Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-12-31

90 We main 70 say, SOr, Lnat ference
O'Brien, what comes av the good ould
shtock-why, the O'Briens came av the
kings av Munsther-that he would de-
name himself to be dirthy thafe? All,
niverr'
every WE'LL" pa said, still laughing.
''If were you, Molly, I'd change my
hiding-place now and then. 1t won't
do any harm"
She didn't answer, but went about
looking troubled until grandma had to
scold her for being SO absent-minded
that she put sugar instead of salt in
the soup, and burned the chickens to q
crisp.
what is the matter with you.
Mo11y?" says grandma
cts the evil one that's got into me,
l think, ma'am.'' Molly said. I'm
just dazed, and feel as if some great
trouble was comm"
That was at night, and the next
morning there was the greatest hula
baloo you ever heard. Molly's bag of
| money was gone from her chest, and
she was in Mysteries. The strangest
thing of all was, she always wore the
| key Of the chest on string around
her neck, and it never came off day or
| night. The key was in it's place, and
! the chest locked as usual, but when
| she opened it the money bag was gone.
''Who was here last night, Molly?"
asked pa.
! 1T was Terry!" she screamed. 'sIt's
| him. the thafe, that's got my money!
We counted it, and he says as how
there was enough to get married on
| afther New Year Have him arrested.
Misther North. for the howly Vargin's
| sake
But how did he get the keys?" pa
asked.
How can know" she groaned 81
| had awful dhrames all night av walk
| in and elm bin, and l was that sore
this mornin'. He's got my money some
way;" and then she began to howl
again.
| Pa went to town, but sure enough
Mr. O'Brien wasn't to be found, and
the man where he worked said he had
| gone off on the north bound train, but
said he would be back in a day or two.
can where did the dirthy thafe get
the money for his ticket cries Molly,
''whin niver red clint did he have in
his pocket?''
Pa told her he had put the police on
his track, and that quieted her SO she
managed to 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, 1
couldn't begin to 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
big hook in the ceiling. It was
mammoth, ald grandma said that old
| as she was she had never seen any
thing like it. 1t was of big breed, to
begin with, and had been fattening in
coop for year.
For two MONTHS" grandma said,
''the turkey has been fed on pecans
| and walnuts. and just look at the fat!
| If it isn't delicious, then I'm no Judge
| of a fine turkey"
Even Molly got up her spirits over
that turkey, and told us how she was
going to stuff it with truffles. and such
a gravy! After that she had another
crying spell, and took herself off to
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
cried out: where's the turkey?"
Sure enough, there was the hook, but
no turkey. Molly looked on the
shelves, behind the barrels. and in
every nook and corner, as if the mice
could have moved that monster. Then
she says to me, looking as white as a
sheet:
Bob, run to the misthress and be
asl<in her if she moved the turkey?"
''The turlSey!' cries grandma, jump
ing up. what does that girl mean?
Has she lost her senses? Where should
the turkey be but in the pantry where
she hung it?''
SIT isn't there, grandma said. and
| then e very body ran to the pantry. Molly
was sitting in chair, looking scared
to death, and gasping for breath.
Its gone! it's gone!" she hollered,
| jumping up and c1apping her hands.
Its gone like my money! The door
was locked, and the key in my ocket.
The window is barred, look! They
haven't been touched! Howly saints,
but it is bewitched the house ISL
! Well, it was just as she said. Every
thing was in its place, the ducks and
geese and mutton, and not single pie
or cake had been touched. The thief,
whoever it was. only hankered for the
big turkey.
"But w no could have taken it?" says
grandma, looking hard at Molly. II
don't suspect you, Molly, for you We
been with me for ten years. aud I've
never missed pin. But did you have
visitors last night, and did you give
them peep at the turkey?"
ME have visitors" Molly cried, ssand
me pore heart broke entirely at losin'
me money, and Terry's rascality. No.
ma'a I cried, till the Shape came. and
then l dhramed av the turkey. Yes I
did, and it was alive and flynn and I
runnin' afther it.
well, it's no use moaning" grand
ma said. She's a sensible old lady,
and she never cries over split milk
Wen go without any dinner if you
don't go to work, Molly I'm sorry
about the turkey, hut l reckon we
must make shift without it. Where's
the sage and onions for the goose
stufin'?'
"Here's the onions, ma'am, but
clean forgot the sage Yesterday when