The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-02-07
A DARING EXPLOIT.
What Greasy 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"
Ncd Carter kicked the heels of his
boots in a disconsolate clatter against
the box on which he was sitting, as he
dolefully ended the tale he had been re-
citing to 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 glowing
future should he continue to prove
trustworthy. At last he had been left
In charge of the prisoners while his
ANGLE took two convicted ones to the
State penitentiary. From this the trou-
Bile came.
Tue 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 to do 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 few days more to
serve, and the third, a horse thief, who
received the bulk 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 cover 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 match for his cigar
The fellow, seeing such a 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
nediately offering a reward for his
capture and containing a description of
the man.
So it was, instead of a splendid record
to show his uncle on his return Ned
could only show an empty cell and re-
late the escape of valuable prisoner.
And, to add to his trouble, the deputy
attributed the carelessness entirely to
him. 1t was 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 blame" she
exclaimed, sympathetic but indignant.
But suppose was, in part. 1 ought
to have been sure Hudson was just where
left him before l took any chances,
though he should not have left the place
rnguarded."
Isn't there any thing you can do
about it?'
Nothing unless 1 could capture the
thief myself. That is the only way
could redeem myself, and there isn't a
ghost of .hance for that to happen
''Oh, Ned, wouldn't it be splendid to
do ito"
''Of course, but he must be found first,
and he is too smart to let anybody 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.
ga nice money reward, too. only care
most for the man. But must go now
or / shall lose my train. Don't you fret,
CTessy, and don't tell grandmother. I'll
do the best / can to let uncle know am
not entirely unworthy" and he jumped
up, and started down the path to the
station.
His uncle had sent him to neighbor.
ing city for some handouts which a
locksmith had been repairing and it had
hurt his feelings much to hear the clos
ing comment as the errand was ex.
planned: They'll hardly run away if you
do lose sight of them"
He had been given permission, also,
to stop off over night at the little way
station and go up the mountain to see
his sister, whom he now left looking
after him sadly as he set out on his long
walk to catch the morning express back
to the city.
''How ! wish Ned could get him." she
sighed, as she turned back to the little
house at her grandmothers call.
"You had better go over the other
side and see if the berries are ripe,
Cressy," and Cressy took the basket and
started for the other side of the mount
ain.
But berries were scarce, SO she picked
her way down-farther than she haf
ever before ventured, until she reached
spot where precipice dropped sud
denly into the ravine below. 1t was ;
dark and lonely spot-so covered will
growth that the bottom, where shall
low stream ran, could hardly be seen
Cressy was curious about the ravine be
fore her and threw herself upon thu
ground to peer down into the gloomy
depth, wondering how she could ge1
down there, when a splash and a rattle
of stones startled her, and she saw, the
next moment, man carefully picking