Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-14

the barber he had satisfied himself that
his domains we're really in danger OF
being invaded by unsportsmanlike clod-
hoppers in search OF owls and the more
he thought OF it the more impossible IL
seemed to have fellows like Pogson
roaming about in his woods with FIRE
arms. II was bad enough 10 have pigs
driven through your woods every fair
day, though that could not be helped
where there was right of way for man
aud beast but he had reason to suspect
Mr.. Pogson Of other still more oblec-
tionable practices, and at all times dis
liked the man as noisy, bullying tout
SO he had left the fair soon after Oli-
yer, only stopping at shop In the out,
skirts OF the town to buy good-sized
twist OF strong cord. He did not stay TO
look at the view, or 10 sit on the bridge
and watch the water or to admire the
bluebelis when no came TO Truerne
wood. Mr.. McNsb was man OF prac-
teal mind, and swift walker. and he
had nearly caught up with Oliver when
he arrived at the old osk-tree, so that he
lust heard the old fellows ejaculation
about the Philistines. and then saw his
smock frock retreating up the ride. The
Scotchman stopped and watched 1t dlsap-
pear.
lyon aulds solver has mair guide
sense" he said to himself, than a
these gathering gowks o pig-drivers.
and he keDs his Bible, too A wee bit
too salt MAR backbane, mar back
bane But he's no sac dotted as the
rest f"
The sun was almost setting, but the
owls in the old oak were still silent
They'll be hooting in an hour or
tws." he said, as Oliver had said 1t be
fore him and, drawing the twist OF cord
from his pocket. he stepped aside among
the bluebells to the oak tree. Plenty OF
Young ground ashes we're shooting up
among the flowers, and, with the help OF
these and OF low hazel bush or two, ne
contrived to fasten the cord in pretty
tight circle around the tree trunk, at
distance of some half-dozen yards from
il, and about foot and bali from the
ground. There being still plenty OF
cord. he looked about for log OF wood,
and finding one not too heavy, he tied
the cord round il and hoisted 1t up on
low branch OF the big tree, on the side
nearest the ride just balancing 1t at the
junction Of one gnarled bough with
another so that a strong pull at the
string would easily bring it down. This
done, he fastened the other end tightly
down to his circle below, and then
paused. with a face OF extreme gravity,
to contemplate his apparatus.
Suddenly his severe features relaxed.
There had shot across his memory GER
tain scene, when as bare-legged cal
liant playingon his native braes ne had de-
vised Just such BOBBY trap to catch an
other boy, with view of securing for
himself certain nest in which eggs
were about to be laid. The grim fes-
lures of Mr. McNab relaxed, say, and
in his solitude in the wood he burst out
into hearty, ringing laugh.
at BARNS wark in my old age ana
what wad the Dominic say? Nad i be
for crack wi the tswse or the knuckle
end OF the auld crab stick at hsme, EN- "
Mr.. McNab lit his pipe the better to
resume his ordinary c0mposure, and,
putting 1T it with lips which now and
then cOnvulsive movement almost COM
PEELED to laughter, he strobe away
through the wood to his own dwelling on
the further side of it.