The Press., 1888-07-19
(For The Press.) UNCLE PALMER'S RUNAWAY.
BY J. N. EMO.

familiarly called, lived in Vermont, near the Canadian frontier and circumstances s having thrown him ia his boyllood ill con | tact with French companion in his home and labor, he acquired much facility in the Canadian dialect, and was often called upon us an interpreter and go-betwte en in affairs between French and English speaking people. On one occasion, two young Frenchmen c cime into his neighbor- hood one finding place in a store to do general work a business, 1t seemed, to | which he had been accustomed !; the other found other occupation. Both were good workers and apparently of good character. After Il while the time expired for which the second of the boys named had engaged and as the first had only job of a few days work remaining he proposed that both together finish it, and then return together to Canaln. They had nearly finished, when little girl of the employ CTS family, on an errand to the boys room, saw his bundle partially made up, and in it a collection of kid gloves, jack-knives, and other small articles, new, and in quan- tity suspiciously large for one boys own use or purchase. A clew to ownership was found, pointing to a village few miles distant; but evidently the boys intended to leave that night. "Uncle Palmer" was col suited, and said, Propose to the boys that if they will work one day more, you will carry them part way home, as it was a long days journey. They. suspecting nothing, consented. Meanwhile, samples of the goods were sent to the village for Identification, aud some of them unmistak- ably identified as belonging to two stores in the place, but no indication found that the former employee had bought the arti- cles. This report being returned, the next question was how to confront the thief with the evidences of his theft, and in lrgal manner compel him to return the properly to the owners, and place himself i'll the power of the law. It was agreed that both the last employer and Uncle Palmer should make an erraud to the village, as it lay on one of the routes to the boys home that the boys be offered the choice of going with the employer. as first proposed, or with Uncle P's. smarter team and both men shold keep the boys under close watch till the store of Mer- chant O. was reached, whence most of the articles had been stolen. The plan work ed, Uncle P. ostensibly going to mlll with grist, which did not bring him necessari- ly in range of the store. On reaching the place where the roads diverged, Uncle P. said tD the boys, "I have an errand at C's. ;; I'll drive right there first, and then carry you on this way ;'' starting his horses into a smart pace, lest the boys should leap out, and coming mp with rush in front of C's. store. O., on seeing the persons, immediately recognized the object of their coming, and presented him. self to the corners as soon as the horses stopped, devoting himself chiefly to his former employee, seemingly anxious to engage him again; and at length persu- aded all to go into the store. The French youth, to get rid of him, named an ex- orbitant price as wages. c. remarked that the other had on a good suit of clothes, good boots, and would be a re- spectacle looking person around his store, and by ingenuity induced him to show his jack knife. "Where did you get that ?" said o. "From Uncle Stowell," |" was the answer.
 That gentleman, being at hand, prompt Iy denied this. c. looked sharply at the fellow and pressed it upon him that he had stolen it from his employers stock. The thief, seeing that he was cornered confessed guilty as to the knife.
 Meanwhile Uncle P. was engaged with another person, and an officer near by had been notified. The bundle was searched and the two merchants found valuable amount of property. The hemerchants thought lesson should be given to the rogue, but yet thought it not best to carry the case to trial and sentence.
 Uncle P. was now calling for his passen- gers, with great show of impatience. The merchants and the officer protested that the thief must be arrested and go straight to jail, and that it was Uncle P's. duty to keep him in charge while they went to the lawyers office to make out warrant, the latter worthy enjoining Uncle P. very impressively on no account to let the thief escape, while at the same time the mer- chants gave him a sly wink, meaning, as the Irishman once said, "Interpret me be conthraries."
 Putting the boys and their guard into a back room alone, the others disappeared The chief culprit soon began in a low tone to beg his keeper to help him and prevent his going to jail. Uncle Peter said "Hush hush they may not be out of hearing yet" but after making a reconnoiter, he tip-toed back and reported all out of the way. Exchanging glances with them he said in an earnest manner, "NOw, boys, quiet and just follow me-" Probably no injunction was ever filled with more alac- rity and quietness.
 The back door had purposely been left unfastened, and the horses brought around and left there.
 "Jump in boys, lie down, and I'll cover you with the robes.
 No sooner done than all started off at full speed, past both stores, whose owners silently waved their hats, and did not slacken until the village was out of sight. Right ahead was a cart-path turning of for some distance, but at length leading out into the road on which the boys wanted to go. The horses were turned in here, the robes thrown off, and the boys hurriedly given the advice:
 "Don't you ever do such trick again. ' They. promised in the strongest manner that they would not. "Don't ever show yourselves in these parts again. This they were very ready to promise. Then telling them where they were, he said in charac- teristic phrase 'tClaw for that bridge you- der."
 Catching up their bundles, and hastily thanking their preserver, they ran of through the fields at an astonishing rate ot speed, as if the evil one himself were close behind, while Uncle F., almost bursting with inward amusement, could hardly re- strain himself till he could join the villag CTS and relate his runaway, amid peals oi laughter. Shortly after, one of the boys saw Uncle P. and profusely thanked him, but fear of arrest drove the boys before long to the distant west
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