Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-06-15
BY The Almanac.

mere WAS Illne III leAdn NHci
DEMONSTRATING was counted greater
crime than murder. For the latter
crime, few, if any, ever suffered death
at the hands of the law; for the for
mer, Justice was melted out with a
vengeance, and as expeditiously as
possible.
In spite of the certain penalty of
death, however, horse thieves were
plenty along the Rio Grande. In
the early fifties, there was a regular
organization among them, their oper-
atoms covering vast area of coun-
try, and among their members were
many men of influence whom, at
first, no one suspected; but who
were detected, and were either driven
away or hanged.
About the beginning of the opera
tions of the above band of thieves,
Mr. Tobyn was the owner of a fine
horse, an imported animal, and the
pride of the whole county. The
horse of course was well taken care
of, and stabbed every night under
lock and key. When the horse
thieves began to be very bold, and
made their raids in Mr.. Tobyn's
neighborhood, extra precautions
We're taken, and man hired to guard
the stable.
As it happened, Mr.. Tobyn had
another treasure in the shape of a
lovely daughter and only child. IL
there were older men who envied
him the possession of the horse,
there were more young men who
wished to disposses him of his daugh-
ter if chance offered.
Among the suitors for Amy To-
byn's hand and heart, two figured
more conspicuously than the rest.
Sol Wynn had the inside track, how
ever, it seemed, because he was 1iv-
ing with, and worked for Amy's
father, while Burt Stevens's home
was several miles away.
Burt, however, made frequent Wis
its to Mr.. Tobyn's house, and was
a most formidable rival to Sol; for,
he was glib of tongue, smooth in
manner, good-looking, and a gener-
al favorite with the ladies'; while
Sol was a man of few words, awk-
ward, and inclined to be bashful
among the gentler sex.
1t was on a fine evening in spring
that Burt rode up to Mr.. Tobyn's
house, hitched his horse at the gate,
and went inside. He was invited to
stay till after supper, which invita-
ton he eagerly accepted, and after
supper he and Amy spent several
hours alone on the porch; the old
folks, like sensible people, keeping
themselves to themselves.
Sol, too, was keptaway from them,
for Mr.. Tobyn had put him on guard
at the stable that night. The stable
was in full view of the house, and
it being bright, moonlight night,
the two on the porch could see him
plainly as he moved about restless
ly.
"Poor fellow" murmured Amy.
81 am sorry for him."
$50 am |, said Bert. "But ! am
glad, too, that he is kept away from
us, for | have something to say to
you, Amy, which | don't care for
him to hear"
"What is it Burt?" eagerly.
81 love you, Amy, and want you
to be my wife,
Amy bowed her head.
Twill you have me, Amy?" per-
sisted Burt.
II don't know"
"Yes, you do. Please tell me"
he pleaded.
81 can't. Come back tomorrow
night and you shall know
All Burt's pleadings were in vain,
she would give him no other an
swer. Shortly afterward he left the
house, mounted his horse, and rode
away.
Amy, however, sat still upon the
piazza, and Sol seeing her there
alone, after Burt rode away, stole
toward the house, thinking that he
would get chance to speak to her.
But as he approached, she got up
and went inside.
Sol was disappointed, and felt
sore at heart. He threw himself
down upon the ground, and the
tears came to his eyes. Somehow
he felt that Burt had the advantage
over him, and in his heart he swore
to get even with him.
How long he lay upon the ground,
tortured between love and hate, he,
never knew exactly; but he was
suddenly aroused by hearing some
unusual noise down at the stable.
The moon was shining brightly,
aud iha ooana xvoo an N, och No l,r,,,bt