The Arizona champion., 1891-03-21
CURING A JOKER.

good man now and might not like to have the evil deeds of his youth made known among strangers. Sam was an inveter- ate joker-what is denominated a "prac- tical joker"-and though he never meant any real harm, yet he often caused much mischief by his pranks. On one occasion when he had gone out at night, envel- oped in white sheet to frighten some girls, he started to the roadside at the approach of chaise and frightened the horse, so that the chaise was smashed up and one of the occupants severely in jured.
 Sam had been talked with and argued with, but to no purpose. He could not be made to see the wickedness of his pranks. Sometimes he would fasten lines across the sidewalk, and thus trip up the pedestrians; he would ring folks up in the night and ask them if they had plenty of bedding. Once he called the doctor out at midnight to come and attend a man who had very bad fits. The good old doctor arose and followed Sam till they came to Adam Ships little domicile, and here the joker called up the little bow legged tailor, and the moment Snip poked his head out at the window Sam cried: "There, doctor, is a man who makes the worst fits you ever sawp and with this he ran away, and left the doc tor and the tailor to settle the matter. This was serious business in one sense, but it set the whole town in laugh and Sam was delighted.
 But Sam's last practical joke was near at hand. At the edge of the village lived 8 man named Jerry Smith. He was a stone worker by trade, and as strong as an OK. One evening JerTy's wife had been to see neighbor, and in returning she had to pass over 8 place where the road was built along upon sort of morass, with willow trees upon each side. When she entered her house she was pale and trembling, and sank into chair almost out of breath.
 "What's the matter?' asked her hus- band.
 "rve been frightened" gasped the woman, as soon as she could command her speech.
 "But hOwt Where!
 "Out by the willow trees. An OK, with great horns and fiery eyes, came out at us, walking on his hind legs"
 "By thunder, it's Sam PeabodyP ex- claimed Jerry. "He killed an OK this morning"
 q knew it was Sam as soon as I had time to think" returned the wife, ''for his voice was plain; but was so fright ened at first that liked to have tainted"
 Jerry was angry. It did not suit his fancy to see a defenseless woman thus treated. He took his hat at once, and went over to a small house on the oppo- site side of the street, where lived his partner in business, another stout, iron corded man, named George Tyler.
 Look here, Tyler" cried Jerry, "Sam Peabody is out in the willows, rigged up in his OK skin, frightening poor women. Come with me and we'll punish him."
 Tyler hesitated not a moment, but taking his hat he followed Jerry over to the other house. In the first place Jerry took freboard, and with some marking paint he painted out flaming placard, with letters large and distinct. Then he got some of his wife's dresses, and bade Tyler put one of them on. "For," said he, eff he sees two men coming he may run"
 The dresses were thrown on after a fashion and pinned to the other cloth ing, and then the men donned each one bonnet. They then procured lot of stout cord, and, taking the ireboard, they sallied forth. As they approached the willows they began to giggle and litter in squeaking tones, and ere long the fearful nondescript made its appearance. With low, deep believing it walked into the road and stood directly in front of the two pedestrians.
 "Oo-oo-oo-ooT" beloved Sam.
 "Mercyr' screamed Jerry.
 "Ah-oua-oo-oo"
 "Save mel" squeaked Tyler.
 The OK hide approached another step, and Jerry leaped forward and seized it, and on the next moment Tyler was by bis side.
 "Now, MT. Peabody, reckon you're safe," uttered Jerry, giving him grip like wise.
 "Don't-don't" cried Sam.
 "Don't what?'
 Don't hurt mey'
 "We won't hurt you if you keep quiet, but if you make any resistance you'll run the risk of getting your head bro ken."
 Sam knew that it was Jerry Smiths wife whom he had frightened, and he knew that Jerry could handle him as a child. He begged and prayed, but to no purpose. The two stone cutters backed up against one of the willows, and then proceeded to bind him to the trunk of a tree. They lashed his hands behind him, then lashed his ankles together, and then they bound him to thestree at the shoul- ders, wrists, knees and feet, and they did 1t securely, too. After this they took the fireboard and placed it against the tree above his head, securing it by nails which they had brought for that pur- pose.
 "MercyI" shrieked Sam, "you aren't a-goin' to leave me here?"
 "Yes, sir" answered Jerry. "You have had your share of joking long enough, and now we'll have ours. would rather have you tie my wife as you are tied, than to have had her frightened as you came near frightening her. Mind you, Sam, we only mean this for a joke"
 And with this, the two men went away, taking no heed of the joker's cries and protestations. But they did not go far away until they were sure there would Ina m ,,nora ToSSiDor m, fhot road for fha