Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-08-11
ROSIE'S CASE.

He was excusable for sleeping. He
was well advanced in life, the day
was hot one, and he had tired his
brain in an effort to untangle the &C
counts of the township assessor
''HellOa, squirrel" some one said.
'tHelloa YOURSELF" cried the squire,
fiinging up his head, rubbing his eyes
and adjusting his glasses.
His visitor was a sturdy, brown
faced girl of IA, with fluffy black hair,
bright eyes and 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.
'4What do you want?" asked the
squire.
Claw" was the crisp reply.
The squire struggled to represS
smile.
~ want my pony" the girl added.
''Your pony? l haven't got your
pony. Why do you come to me?"
you're the squire, are you nOt?"
Eyes: what then?"
ttMY pony was stolen last fall. The
gypsies have her in their camp at
morning"
Squire Barlow suddenly became in
terested in the face, voice and posi-
tive way OF his young visitor.
''What is your name?" he asked.
'tRosie Watson, sir"
'fOh, you are the blacksmiUh's
daughter. Yes, 1 remember you now.
Well. why didn't your father Gomez"
1T is my pony" answered the girl.
'tAnd my-my case"
Eyes" admitted the squire. He
laughed softly to himself, spread out
his official docket and made a few
entries you saw your pony this
morning?'' he asked.
eyes, sir. at Cove Creek by the COW
cred bridge just outside the gypsy
camp. She was grazing on the banks
OF the stream.
''POnies may look very much alike, -
suggested the squire.
'tAh, but I'd know Dollie, among a
thousand ponies, - declared Rosie, her
brown face aglow. ''She's a dark bay
with black points, a star on her fore
head, white fetlocks. and 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, in his fatherly way.
''Then add" said Rosie, ''that the
pony is ten hands high"
That was promptly interlined, and
then the squire gravely asked:
f'Rosie, can you swear that you
know the pony to be yours, and that
you believe the gYpsies have her?"
eyes, sir, I can" said Rosie deter
minedly, and without a moments
hesitation.
''Take this book" the squire said.
sit is the holy Bible. Suppose you
swore to what is not true?''
al should be a perjurer," was Ro-
sizes answer.
"And what would be the conse-
quence?"
.'My soul would be lost unless God
forgave me the dreadful sin"
eyes, child" the squire said, with
mOistened eyes. ''You seem to under
stand what you are about
He administered the oath, and told
her to kiss the book.
She locked at him with a wonder
ing glance, and then pressed her lips
to the book in an awed manner.
'fWhat will it coSt?" she asked, in
her matter of fact way.
stDon't bother your head about the
costs, " the squire said. ''Wait bit. -
he added. seeing that she was about
to 90. He hurriedly filed up a blank
summons, folded it, handed il to her
and said, 81 suppose you know where
Constable Finn lives?"
eyes, sir"
s'Take that to him at once" said
the squire. 1T is a warrant for the
head gYpsY'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 noised about the village,
and when > o'clock came the squire's
office was crowded. The gypsy sat
upon a rough bench, with an unlight-
ed clay pipe in his mouth. He was
dirty, unshaved, sullen looking He
did not wear a vest, and his corduroy
breeches were fastened at his waist
by a greasy leathern bert, behind
winch 0HC AiAe VI AllAAS was tASlOiSs
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:
"She hasn't any claim on it 1t is
mine.n
Where did you get the pony?''
asked the squire.
IT bought her in Michigan" said
the man.
s'When?"