
most Of them were accustomed to
| drive, there was no difficulty in ''prOv-
ing property" till suddenly the ill-fa-
vCred stranger" whom Mr.. Savage
and Mr.. Blinn had been discussing,
drove forward and laid a hand on the
halter of a pretty, sorrel pony, which
was among the plumber.
"Look here!" called out a clear,
boyish voice behind the Calverley
crowd. That's my pony Here,
YOU'D pressing forward through the
| huddle of men and horses as hard as
he could, 'let that pony alone; she's
mine"
The various discussions which were
going on among the excited groups
came to pause, and they surged
around the fair-faced boy and the
! stranger.
Yours! Humph," returned the
man, viciously. THAT'S my sorrel
mare Sarah"
You'll have to prove it, !" said the
sheriff, decidedly. ~ don't know
either Of you, and I'll take possession
of the horse until you can prove it is
yours"
Il live over beyond Hesper," said
the stranger, sullenly; anybody
| there'll swear I'm right
several hes per men were present,
| but none of them seemed to know the
man.
My fathers just bought the Capt.
Santley place" said the boy ex-
citedly, land that's my pony Light
foot. | brought her down from the
city only three days ago Proof! I'll
prove she's mine." he went on, 'see
here!"
He dismounted from the large,
! strong farm horse which he had been
riding, tossed the bride to Mr. John
Savage, and walked toward the little
sorrel pony. She neighed intelligently
and tossed her head.
"Come here, Lightfootr" said the
boy, confidently. The men laughed,
as, on releasingthe animals halter, she
bounded lightly toward the boy.
He stroked her beautiful head ten
derby with one hand, fumbling mean
while in his pockets with the other.
Stand off, Lightfootl" he COM
manded. The horse wheeled gently
and took up a place several feet away
from her young master.
Look at thatp' II say!' ''She's
his. plain enough!'' were some of the
EXPLANATIONS which rose from the in
terested spectators.
How many Jumps of sugar do you
want, Lightfoot?" asked the boy.
1.-The pretty little pony seemed
actually to smile as she lifted up her
foot and paved three times on the
ground.
''That'll do" said the boy, inter
rupting the voracious Lightfoot, as
she was about TO paw a fourth time
'"Three Jumps are enough, you greedy
| horse
There was loud laughter and clap
ping of hands as he took three Jumps
of sugar from his pocket, and the horse
seized and ate them with zest.
The boy looked appealingly to the
sheriff, while cries Of Fair play!"
"Give the youngster his ponyp' ashes
his, fast enoughn' arose from the
crowd, most of whom, satisfied that
the robbers were in safe hands, were
lingering only to see the conclusion Of
! this novel dispute.