Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-04-09

/ TAR aneau OF mem.
Caught! Jerusalem cricket
believe they're caughtp cried Mr.
Blipn, his fatigue all gone IN mo-
ment.
A boy fair faced and with curley,
! Gaxen hair, who mad just ridden up
behind them, gave joyful exclama
ton He was about Is, perhaps, and
Of slight and DELEGATE build.
'Tm tired almost to death, " he con.
fessed frankly, riding up alongside,
''but I'm gong on if you think they re
caught, for my pony Lightfoot is mis-
sing this morning - barn door open
and tracks all around-and / believe
they've got her with them. She's a
solTel, with darker name and tail-the
prettiest horse in Tolland.o
Last nlghtl You don't say" said
Mr.. Blinn. I'm sure hope you'll
get her again. Harkn-as the shouts
rang out again, this time much nearer;
Il declare to goodness believe they
have caught the vermins.
The men ahead Of them had left the
turnpike and turned off into the
woods, where presently our party
came upon them-a hundred men or
more, all gathered about three ugly
looking fellows, who wore handouts,
and six or eight horses. The Tolland
sheriff had not had the honor Of "bag-
ging the game, after ALL A separate
party, which had started out from the
adjoining own Of Hesper, had head
ed them OF and had caught them ere
they were aware.
! Two or three men we're claiming
their horses, and as the sheriff and
| his raen knew all the claimants by
sight and were familiar with the
teams that most Of them were accus-
toned to drive, there was no difficulty
1 in proving property" til suddenly
! the ill-favOred stranger" whom Mr..
Savage and Mr.. Blinn had been dis
cussing, drove forward and laid a
hand on the halter Of a pretty, sorrel
pony, which was among the plumber.
Look herew called out clear,
boyish voice behind the Calverley
crowd That's my pony Here
you I" pressing forward through the
huddle OF men and horses as hard &C
he could, Let that pony alone, she's
mine"
The various discussions which were
going on among the excited groups
came TO a pause, and they surged
around the fair faced boy and the
stranger.
yours Humphm returned the
man viciously. That's my sorrel
mare Sarah.
you'll have to prove it, said the
sheriff, decidedly. 81 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
thero'll swear I'm right"
Several Hesper men were present,
but none of them seemed to know the
man.
my fathers just bought the Capt.
Santley place, said the boy excitedly,
land that's my pony Lightfoot. l
brought her down from the city only
three days ago. Proof I'll prove
she's mineW he weRt ON, see here. W
He dismounted from the large,
strong farm herse which he had been
riding, tossed the bride to Mr.. John
Savage, and walked toward the little
sorrel pony. She neighed intelligent
~, and tossed her head.
Come here, Lightfootw said the
boy confidently. The men laughed,
as, on releasing the animals halter,
she bounded lightly toward the boy.
He stroked her beautiful head ten
derlv with one hand, fumbling mean
while in his pockets with the other.
"Stand Off, Lghtfoot" he CONS
manded. The horse wheeled gently
aad took up place several feet away
from her young master.
Look at thatln 81 say ~ "She's
his plain enough m were some of the
exclamations which rose from the in
terested spectators.
"How many Jumps of sugar do you
want, Lighfoot3n asked the boy.
The pretty little pony seemed ac-
tually to smile, as she lifted up her
foot and paved three times on the
ground
"Thatn do" said the boy, inter~
ruptng the voracious Lightfoot, as
she was about to paw a fourth time.
''Three Jumps are enough, you greedy
horseN
There was loud laughter aud clapp-
ing of hands as he took three Jumps
OF sugar from his pocket, and the
horse seized and ate them with zest.
The boy looked appealngly ts the
sheriff, while cries of FAR playl
Give the youugster his pony Shes
mis-, fair enoughw arose from the
crowd, most of when, satisfied that
the robbers were in safe hands. were
lingering only to see the conclusion
of this novel dispute.
The ugly stranger had kept we'll in
/ the back ground after lin. boy had
come Harvard, and was sinking still
farther away while the pretty pony
was performing Then muttering
|sulleutIy, he turned and roGe Oft.
Tue Sheriff laughed.
You're earning your right 10 the
pony, fast enough, be said to the
boy. She's yours-thats PLAN"
/ The man, whose horse was 4 very