The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-04-08

Before l experienced religion and
turned from the evil of my ways said
a man who had been quietly sucking
away at a corn-cob pipe. Il had
little lay of my own. 1t was that Of
retailing dry goods, clothing. boots
and shoes, and Yankee notions around
the country from peddler's wagon.
The particular little point in which !
excelled was in securing my goods at
low prices. finally became SO smart
that got most of them for nothing.
Zone day, as was driving along
highway in Ohio, farmer stumpcd
me to trade horses. After some beat
ing around. we made an even exchange,
and got handsome, strong-limbed
horse in place of spawned and brok-
en- down animal. 1t was my solemn
belief that he was getting rid of
stolen horse, but not scruple of con-
science did l have. had a heavy
wagon, and drove two horses before
it, and calculated that l made just
800 out of that trade. l drove six
teen miles after making the trade, and
that horse proved himself a dandy.
Il had my eye on a certain dry goods
store in the village Of P-for several
months back. That night, after every
thing around the village was quiet, |
slipped out, harnessed up, and drove
the wagon around back of the store.
You see, intended to make a large
purchase at bottom figures, and didn t
want the proprietor around. | had
brought along half-inch anger, and
twenty minutes was time enough to
bore my way in through the back door.
A boy about Is years old slept in the
store. My first move vas to capture
him. Before he was fairly awake had
him tied, blindfOlded and gagged.
Then proceeded to make my spring
and summer selections. The town was
as quiet as grave yard, and in about
an hour hal all the load the wagon
would carry. l might remark right
here that the stock was selected with 4
view Of giving my customers advan-
tages Of falling market.
1.-The young man had been Very quiet
during my work. and as was ready to
go l went over to him and expressed
my qualification at his conduct. As it
lacked only two hours Of daylight, |
tiently wait for some early riser to
come in and relieve him. Hepromised
to remain quiet, and got on the wa
gon and drove off with the feeling that
l had made good nights work Of it.
was intending to drive ten miles d ue
west and then run the goods into a
certain hiding place. About mile
beyond the village was long hill. and
as We came to this that new horse sud-
denly came to dead halt l put on
the whip, and he began to kick. In
| about two minutes l was made to real
ize that l had been stuck on pro
fessional.' ] knew by his actions that
he was baker from way back, and
not only mulish about it, but decidedly
/ vicious.
NOW, gents, in the language Of
Shakespeare, here was 90. gol
down and coaxed and flattercd anG
scolded and pounded, but that hors.
had made up his mind not to move
and was ready to die in his tracks.
jabbed him in the hams with brat
awl, but he kicked the dash board int
splinters to pay for it. started u fir,
under him with newspapers, but h.
backed out of it was in box. Tim,
was slipping past, and time was every
thing to me. That Internal beas
would neither take the hill nor turf
around, Embarrassed him to walk hin
around, and he rushed at me with
scream, knocked mo over, and thel
turned and galloped off. My plan wa
to cut the other horse loose and tax
, myself off, but before could do it
dozen men piled on to me. That stor
| clerk had worked himself loose am
given the alarm. Being as I'm in
, confidential mood this evening, l vii
inform you that Prosecuting Attorney
Judge, and six jurors retired me t
Columbus for the term of eight years.
] l-New York Sunday Sun.