Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-18

Miss ROssiter WAS almost astonished
when Mrs. Baxter refused payment for
her kindness and seemed half hurt that
it had been offered. These prairie peo-
pie were hardly barbarians after all, the
the lady decided. Even the lieutenant
to whom she whispered this agreed with
her and was almost gracious to DOLBY
and Martha who stood in manifest awe of
this very important appearing officer,
who walked as erect as if he had swal-
lowed a poker whole and had as yet
failed to digest it.
So busy was Dolby with his helpful
ness that he forgot to wonder what had
become of Lijer and what raseality might
be keeping him out of sight.
Presently the guests were ready to de-
part, and they had almost reached the
door, the lady olinging to the officer 8
arm, when she gave little cry of re-
membrance:
"My diamond ringi 1 placed it on
the little stand near the window when
my hand was about to be bandsged.
But the ring was not there! Mrs. Bax-
ter looked carefully about the floor but
no ring appeared.
OIL" she began, looking worried
and half frightened.
''I placed it there. - said Miss Rossl-
ter. cit has been stolen!"
"Do you mean that
"It has been stolen!' repeated the
visitor. ''I feel sure that boy stole it - =.
81 never! 1 never?" cried Dobbys
The idea of thus being accused set his
honest heart to beating wildly. ~
didn t see your ring at all, ma 'am!'
"You must have seen it when you
placed the pitcher of water on the stand, Z
and
"But 1 didn't" protested Dolby.
I" Deed an double, 1 didn 't!''
And the pompous-a appearing officer
looked into the lads honest, troubled
face and felt that he told the truth.
"Miss Rossiter, - he began, 'isn It it
possible
"No. sir!" interrupted that lady, de-
oidedly. ''That boy stole my ring, and
if he does not return it instantly, must
be arrested. -
81 didn t., deed an double
Little Martin burst into howl of fear.
A rough-looking man was just stepping
in at the open doorway.
Dobby?' cried the child. "Please
don't?''
60 REST Dobby9'' snorted the new
conner. oval, I reckon not. Sorter
dropped in to see If you folks had noticed
Injun Jim sneakin' yerabouts. He"
care you an of1oer?" questioned Miss
RossiIer.
"Yes, nom, constable. Name IS Cash.
What
'Arrest that boy the lady COM
manded, "unless he instantly returns
my diamond ring, which he has just
stolen.''
sob, don't arrest Dolby; please
don to- cried little Martha.
"My boy would not steal" saiaMrs.
Baxter, bravely. dolby is2sa good
boy
Her chin quivered as she spoks. Little
Martha was almost choking with sobs,
and Dolby was very close to tho, crying
point. The idea of being arrested seemed
very terrible to these honest soufsss
The lieutenant looked several tiInsa as
if on the point of speaking, but Te@a
Trained. Miss Rossiter was the guest of
his commanding officer. and must not be
offend ed.
"Mom," began the constable, al
don u reckon Dolby ID"
"Will you or will you not arrest
him?" interrupted the lady impatiently.
81 s'pose I'll hafto,'' admitted the
constable, reluctantly, eft you make a
complaint, but you'll hafto 60 before
Squire Ashburn. But don't be-
heve-''
"What you believe or do not believe
has nothing to do with the case. the
ring must be returned at once, Or
al haven't got it, - cried Dolby.
f'Then 1t must be paid forl 1t cost my
father $3.50, and
"We have no money began poor
Mrs. Baxter.
"Mr. Constable, do your dutyi These
people,
And then there was wailing in the lit
tie weather. beaten house. Martha Just
simply howled, Mrs. Baxter broke down,
and even Dolby shifted little.
"I'll hat to do my duty, Dolby =,
said the constable. "But 1 don't beg
lieve you re guilty. 8
"Neither do l." said the straight
backed lieutenant, suddenly.
There was q fiuttering sound at the
door, and Lijer, the prophet, staggered
in, looking as If he had been very hardly
used. Some of his feathers were out
and others looked as if they had been
ruff1ed the wrong way. One wing
dragged as If broken, and as he stag
gered feebly across the room to Dolby
he left few spots of blood on the floor.
At the boys feet he stopped, unable to
hop into his lap, but he held up his bill, $
and in it glistened the lost diamond ring.
As Dolby took the jewel the prophet
uttered feeble "Whoor- hooy-ha-a-ai"
of satisfaction and settled deHn on the
floor completely exhausted.
"My ringl" cried Miss RossItsr.
Chow
Skinny Jackson and little Joe Ridden,
slid in at the open door. u
"We've brung back the lady's boss, -
said the foremost. f'He's tied .oHs5tas
the fence, an reckon it's WORTH bout
halter dollar, bein's we've BEN
chasin' him for the last haIfanpnr. -
sob, you've got Lijer, :" said the
other, as soon as the first speaker had
concluded. "We told Injun Jim If he
didn It let the GROW alone we'd tell Mr.
Cash on hlml'
"What do you mean?''
oval, while we was chasin' the BOSS
we sw Injun Jim sneak away from here
an Liier fiyin' along after him. 9The
Injun took to the gully in little While,
an we couldn't see him, but Liier kept
flynn along above as IL follerin him.
The how nroceeded that ouffsf- m. fIsfsie