Telegram-herald., 1889-12-17
An Ugly CUSTOMER.
How Fred Harper Discovered t1s
Sheep Thief

sbssp and lambs we're kept
VIA troubles yos Row krs.c 4skea
his fsther. saxlously
There's another sheep gone cat ot
the hoek since looked thea ap the hrss
of the week replied Fred. - be
scrubbed his lace yigoro 1sly - TIE stnk.
Another one gone" exclaimed Mrs
HarDer "Sonething must - catching
them. Perhaps > bear from Potter ;
yo4ntaia A&s come sefOSs sucker brook
10 Our ridge.
We've lost three sheep and a lamb
4ni NJ Eikins hss lost bis calf within
siK weeks. said bred. excitedly. III s.
bear caught them think us strange
cant hnd q trace u The place where he's
taken them. Not bit Of wool or any
thing % show where they were caught
and eaten can be found in that pasture.
1t does seem strange" sssen ted his
father. as hs raised himself on his elbow
and looked out OF the window. You Il
have 20 do the best you can, Fred; / can
not &c mueA help 70 yOu yet
Air Harper Vas Just recovering from q
severe illness and was still too feeble 10
worry much about the farm work.
About the disappearance OF the sheep
Fred had his own opinion, which he was
determined 10 verify that very night, II
possible.
tie said nothing 20 his father, or in
deed % any one, OF his intention. but he
was resolved % watch in the midst Of
that flock Of sheep every night until he
had satisfied himself the sheep we're
taken in the daytime. Then IL would
be time 20 make further Investigations
That evening. as the plucky boy OF
hfteen was leaving the shed with an axe
on his shoulder and an old robe 10 spread
on the ground under him, he encoun-
tered his sister Nellie, year younger
than himself.
What are you doing, Fred?" asked
she
I'm going to camp up on tho ridge
by that big lone maple, where tho sheep
come at night" replied Fred, as he put
down the AKA and began TO roll up his
robe so as 70 carry il easily.
What makes you do thst?" asked
she, in astonishment. Il don't believe
mother would want you to-
Il am in hopes to find out who's steal
ing our sheep ard lambs" said Fred
II mistrust Hank Garcelon, and II
catch him at it I'll spoil his appetite for
mutton for one while"
"Oh, Fred! May be It's bear after
all! I'm SO fraid somethirg1l happen
To you. Can't 60, too?' entreatingly.
$50, tool should smile. Why, you'd
be scared to death before morning" re-
turned he.
No, wouldn't either; and you'll be
dreadful lonesome NJ there all alone,
Fred. Can't | please go?" coaxed she.
NO, indeed, Nellie. | couldn't let
you said he, decidedly The house
is not more than forty rods of and all in
sight and hearing, and can come down
IL I get very sick Of it. Don't tell
mother. she'd worry so; but you see We
must save tho sheep 70 pay the Doctors
bill"
He again Shouldered his axe and
marched of down the road to tho past
ure bars and up the steep ledge 10 the
maple, where he ensconced himself
under the tree and in the shadow OF a
huge pile of cord wood. hauled there
and "yarded' the winter before from
higher up on the ridge, when new
clearing was being made.
II vas a bright moonlight night and he
could see his home almost as plainly as
in the daytime.
Nellie went up TO her room and raised
the window, so as 10 keep Fred com
pany." she said 70 herself, and it seemed
nearer TO have tho window wide open.
She had determined 20 keep watch with
him even If she were not permitted to
join him.
The sheep came back and settled down
near the dark shadow Of the wood pile
where Fred had disappeared, as IL a
human companion wero agreeable TO
them. and all was quiet once more.
An hour passed and Nellie found her
self nodding and rightly guessed that
Fred. tired with his hard days work,
must be fast asleep.
1t was now half-past ten o'clock and
she folt . strong inclination TO retire,
but resisted because of the feeling that
: would be leaving Fred alone and in
iangerl
She strained her eyes 20 catch q
glimpse Of him in the gloom that sur
rounded the shady side of that wood
pile.
suddenly there was scampering
among the sheep, and while she held her
breath and chung % the window in her
sxcitemen- there was frightened
scream followed by loud calls for help.
She waited FOR nothing more. but
sprang down the back stairs and turned
Rover loose. The instant the intelli-
gent dog was Iee he disappeared with
a savage growl in the direction OF tho
Struggle. which now she could plainly
hear.
let us now return % Fred
He was awakened by the scattering ~
The sheep and lag quite still for a mo-
mont grasping bis axe and looking 20
see II it vas a bear or Hank Garcel0n. as
he Rad imagined. that vas depicting the
fo~k
Vhat siled tbss tree2 he did not 70
men ber that either limb reached The
groand shen he vas there that uo-riuE
NOW IL vas sweeping the ground and
waving In che sir more than any q the
Other limbs
Great SCOTT. Look a. those Flitserfng
eyes WIth the scream Nellie p Al tssr5
he sp-anC to his feet n face ths oscii-
lsting ho3y capped by she horn bic hesd
of an immense snaxe-
The lenz itut 9t tha. zee hai evolved
a Troa- serpent
Mon before tre s-orT h Al t~en ei--