The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1890-02-18
A DARING EXPLOIT.
What Cressy Did to Recapture the
HOrSe-Thief


Horse-Thief
''And that is all there is of it. but it has
settled me in uncle's eyes"
Ned Garter kicked the heels of his
boots in a disconsolate chatter against
the box on which he was sitting, as he
dolefully ended the tale he had been re-
citing TO a sympathetic listener in the
person of his sister, Cressy.
Cressy and Ned Carter were orphans.
She lived with her grandmother on the
lone mountain-side, and Ned had been
with his uncle. the sheriff of the county,
for year. He had done so we'll that his
uncle had held out hopes of a glowing
future should he continue to prove
trustworthy. AT last he had been left
in charge of the prisoners while his
uncle took two convicted ones to the
State penitentiary. From this the trou-
BILE came.
The deputy looked after things in a
general way, and assisted when assist
ance was needed, which was only when
the prisoners were allowed in the open
courtyard once day TODD their morning
work. There were but three of them at
the time-one, "a regular, who spent half
his time there on charges of drunkenness,
one who had but a few days more to
serve, and the third, horse thief, who
received the hnlk of their attentions as
there was do doubt that at the coming
session of court he would follow those
just gone with Ned's uncle lover the
road"
As usual, they had been let out by Ned
from the corridors into the yard one
morning, the deputy on guard outside
as Ned saw him just before he unlocked
the doors; but as Travers, the horse
thief, stepped out to the pump, Hudson
stepped inside for a match for his cigar.
The fellow, seeing such clear coast,
instantly decided to improve the oppor-
tunity. and so dropped his bucket,
bounded across the courtyard, vaulted
the fence and was gone before Hudson
came up the area steps or Ned suspected
the state of affairs.
In some way known only TO such par
ties the thief succeeded in disappearing
completely, though diligent search was
made and hand-bills were sent out i'm
mediately offering reward for his
capture and containing a description of
the man.
So it was, instead of splendid record
to show his uncle on his return Ned
could only show an empty cell and re-
late the escape of a valuable prisoner.
And, to add to his trouble. the deputy
attributed the carelessness entirely to
him. 1t was a serious blow to his uncle,
officially, and Ned was made TO feel the
loss of his uncle's confidence in him in
various important ways.
This was the story he had just told
Cressy, with its doleful ending.
"Just as if you were TO blamei" she
exclaimed. sympathetic but indignant.
"But suppose / was, in part. l ought
to have been sure Hudson was just where
/ left him before ! took any chances,
though he should not have left the place
unguarded."
! 'Isn't there any thing you can do
about it?"
.Nothing unless could capture the
thief myself. That is the only way /
could redeem myself, and there isn't q
ghost of chance for that to happen"
t'Oh, Ned, wouldn't it be splendid to
do it?"
''Of course, but he must be found first,
and he is too smart to let ybody know
his whereabouts"
How does he look, Ned?'
"Do you think you can corner him.
sis? Well, these will tell you how both
horse and man look when they are NOT
disguised" tossing her some posters.
IA nice money reward, too. only care
most for 7the man. But / must 60 now
or shall lose my train. Don't you fret
Cressy, and don't tell grandmother. III
do the best can to let uncle know an
not entirely unworthy" and he jumped
hp, and started down the path TO TIT
station.
His uncle had sent him to a neighbor
ing city for some handouts which
locksmith had been repairing and it ha'
hurt his feelings much to hear the clos
ing comment as the errand was ex
planned: They'll hardlyrun away if 20
do lose sight of them"
He had been given permission, alst
to stop of over night at the little wa
station and 60 up the mountain TO Sc