The rustler., 1891-12-25

''vcry uell % aid. ssIl laughing
II ] wcrr you. Molly. I'd change my
hiding-plaoe nov and then II wunt
do any harm
She didn't answer. hut went about
looking troubled until grandma had D.
scold her for being - ahscui-minds.i
that she pot sugar instead of salt in
the Sup. and burned the chickens o. q
crisp
What i the matter with you.
Molly says grandma
Its the evil one that's got into me.
| think. ma'am. Molly said I'm
just dazcd. and I feel a. II some great
trouble was comm"
That was At night and the next
morning there was the greatest hula
haloo You ever heard Molly's hag Of
money was gone from her chest. aud
she was In mysteries. The strangesi
thing II all was. she always wore thc
key Of the chest ON a string around
her neck, and Il never came OF day or
night The key was in its place. aud
the chest locked A. usual. but when
She opened il the money bag was gone.
Who was here last night Molly"
asked pa.
1T was Terry" she screamed "its
him. the thafc that's got my money.
We counted H. and he says a. how
there was enough to get married ON
nfther New Year Have him arrested.
Misthcr North, for the howly Nargin's
sake.
But how did he get the kcyse" pa
asked.
How can know" she gruancd Il
had awful dhramcs all night nv walk.
In aud climbin', aud ] was that sore
this mornin'. Hes got my money some
way and then she began to howl
again.
Ia went TO town, but sure enough
Mr. O'lirien wasn't TO be- found. aud
the man where he worked said hc had
! gone off ON the north bound train, but
said he would be back in day or two.
AN where did the dirthy thafe get
the money for his ticket, cries Molly.
'whin niver a red clint did he have in
his pocket"
ia told her he had put the police ON
his track, and that quietcd her 50 she
managed 10 cook the dinner, but she
cried quarts between times
That was the day before New Year,
and after dinner grandma took us into
the pantry to see the things oh. !
/ couldn't begin 10 tell you what loads
of pies and cakes and fruits and
candies there were, but we hardly saw
anything for looking and wondering AT
a monstrous turkey that hung from q
| big hook in the ceiling. Il was a
mammoth, and grandma said that old
rs she was she had never seen any.
thing like IT, II was Of big breed, tc
begin with, aud had been fattcning in
n coop for year
! For two MONTHS" grandma said,
1.-THE turkey has been fed ON pecan,
and walnuts and just look at the fat
| II il isn't delicious, then I'm no judge
Of a fine turkey"
Even Molly got mp her spirits over
that turkey, and told MS how she was
going 10 stuff ii with trufiles, and such
gravy! After that she had another
crying spell, and took herself off tc
| bed.
The next morning, after breakfast
she took the keys out of her pocket
and started for the pantry. | went
along, but she was ahead She opened
the door and gave little start ant
cried out: Where's the turkey"
Sure enough, there was the hook, but
no turkey. Molly looked ON tn,
shelves, behind the barrels and il
every nook and corner, as if the mic,
could have moved that monster Their
she says to me, looking as white as ,
sheet:
Bob, run to the miSthress and b,
asltin' her If she moved the turkey"
"The turkeyw cries grandma, jump
ing up. What does that girl mean;
Has she lost her senses? Where shoulC
the turkey be but in the pantry wher,
she hung it,"
at isn't there, grandma, said. anc
then every body ran To the pantry. Molly
was sitting in u chair, looking scarce
to death, and gasping for breath.
Its gone. it's gone she hollercd
jumping up and clapping her hands
Its gone like my money! The door
was locked, and the key in my oclSet
The window is barred look! They
haven't been touched! Howly saints
but it is bewtched the house isl
Wen, it was just rs she said. Every
thing was in it's place, the ducks ant
geese and mutton, and no I single pie
or cake had been touched The thief
"a. SIIIII dD