Omaha daily bee., 1889-12-08

ness. The dullness OF the previous
season aud the ~reverses of the firm had
resulted in an assignment. Horace
Observation-Disclosures me the partiC-
ulars of the failure and entreated me to
come 10 his rescue with aloan. To this APP
peal my sister Penelope added a pitiful
suDpllcation Tor financial relief, making
Il strong point by referring to her two
children who, she said, would soon be
in want of II crust of bread to keep
their little bodies ana souls together, If
| did not heed this petition. That part
OF the letter written by Horace was
couched in less doleful words and dis
played u more practical view of the
situation. He thought 5000 would set
him on his feet, though that amount
did not cover all his liabilities. But he
hoped TO gain the renewal OF certain
notes against him, in which case, with
the $4,000, he could continue work in
his factory and within a few months re-
deem his obligation to me. This was
lar more serious than my brother Jacks
moies; request, but | was just as anx-
ious to comply with il.
II was clear that | would he obliged TO
mortgage my farm. The only doubt was
whether | could raise the necessary
amount In this way. [ Immediately sent
word to Squire Willoughby, the richest
man in h township, who lived about a
mile up the valley. to come and see me
on business. He rode down after supper
that dav, and | told him what | wanted.
We walked over the farm. aud he men
tally took an inventory of it, At last
he said that he would not take q mort
gage for over s.. 900. 1t vas useless try
ing to persuade him to raise his bid
even 800. SO [ was obliged to accept
his offer, and the next day the papers
were prepared and signed. and he
landed me his check for the mount.
Late that afternoon | was in my
garden, hoeing my potato patch and
wondering how [ might secure the ad-
ditioral 800 to make up the even 81, 900
that my sister Penelope and her hus-
band desired. when suddenly | became
aware that something had lighted on
my right shoulder. Turning, | saw
Josephine. could easily recognize her
by the golden brown ring round her
neck. Yes. here was my ~favorite
pigeon. Josephine Ere L had time
to salute her, the other three
were %scrambling for the best resting
place on my shoulders. | at once
dropped the hoe and made for the
house overjoyed at the unexpected re-
turn of my pets, which seemed equally
elated at having found me. "Where
did you come FROM" "How did you
get away" "Are you not afraid that
it will be suspected where you areY"
These were some of the inquiries 1 ad-
dressed them as l approached the
house. The only answer they gave me
was an atfectionate satisfied COO, as
they nestled closer to my neck. 1t was
a pleasure indeed to have my pigeons
hack AGAIN \ ftlt vra hn1 nnip,nl .,
play spell as of old, | became medita-
tive. L reasoned to myself hat the
pigeons could not have escaped from
MIR. Pullen. He had dealt too long in
specimens of the feathery kingdom for
such a thing to be probable. The most
plausible inference was that they-had
deserted the party to whom Mr.. Pullen
hac sold them. Was it likely that this
party would endeavor to recover them?
Yes. and would he not naturally go to
Mr.. Pullen to ascertain from whom he
had obtained them. and then come to
me with the question:: Have you seen
anything of the four carrier pigeons
you sold h other day to George Pul!en
of Centreville?"
That. too, seemed likely. At this
point in my reflection, l was seszed with
the first dishonest thought which 1
think ever crossed my mind.
The first town Of any considerable
size north of where l lived was Truck
ton, twenty-five miles distant. 1t was
larger by some 1000 inhabitants than
Centerville, with which it was connected
by a stage route. Between these Two
towns l had divided my patronage
among the stores. and, if anything, T
was better acquainted in Truckton than
in the other place. knew of u man in
who kept Il large bird estab-
lisnment, and | now conceived the idea
OF going to him and irving to sell the
figures | did not pause to consider the
total lack OF honesty involved in this
act, my whole mind being concen-
trated uponthe wish to procure the
$3.OOOto send my unfortunate kindred.
The stage from Centerville usually
passed my house on its way to Truckton
every morning at about 10 o'clock. With
pigeons carefully concealed from
sight, in a bundle SO arranged as to fur
nish them sufficient air, | hailed the
driver of the Truckton bound stage on
the following morning. and mounted to
the vacant seat beside him. During the
journey / attempted to maintain my
usual cOmposure, and to forget as far as
possible, the nature of my errand, but
my conscience, like the %proverbial
klnRlv crown, would not easily rest.
Haunted by the fear that my double
dealing would be detected, and thus
bring me to disgrace, my manner and
words must have seemed artiticially gay
to the stage driver, though he gave
forth no sign that he suspected me of
any mysterious purpose.
Arriving in Truckton, I at once pro-
ceeded to the shop of Mr.. Sinclair, the
bird dealer. Without waiting to eX-
change the customary commOnplaces, I
undid my bundle and explained to him
that the four pigeons that flew out were
sale.
1.-THE BIRDS" I n~ervously remarked,
'as you "a see, are very fine speci-
mems. They have sir, u remarkable
history"
Mr.. Sinclair closely scrutinised the
birds, and asked: "What is their his
l the reupon related to him the story
OF the pigeons, to which he listened at
tentively, but with a slight expression
of incredulity. When l had finished he
inditferently inquired my price
Tor them. replied hat | valued them
at $3.50, which sum he pooh-hoed as al
together too ~exorbitant. After consid-
cradle pickering he agreed to give me
1928, which | accepted. / then left his
shop secretly pleased at the success of
rOg uery.