The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-06-17

in lively dance with their bare feet on
the hot iron bars which were scattered
about the ground in every direction.
These were heated, so that they might
not really scorch the flesh, but would
touch the feelings, and peehaps the con-
science.
As the third boys scream rent the air,
and told that he, too, had encountered q
torrid experience, Alb Ryder became sud-
denly aware that there was some one be.
side themselves in the shop. He could
sec nothing; he was only vaguely con-
scious of an unexpected presence, and he
fancied that it was in the corner by the
barrel of water.
All at once gruff voice broke forth.
'I'm on the borryl" it remarked, with
fierce facetiousness. II want to borry a
boy-no! man O. bone and muscle-fur
bout mint an quarter!'
A strong hand seized Alb by his collar.
He felt himself swept through the air,
souscd head foremost into the barrel of
water, then thrust into corner where
he was thankful to find there was no
more hot iron.
II want to borry another boy!" said
the gruff voice. And the ''pop eyed
catamount" was duly duckcd.
"Twould pleasure me some ter borry
another!" the voice declared with grim
humor.
But Ben was mere snip of boy, the
youngest and smallest, and only led into
mischief by the others. They never
knew that the blacksmith rclcnted when
his turn came, and that he got mere
sprinkle in comparison with their total
immersion.
Then Stephen Ryder set out for home
followed by dripping procession.
'l'll l'arn ye ter 'borry' my tools 'thout
leave!" he vocifcrnted as he went along.
When they had reached the house
he faced round sternly on Alb.
"Why don't ye KEN an tell me cz how
the miller say l war sneakin', deceivin'
critter, an'-an'-an' thief"
His wife dropped the dish she was
washing, and it broke unheeded upon the
hearth.
Alb stretched his eyes and mouth in
amazement.
"Old Bob Peachin never tole me no
sech word sence I been bornp he de-
clared fatty.
"Then what allied ye ter 60 an tell
sech lie ter Grycc's boys las night jes'
down thar outside O. the shop9"
Alb stared at him, evidently bewil-
dcred.
Eye tole EN-" continued the black.
smith, striving to refresh his memory,
"ez Bob Peachin say ez how ye mought
know war dcceivin' by my bein' named
Stephcn-an' that I war the hungriest
critter-an'"-
"Twar the t-a.a-a. rricr!" shouted Alb,
"the little rat tarrier ez we war a.talkin'
bout. lie hev been name Steve these
six year, old Bob say. He gimme the
dog yestiddy, 'kase lowed ez the rats
war eatin' US out n house an home, an
my mother he'd fed up that old tom-cat
O. our'n till he won't look at mice Old
Bob warned me, though, as Steve, the
tarrier, air a mighty thief an decevin'
ginerally. Old Bob say he reckons my
mother will spile the dog with feedin'
him, an kill out what little good he hev
get lef' in him with kindness. But TUX
him, an brung him home euuyhow. An
las night arter we he'd got through talk
in bout borryin' (he looked cmbar-
rassed) the little hammer. we TUX ter talk.
in bout the tarricr. An yander he is
now, asleep on the chil'ren's bed!"
A long pause ensucd.
:.M'ria," said the blacksmith, meekly,
"hev yc TUX notice how the garden truck
air a-thrivin'2 Pears like ter Inc OF the
peas mir fullin' up considerable"
And so the subject changed.
He had it OH his conscience, however
to explain the matter to the miller. For
the second time Old Bob Peachin, and
the men ut the mill, "laffed nightly at
dad" And when Alb had recovered suf-
fciently from the exhaustion attendant
upon borrowing hammer, he ''lafed
too. D. Touth's Companion.