Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-08-05
ROSlE's CASE.

4AV. was CACtlSdOAO 1OI SlCCyllIk. x1C
was we'll advanced in life, the day
was a hot one, and he had tired his
brain in an effort to untangle the ac-
counts of the township assessor
"Helloa, squirrel" some n said.
ssHelloa yourself" cried the squire,
Ninging up his head, rubbing his eyes
and adjusting his glasses.
His visitor vas a sturdy, brown
faced girl of IA. with fluffy black hair,
bright eyes and a resolute mouth.
She was very self-contained in her
manner, and while there was no re-
sentiment in her composition it was
evident she was one who would stand
up for her rights.
s'What do you want9" asked the
squire.
Claw" was the crisp reply.
The squire struggled to repress a
smile.
81 want my ponv," the girl added.
"Your pony: l haven't got your
pony. Why do you come to mc?:"
t'You're the squire, are you not?"
eyes: what them"
"My pony vas stolen last fall. The
gypsies have her in their camp at
Cove Greek. l saw her there this
morning."
Squire Barlow suddenly became in
terested in the face, voice and posi-
tive way OF his young visitor.
"What is your namc?" he asked.
s'Rosic Watson, SIR"
sob, you NJ the blacksmilh's
daughter. Yes, remember you now.
Well. why didn't your father Gomez"
ssIt is my pony" answered the girl.
"And my-my case"
EYES," admitted the squire. He
laughed softly to himself, spread out
his official docket and made a few
entries. .'You saw Jour pony this
morning?' he asked.
eyes. sir. at Cove Creek by the COW
cred bridge just outside the gypsy
camn She was grazing on the banks
of the stream.
"Ponies may look very much alike"
suggested the squire.
"4Ah, but I'd know Dollie, among a
thousand ponies. declared Rosie, her
brown face aglow. s.She's a dark bay
with black points, a star on her fore
head, white tetlocks, and Il faint dash
of white on her breast"
The square was busy writing. He
stopped and read aloud to her the
complaint and description.
"Can you add anything" asked
Rosie.
"Why, Of course, little dear" re-
piled the squire, i'm his fatherly way.
"Then add" said Rosie, s'that the
pony is ten hands high"
That was promptly interlined, and
chen the squire gravely asked:
"ROsfe, can you swear that YOU
know the pony to be yours, and that
you believe the gypsies have her:?"
eyes, sir, can" said Rosie deter
minedly, and without Il moments
hesitation.
"Takc this book" the squire said.
cit is the holy l3ible. Suppose you
swore to What is not true:?"
81 shoule lie u perjurcr," wa Ro-
sizes answer.
sAnd what would be the conse-
quence:"
.sMy soul would be lost unless God
lOISdVC llC ClIC uIGdtIIul Sill.
"Yes, child,' the squire said. with
moistened eyes. "You seem to under.
stand what you are about"
He administered the oath, and tol4
her. to kiss the book.
She looked at him with u wonder
ing glance. and then pressed her lips
to the book in an awed manner.
"What will it costa" she asked, in
her matter of fact way.
"Don't bother your head about the
COSTS" the squire said. "Wait a Bit
he added. seeing that, she was about
to so. He hurriedly filled up a blank
summons, folded it, handed 1T to her
aad said, 81 suppose you know where
Constable Finn lives::"
eyes, sir"
"Take that to him at once" said
the squire. 1T is u warrant for the
head gvpsv's arrest. The hearing will
be held here at , O'Clock this after
noon. AS you are the complainant.
you must be present at that hour"
The time and circumstances of the
hearing were noiscd about the village.
and when . o'clock came the sources
office was crowded. The gypsy sat
upon a rough bench, with an unliyht.
ed clay pipe in his mouth. He was
dirty, unshaved. sullen looking. He
did not wear a vest, and his corduroy
breeches were fastened ut his waist
by a greasy leathcrn belt. behind
which the haft Of Il knife was visible.
1.-THE plaintiff here, this little girl,
claims that you have a pony which
belongs to her. Squire Barlow said,
his eyes on the gypsy, who replied
coolly:
"shc hasn't any claim on it 1t is
NINE"
"wl,cre did you get the ponyss"
asked the squire.
Il fought her in Michigan" said
the paSn.
"M!.en?