The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-05
JIM.

lIIl6 C0uCi0e as ne NcIlJ Out luo OOOI.
"Pn give it to you soma day, you
young rascal, if you carry away my
thingsr" went on Deborah, shaking her
fist at the little fellow.
Whats the matter, Deborah asked
her mistress, coming into the kitchen.
"Oh, it's that Jimi He's always up to
mischief 1t comes material to that
gypsyish sort to be tricky and sneaky,
and there's no such thing as gettin' 'en
out of it."
IF it's natural to them we ought to
make some allowance for it," said Mrs.
Graham, with a smile, as she helped
Deborah to hunt for the missing pepper
pot.
mo use a-harborin' such, seems to
me-" said Deborah.
May be So" said Mrs. Graham, "but
none Of us somehow seems to have the
heart to drive him away"
81 have" said Deborah very decid-
edly. "Look-a-there nova everlastin
tease!"
The two watched Jim as with a
roguish twinkle in his small black eyes
he made his way to where old Carlo
was taking his morning nap under the
lilac bush and gave him a sudden poke.
The dog raised his head with growl,
but Jim stood at little distance, with a
grave and innocent look at something
on the ground.
Carlo settled down again, and quick
as lightning jim gave him another
poke. Up jumped Carlo, with a savage
look at his tormentor, but Jim stood in
the same place, half asleep, and Carlo
lay down with a long drawn sigh. Jim
kept it up until the poor dog went to
find quieter place.
I've seen him do that dozen times"
said Deborah laughing, "and know he's
hidden my pepper pot. Why, it amt SO
long since l read story about one O.
that set-must "a been first cousin to
jim / reckon - that stole a elegant
breastpin, and it was laid to a poor
young girl that worked in the family.
She was disgraced and turned off, and
ever so long after it was found out that
that creetur'd been the thief. I've no
use for suchi"
And 50 every member of the family
rould have declared, but no one would
be the one to say that Jim must go. In
the course of long drive over country
roads through heavy storm the farmer
had found Jim drenched and half
starved. OF course he brought him
home, and after being warmed fed and
made comfortable the wild eyed, dark
looking little vagabond had wisely set
tied himself in such good quarters, and
had since showed no desire to leave them.
"You can come and help me peel the
peaches now, Marian called Mrs. Ora
ham to her daughter.
Marian came, looking admiringly at
the baskets Of rosy checked, downy fruit
on the great table, all of which was wait
ing to be made into peach butter.
lis that your pearl ring!" asked her
mother.
"Oh-yes. was clearing my drawer
and put it on TO see how pretty it looks
and forgot it. I'll take it off"
The pretty lassie worked for hours
over the peaches, pairing, stoning, meas
urinG out sugar, stirring and tasting. AT
length she skipped mp TO her room to
dress, but soon came running back with
an anxious face.
my ring, Deborahl / left il on the
corner of the table-back here. Have
you seen it?"
1.-The land, Miss Marianl No, amt
And I've just this blessed minute scraped
up all the peelin's and flung EN- out to
the pigs"
With tears in her eyes Marian ran
out TO the lot in which the pigs were
kept, and searched eagerly. But the
grunters had made quick work of their
luscious meal, and no ring was to be
found. More slowly she went back. and
looked about the kitchen with forlorn
hope that the ring might have escaped
But Deborah's scraping had been vigor-
bus, and she went up stairs again with a
woebegone look.
''She's a dreadful careless little piece
said Deborah, looking after her, always
R-leavin' her things round. But / amt
R-goin' to say it to her now she's a-feelin'
so bad"
"Ha, hs-you thievin' rascal! I've
caught you at last, amt r."
Mrs Graham and Marian hurried out
at sound of Deborah's excited voice TO
see Jim struggling in her grasp He
was uttering short, angry cries and do
ing his best to free himself
Il was just a-washin' my dishes" cried
Deborah, when this limb comes a-peek-
In and a-pryin' round mistrusted he
was up to somethin', an KEEP my eve
on him and seen him pick up one o my
teaspoons and sneak off with it. / took
after him, and just got hold o him right
Eere-seeS BE was just s-slippin' that
spoon into that hole fer TO hide IT,"
Mrs. Graham looked curiously az the
hoIS, . small one near the ground In the
weather boarding of the spring house.
Bring an AK and knock that Of, Deb
erah," she said
Deborah did so, and the three bent /
over what they saw.
I'm blessed IL there amt my pepper
potir exclaimed Deborah.
More than the pepper pot was there .
KEYS, nails, screws, button hook. a 4
Kimlet and as they turned them over