St. Landry democrat., 1888-04-21

add insult to injury by blabbing tc
those busybodies. his friends, who
kept asking him how he was getting
along saving wood. He did wish
folks would mind their own business
With a crash he sent the saw flying
over the woodpile. This was too
much. His wife Was brute to expect
him to work like a slave during the
few moments he could call his own
from business drudgery. But if he
gave up he would never hear the last
of it. Oh, if he could only get rid OF
that saw-jack.
A long time he pondcred; at last a
smile of joy illuminated his face.
That night, after his wife had retired.
Mr.. Mouser slipped out and carried
that hated green object to the front
gate. Presto! in the morning the
corpus delicti would be gone. The
highway was full of robbers, who
would steal any thing and every
thing.
He would make big fuss about the
loss, but take good care not to buy a
second saw-jack. And without one
how could he saw the family fuel?
His wife shouldn't get the laugh on
him!
He slept the sleep of the just until
about four O clock in the morning 1t
was still dark, but his anxiety to as
sure himself of the loss of his trouble
caused him to sneak out and recon.
noiter. The saw-jack was still there.
Mr.. Mouser whispered-not q prayer.
"Oh, well, there is time enough still
between this hour and daylight for a
theft to be committed,' he muttered.
1t was The voice of Mrs. Mouser that
awakened him in time for breakfast.
He glanced out of the window the first
thing. Oh, how brightly the sun
shone, and that saw-jack cleaned up
at him in all its verdant beauty. No
robber hand had carried it away. A
fearful sigh escaped the Mouser bo-
som.
You must saw some wood for me
before you 60 DEAR said his wife"
What, more wood!'
Yes, dear; recollect you only
sawed one stick last evening"" re-
joined Mrs. Mouser, meekly, but
wicked CLEAN of mischief played
about her eyes and mouth.
Mr.. Mouser ignored her reply. and
hastened to toy with his pretty tools
with a vigor born of awful fury. A
great swear word desired tp be born.
but his lips We're compressed. while
way down in his soul voice groaned:
''That sawing-jack must go!'
Where? whence? how?
Mr.. Mouser was man of re-
sources. Twelve o'clock midni ght.
A burglarish darkness and silence.
brooded around as man stole hence
from his couch. and, grabbing his
trousers, left cozy bedroom. A
little later the only other active Great
ure about-a feline prima donna
might have witnessed sorry sight; a
solitary man. marching downward,
clutching in his strong right hand a
be autifully painted sawing-jack.
Soon he returned. The saving
jack-where was ii?
Mr.. Mouser rose that morning in
most delighted frame of mind.
Lis eth-my dear little Lisbath,"
he exclaimed, friskilv, I'm going to
work in earnest to-day. l am feel
ng tine-much better than l have for
some time. Here. feel this arm.
How's that for muscle, eh? That's
what saw g wood has done"
Lisbeth b.inked oddly, but looked
.ontented. MIR. Meuser fastened out
o flip off a stick or two before
breakfast" but soon came in looking
luite angry and puzzled.
What in the world has become of
hat jackP 1t was gone. Such
nfamy-to steal ones very imple-
nents of toil!'' he cried IN rage, as
lie sent for the old wood sawyer again.
Mr.. Mouser, of course, grieved over
is loss, but managed to conquer the
egret sufficiently to display some of
is old wit and mirth. .
But this good feeling received sud-
Ell check the morning after the burg
sry of the Jack. - He had just; :
pened the daily paper when his
lance was arrested by a leading
II /:
Heavens, Lisbeth. look at this!''
Mrs. Mouser became alarmed. Her
us band was pale as death. and
in every limb, as he handed | t
er the paper She read: ~, S
The residence of the Hon. Oliver i
as broken into night before last and t
large sum of money and valuable {
late an jswelry stolen. -. The i
'bbers entered by the garden win- Fl
ow, from which they had removed | /
le iron grating, while stand- q
lg OH singular looking wooden /
bjecs. recognized by old-fashioned Fl
'untry folks as saw buck. 1t is /
ainted light green, and will doubt 5
ess prove a valuable clew toward d
acing the miscfeants. A thousand ,
ollars reward is offered for return of ]
weiry or information leading to the e
rest of the robbers. y c
'''Why. this is splendid! You can d
once notify the authorities that the t
ack' is yours-the thieves who car Y