The Opelousas courier., 1889-04-06

"Wal, I reckon as between Their boy
an Their bank, I'd as lief chance one as
t'other, an, asides, I don't s'pose you
think I'd git up this time O. hight to
hunt up no bank, do your" And the
farmer topped over and went to sleep
again, while Amanda wore out the
night hours in o state of wakeful
worry.
The farmer was out betimes when
morning came. and after breakfast he
and Joe began gathering apples. Joe
liked the work, and after he became a
little used to climbing about among
the limbs. he got or splendidly and
proved a very good hand.
The days passed, and by the end Of
the week the apples we're all picked
and snugly burjieStsn straw under the
trees where tRey were safe. from the
light autumn freezes. Hank Symms
had grown to like Joe and had not a
doubt of his honesty. and Amanda, too,
felt a great liking for the boy. and had
so ..ar outgrown her distrust of him
that she seldom had troubled dreamsS
of him and the money. So when
Saturday night came and Hank
hired Joe for another week to help
about "sortin'" the apples, Amanda
raised no objection. and all parties
were satisfied, and might have gone on
perfectly SO had it not been for a visit
the next day made by Squire Beeson.
Joe was in the room when the Squire
came, but shortly went out. The door
had no sooner closed after him than
the Squire asked:
SIS that yer new boy, Hank"
Yes, an a splendid Teller he is to
work, too" Hank replied.
$50 I hearn 'em say. But hain't you
q little skeery bout hevin' i'm round?
Yer know it's hard to tell any thing
bout boys, these days, an specially
them city chaps. Pears to me like I'd
be afeared he'd steal somethin' er kill
somebody"
Hank laughed at the idea, but when
the esquire went on to show how easily
Joe could have been Sent there for that
purpose, and how probable it was that
such was the case, Amanda's old fears
returned, and that night she lay awake
a long time, and when at last she did
fall asleep it was only to dream Of Joe
and the money.
The next morning Hank decided to
drive to market with a load of apples,
while Joe remained at home to sort a
load for the next day. Accordingly,
Immediately after breakfast, the boy
was sent to the woods pasture to drive
the horses home while Hank and
Amanda made ready for the trip, for
Amanda had concluded to go along to
trade off some butter and eggs at the
store.
"You want to be stirrin' your
stump" Hank said to his wife, 'for
the horses IL be here directly, an
when ! git hitched up I'll want ter be
drivin'."
"I'll be ready in no time, Hank, an
while I'm a changin' my dress you be
a countin' of them eiggs," and Amanda
hustled out.
Hank took up the big basket of eggs
and proceeded to count them out into
a box of bran, and got as far as the
second dozen when he was aroused by
a cry from the other room.
Its gone, Hank, it's gone! I
knowed it would. / told you he'd git
it," and AmaneA burst into he room
in q state of the widest exSitsment.
Were ruined. we're ruined! an~I tSzd
you SO. I knowed 1t all the time"
What's ailin' of yer, Mandy?"
why. the mondB! It's gone. The
boys stole it. I knowed he would"
Amanda gasped out these broken en-
teqees, but could 60 no further.
3Ank raised up. and in his excite,
,ment dropped the basket of eggs to the
floor, completely demolishing them.
..Hey?" he exclaimed. lis that money
all gomez"
Eyes, every cent"
"Gewhillikens woman, we're
ruined"
81 know it, an l told youhot to hire
him. I knowed he'd git it."
What's up hereg' Squire BeesCn
acked, coming in at that moment.
1.-The boys stole our money, "Aman-
da replied.
Yes, what did / tell you. last nighta
Remember, I warned you, Hank
Symms, agin that boy, an ef you'd q
listened to me you wouldn't had this
great misfortun'. Whar is ther boyP".
.Gone fer ther bosses over to Their
wood PASTURE" Hank replied. '.It's
most time he wus back an when he
comes we'Il make him Rll wher it is"
Eyes, / dassey We will when he
comes" the Squire said, q little ar
~castically, shut it hain't likely as he'll
come soon. Iguess we'd best go arter
him, eff we ever 'spect to see him."
Hank tore wildly about in search Of
his coat. and after a mad search in all
kinds of impossible places, at last
found it carefully slowed away in
Amanda's hat box.
Funny place to put an old jeans
coat, by gum!nh he muttered, as he hur-
ried back to the kitchen.
Put it on quick an let's be goin',"
the Squire commanded, .'or the boy'll
be clean gone. Dom b'leeve youth
aver see him or the money agin, mo-
how
Hank had got one sleeve of the coat
on and was making frantic efforts to