The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-02-04

haste to seize The horn
Within her ear the inevitable "Hullop
resounded.
THAT you, Aaron ~
"Tain't nobody else"
Little he knew that Sophronia heard II
all.
"Well, have you did III"
Eyes. He's done for"
"Where did you find himl"
"Snoopin' around the mill, as poplar rs
though he was inspector OF b'ilers."
"Haw, hawi What ye done with the re-
mainsi"
They're deep. enough where nobody
won't find 'em this hundred year"
Him that's good"
Sophronia dropped the horns she stifened
with horror; here was fearful murder
right in the neighborhoodi But then she
had always expected 1t, or something like
1t, Of those Millers. While she stood con.
sidering, Hiram drove into the yard in q
neighbor's wagon, the Cheshire boar lying
ignominiously bound therein, squealing
with all his piggish might. Hiram backed
up against the stye, which he had rein.
forced at early dawn, and deftly slid Mas
ter Piggy over the tail.board, cutting his
bonds rs he helped him along, for well he
knew the danger Of setting such captive
free too soon.
He had just finished the risky proceeding
when Sophronia appeared at the shed door
with her apron over her head.
"H.i-ram!" she screamed. II want ye
to wait minutel I've got to go in to Stan
ton. / must, right of. Won't Barber's
folks let ye keep the team spelli"
II guess so." was the gruh response.
He knew perfectly we'll that he had bor-
rowed the team to 60 to Stanton himself
and get q scythe.snath. Such is man!
All the way Sophronia preserved an aw-
ful silence; she felt the magnitude Of the
situation and revolved her plans in her
| mind. What she did when she reached
Stanton, after receiving proper advice in
the matter, need not be detailed. In fact,
| l don't know what she did! But the very
| next morning Aaron and Joseph Miller
were arrested on charge Of murder, and
were brought before the proper authorities
for preliminary examination.
There was Sophronia, too, who with much
| excitement and many needless words, de-
poned and testified to what she had heard
on the telephone; grim smile distorted
Aaron Miller's face, and Joseph muttered,
''The old foolI" under his breath; but it
was only muttered, so Sophronia did not
resent 1t.
Judge Stopcock was the model Of arural
magnate; fat, red in the face, pompous,
| crowned with sleek, brown wig, and q
tall shiny hat, tilted slightly asksw; he ad-
ministered justice much as Mrs. Squeers
administered birthstone and treacle, Sc
vere!y with spoon. Throwing his head
back, clasping his hands over his stomach,
closing his eyes and pursing up his'mouth
he began his queries.
| "Aud you, hum, the-ah, prisoners; what
have you to offer as, hum' aw, rebuttai OF
/ atQfAmanfrp
opened his eye suddenly, and darted
judicial glare ut the Offenders.
| "Nothin'" krowled Aaron. II done It,"
| "O-o-oh''
And with delicious girlish scream
pretty, rosy, curly-headed girl rushed
across the courtroom, and flung her arms
around Aaron KILLERS neck; she had just
come in at the door.
HE neverP she sobbed, addressing as
founded Judge Stopcock with courageous
scorn. HE never he's the best and Kind
est and dearest man IN the world"
Miss Sophronia prepared to faint.
"You shut up, FanW said Aaron, with
peremptory voice and tender smile.
"Go ahead, 1edgel l Killed MIN, and
buried him! now want the hull caboodle
Of ye to come along and dig him up. SOS to
hang me right on slick; and not be a. maxim
no more fuss about 1t. Joe, did you send
arter the team"
"Yea-ah! !" RESPONDED 1osepn, WIN a
wink, an undeniaoie WINK! al the deputy
sheriff, Q bullet-headed Irshman, who had
regarded the whole proceeding up to this
time with subdued chuckles, as an exquis-
ite joke.
Now Mike roared aloud with laughter.
''SilenceW shrieked the outraged Judge,
growing reooer 1nah a.urAey-cocA.
swell, come along" went on Aaron;
"there's SlacK's OMNIBUS OUT OF tne door,
and want the hull posse commonatus to
come out an dig MIN up, as SAID afore;
there's SPADES enough out there"
"Ye can han'cuh me and Joe, II you
wanter."
This was singular and improper pro.
ceeding, and the Judge snorted and puhed
O good deal about it; but IN rustic COM
munity tine majority Is apt 70 nave its way,
ana nopody tnere oelieveo oopnronlas 8
accusation 1or an instant curiosity ana
rude 1ustlce sweep tne proprieties ana
Judge Stopcock into tne corner
Mike voiunoeereo " sit oetween 'ne
prisoners with an arm iocked IN eacn OF
theirs on eitner sloe, anu Tanny manning
an orphan niece OF tne Aiiers' whom tney
had Literally supported ana eaucated 1or
the last hve years, sat hext her uhcies.
Sophionia, too' weht along; no proni'
bition OF law or gosPei wouia nave de-
TERED her now; tue .'o~ OF 1nis tragic
business was at hand.
80 Judge, ana suerin, anu PRISONERS ana
witness, ana as many Oh tne crowd rs couid
find room IN the "omniDus'" oowled away
that calm september DAY TO Mlllers' Mills,