Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-01-31
AN UGLY CUSTOMER.

i've stood this kind of business
bout as long as / SHALL" said FREQ
Harper coming in from the pasture
where the sheep and lambs were kept
"What troubles you now, Fred?'
asked his father, anxiously.
There's another sheep gone out
of the flock since | looked them VI
the first of the week." replied Fred
as he scrubbed his face vigorously at
the sink.
Another one gomez exclaimed
Mrs. Harper. Something must be
catching them. Perhaps bear from
Potter's mountain has come across
Sucker brook to our ridge."
"We've lost three sheep oad a
lamb AMI Mr.. Elkins has lost his
calf within six weeks" said fred
eXcitedly. '1t bear caught them
think it's strange can't
find a trace of the place where
he's taken them. Not u bit of wool
or any thing to show where they
were caught and eaten can be found
in that pasture"
1T does seem strange" assented
his father, as he raised himself on his
elbow and looked out of the window.
You'll have to do the best you can,
Fred; can not be much help to you
yet"
Mr.. Harper was Just recovering
from a severe illness and was still
too feeble to worry much about the
farm work.
About the disappearance of the
sheep Fred had his own opinion
which he was determined to verify
that very night, if possible.
lie said nothing to his father, or
indeed to any one, of his intention,
but he was resolved to watch in the
midst OF that flock of sheep every
night until he had satisfied himself
the sheep were taken in the daytime.
Then it would be time to make turth.
VI NV GSIl2 dJlOlIS.
That evening. as the plucky boy of
fifteen was leaving the shed with an
axe on his shoulder and an old robe
to spread on the ground under him,
he encountered his sister Nellie, a
year younger than himself.
what are you doing Fred?" asked
she.
Ppm going to camp up on the
ridge by that big, lone maple, where
the sheep come at night" replied
Fred, as he put down the axe and be-
gan to roll up his robe so as to carry
it easily.
"What makes you do that?" asked
she, in establishment. 81 don't be-
lieve mother would want you to-"
81 am in hopes to find out who's
stealing our sheep and lambs" said
Fred. 81 mistrust Hank Garcelon,
and if | catch him at it I'll spoil his
appetite for mutton for one while"
'Oh, Fredl May be tits a bear
after all! I'm SO 'fraid something'n
happen to you. Can't l go, too?"
entreatingly.
"Go, too! | should smilel Why,
you'd be scared to death before
morning." returned he.
"No | wouldn't either; and you'll
be dreadful lonesome up there all
alone, Fred. Can't 1 please go?"
coaXed she.
mo, indeed, Nellie, l couldn't let
you" said he decidedly. "The house
is not more than forty rods off and
all in sight and hearing, and | can
come down i'll get very sick of it.
Don't tell mother, she'd worry SO;
but you see we must save the sheep
to pay the doctors bill"
He again shouldered his axe and
marched off down the road to the
pasture bars and up the steep ledge
to the maple, where he ensconced
himself under the tree and in the
shadow of q huge pile of cord wood,
hauled there and "yarded" the win
ter before from higher up on the
ridge, when new clearing was beling
made. 1t was u 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, $50 as to keep
Fred company" she said to herself,
and it seemed nearer to have the
wide open. She had deter
mined to keep watch with him even
il she were not permitted to join MIN.
The sheep came back and settled
down near the dark shadow of the |
wood pile where Fred had disap-
peared, as if human companion
were agreeable to them, and all was
quiet once more.
An hour passed and Nellie found |
herself nodding and rightly guessed
that Fred, tired with his hard days
work, must be fast asleep.