Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-12-23
to buy the land finally and make hUm,

going SOrJ, never trusting 10 chance OF re /
sorting to anything but hard labor to earl
a dollar. The Barbours, therefore, vert
somewhat surprised when they found that
he had turned detective, and that, TOO fol
no greater reward than half a dollar
"What do you reckon has come owe,
Fritz2" asked Mrs. Barbour wonderingly
"That, my dear, is more than | can an
swer," was Mr. Barbour's reply.
Fritz, however, as he wended his way
honeward communcd with himself
II tool dat toothdche, sure. l 40 sLta>
by dat sheep pens all watch for dat t'ief, ar
l siIleep maybe. Maybe | don't shlee y. al
den catch dat t'ief an make four hit. Ii d
shtay ct home | don't shleep, all DOM
makes holdings nohow. Dots 50, by shin
miryW
1t was perhaps 10 O'Clock that niy ht whei
two men crawled up toward Mr.. Barbour''
sheep pen from opposite sides, but neithei
of the providers was Fritz. Fritz was lyine
In a fence corner at right angles from ths
two, sleeping peacefully.
One of the men rose from the grounC
and peered cautiously over the top raj
toward the other side of the pen through
the darkness For some minutes h.
watched patiently. Then he saw darn
sit motionless for a moment, his form
clearly outlined against the starlit sky
Then the man on the fence slipped dow
inside the pen, and there was some commo
ton among the sheep. A few minutes
passed while he was hidden among the
darker shadows near the ground; then he
made his appearance again close to the
fence where he had come over it and threw
something to the ground outside.
Just as he was about to Chamber o, er the
watcher on the other side sprang into the
pen also and rushed across it. When he
reached the other side, how ever, the first
man in the pen had long since left it anc
was fast disappearing down the road, run
ming as if terror lent wings to his feet.
"Huh-huh," muttered the man left be
hind. 81 think 1 know you. ri take E
short cut across tn. pasture and catch you
get"
So saying he began to climb the fence
and was ready to jumpo over when his boot
strap caught upon II protruding knot ia the
top rail. He tumbled over backward anC
was left hanging head downward with his
feet in the air.
In vain he struggled to release himself
He worked until the perspiration ran into
his eyes and made him groan with smart
ing pain. Then for few moments he
hung motionless, as il meditating on what
would be hest to do to extricate himself
from the uncomfortable position.
YES" he muttered, Fritz ought to bt
here. Pll call, and perhaps he'll come t.
my assistance"
"Oh FRITZ" he shouted.
There was no reply.
Again he called, and with renewed vigor
as he began to fear that no one would heal
him. Presently, however, Fritz was awak
ened and sprang to his feet and listened.
"Who's doti" he asked.
"It's l. Come and help me, Fritz"
Fritz made his way cautiously arounc
the fence until he reached the place whert
the man was hanging upside down.
"Ah, ha! | catch you. chi" exclaimed
Fritz. "Tll fix you"
With the swiftness of an expert FRITZ
| pulled out large cotton handkerchief
gave it twist in his hands and bound il
over the mans mouth as gag.
The man tried to tear it away, but Fritz
informed him that If he did not desist h,
would get his brains knocked out.
| Then Fritz produced a stout cord anC
proceeded to tie the mans hands securely
behind him. When this was accomplished
he cut the boot strap and let the man dowI
to the ground
snow get up, you feller," ordered Fritz
helping the man to bis feet. When he wal
standing up Fritz began to look around.
"Ah, | think so! Here vos dat sheep,
he cried as his foot struck against the car
cass that had been hidden by the tall weeds
into which the first man had thrown it.
"Ah, makes you carry dot sheep. ar
Mishter Barbour pay me Won dollar may
Pc" he said.
Fritz provided himself with stout stick
Then he united the mans hands and mad,
him shoulder the dead sheep and walk be
fore him to the house.
A light was still burning in the sitting
room, and the door being open Fritz walked
his prisoner straight inside.
81 gots himr' shouted Fritz.
| Mrs. Barbour was alone in the room
where she had been sitting reading, ant
when she looked up at the prisoner, will
the carcass of the sheep still upon his shoul
der. her eyes showed fully the surprise sh
felt.
"Oh. James. what has happenedi" sh
asked.
Fritz, too, looked into his prisoners fac
and was almost surprised out of his wit
when he found that he had captured Mr.
Barbour himself.
"Py shimminy." he cried. 81 meier tinl
dotp'
And he quickly removed the gag and re
lieved Mr.. Barbour of his burden.
You caught me, Fritz, and have earne,
the dollar; here it is" he said as he hand
ed him the money. Then he added; "Yo
can have the sheep, too, and welcome. No,
, you can go home"
Fritz was too astounded to make reply
He shuffled out of the room. feeling that
, blunder had been committed somewhere
but in what way he could not make clea
to himself.
"The most ridiculous thing | ever saw,
laughed Mrs. Barbour when Fritz had de
parted. How did it happen, james,"
Then Mr.. Barbour told how the res
thief had escaped and how he had bee
caught himself through an unlucky acc
dent.
1t was perhaps an hour later that sam
night that Mr. Barbour was standing alon
on the gallery when Uncle Bob, his fac