Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-09-26
The sturp Teller,
FARMER hPPLEGATE'S YBARLIBG HEEER.

"Run, fellers, run! Here comes Old
Pepper-Sauce!"
It was Jack Davis who spoke, and, not
waiting to hear more, we all followed him
as fast as our legs could carry US, to place
of safety.
AT the further side of the field, just by
the edge Of the woods, we stopped, and sat
down to watch the destruction of our morn
inp,s work, q dam which we had been
building across small brook that ran
through the field. Often we had attempt
ed to build the dam, and this time we had
finished it. Every little crack and crevice
where the water could trickle throug' we
had stopped tightly with clay, and we
were waiting excitedly for the moment
when the water, having risen to the top
of the dam, would flow over in broad
sheet that, would turn all the water-wheels
we intended making.
We were congratulatlng ourselves ns5 tna5
Farmer Apologize, whom we called "Old
Pepper-Sauce," +" because he seemed to have
such hot fiery temper, had not discovered
what we were doing, when Jack caught
sight of him and his hired man, Mike,
coming toward US, and he Immediately
gave the alarm.
We sat in row on the fence at safe
distance, and watched the men tear our
work to pieces. We were very angry. or
course we knew the land and the brook
belonged to Farmer Applegate, but we
did not see what harm it could 90 II we
did make dam there.
When the last sod was removed, and the
men started back the way they had come,
Teddy Whitmore exclaimed, II call tna1
meant"
Then we all shouted, "Old Pepper
Sauce ~ three times, as loudlyas we could
and as the men turned, and began coming
in our direction, we slipped down on the
other side of the fence, and plunged into
the woods.
We flew along over roots and dead
branches, through patches Of fern and
pround-pine, down into little hollows and
up over hummocks, frightening the squir-
rels from their dinners, and striking ter
ror to the hearts of the rabbits and part
ridges, never stopping until JACK, VINO
had dropped little behind, called OUT,
s'Hold up, fellers! No use runnin'! They
amt comin'"
"Whew, Pm hot!' exclaimed Charley
Emmons, tanning himself with his hat.
"Let's go out to Stony"
'sStony Creek" or "Stony," as we boys
always called it, was small stream about
two miles from the village, and had been
q fayorite sWimming-place with boys for
several generations. We splashed about
in the water for an hour or so, and then,
dressing ourselves, started back toward
the village, our thoughts still running on
the destruction of our dam.
81 wish we could pay off Old Pepper.
Sauce" said Teddy Whitmore. "pd just
give anything if we could do something or
other to show him our opinion OF him."
20 yvo
hate and dislike of him at his staring
windows. We trudged along the road, up
a hill and down the other side, the house
gradually sinking out of sight behind it,
until we reached place where the road
forked. one branch leading off to the vii
lape. and the other to BridgetonS assmaH
town ten or dozen miles away. ~
Just here, on one side, was Farmer Ap.
plegate's pasture, encleseasin aehlgh rail-
fence, and on the other thick WOOD,
whose tangled passages we had penetrat-
ed more than once in search OF BIRDS eggs
or squirrels.
In the corner of the pasture was shed,
or shelter, for the farmers cows, and be-
meath it, quietly chewing its cud, stood
mis- yearling heifer. ..
We knew that he was very proud OF tnls
heifer, and we'll he might have been, for
she was of pure Jersey stock, and was
very handsome creature. AS we stopped
and leaned against the fence, she came up
to US and rubbed her nose gently on our
hands.
While we were standing there looking at
her, Jack suddenly said, "Fellers, s'posin'
we run off with this heifer?"
''What for 2" asked.
"Why, to pay back Old PepPer-Sauce:u. e..
"By George" l exclaimed; "thaes just
the thing"
'sBut wouldn't it be stealin'?" suggested
Charley Emlnons.
He was the minister's son, and always
seemed little more conscientious than
the rest of US.
ooh! no,' said. "We wouldn't take
her for good, you know. We'd only keep
her until Old Pepper-Sauce thought she
was lost. We could bring her back any
time we wanted to-"
sBut where can we keep her SOS he
wouldn't find her ?" asked Teddy.
"Why, out in the cave" said Jack:
"We can keep her there's longs we want
to, and he'll never suspect u.s."
Hardly stopping to think, we all agreed
to the plan, and climbed the fence to carry
it out. Finding piece of rope under the
shed, we tied it around the heifer's neck,
and then, looking about to be sure that we
were unobserved, we took down several
rails from the fence, quickly led her
through the opening thus made, across the
road, and into the woods on the other side.
"Hurrah !" cried Jack, when that was
accomplished. "We've got her; now for
the cave"
took the rope and led the heifer, Jack
went before to clear path through the un-
derbrush, while Charley and Teddy fol-
lowed in the rear, each armed with sharp
stick with which to prod the animal II, at
any time, she showed a disincllnatlon TO
90 forward.
We passed through the woods, out into
the open field beyond, then through more
woods, across one or two roads, skirting
along beside cornfelds, and keeping out of
sight of the farmhouses until, in due time,
we reached the cave.
It was only small one, formed by some
huge masses of rock that had fallen from
the almost precipitous hillside above. l
do not know whether any one else knew
it was there or not but we boys had dis
covered it one day, and thereafter it had
been our favorite place for playing Indians
or smugglers.
We chuckled with delight to think that
we had reached the place without having
been seen, and began to plan how we were
to take care of the heifer. We decided to
feed her twice day, two Of us to take
charge of the matter one day, and the 9TH
er two the next. There was an abundance
ofgrass about the place, and little stream
of water ran conveniently near. The ar
rangements having been completed, we
made sure once more that the heifer was
firmly fastened, and then started for home
The next day was Saturday the last day
of our summer vacation; and, after finish
ing my breakfast, I went down to Teddy's,
for he and I were to feed the heifer that