Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-06-23
A HORSE 1HlBF.

was stranger in this romantic commu.
nifty, which went far toward proving
that he had stolen the horse. 1t was Il
fact that roam mare had been stolen
and that circumstances pointed to the
stral ger. This being quite sufficient, he
was put IN Jail.
Oak Knob could hardly be classed as
a village indeed it scarcely held the
dignity Of Il cross road point of import
ance. Its buildings consisted Of a
court house, which also served as a
church ; general supply store, Il few
residences, and the Jail, a strong log pen
with an iron grated door.
Lige Morgan, sheriff and jailer, lived
within few rods of the Jail.
Net Morgan, the old man daughter,
returned from school in an adj joining
neighborhood one evening. and was told
that at last a prisoner had been secur.
ed for the Jail and that 1t was her duty
to feed him. At this appointment to
high and important trust the girl jump,
ed up and clapped her hands.
Oh, that's fine she cried.
Glad you like it, SAID the old man,
for I don want nothin to do with IL
hoss thief, and yo' mother lows she
wouldn't feed one to saye his life.'
4 don't like hoss thief better than
yon and mother do. she quickly replied
co!oring and dropping her hands with
a llmpness that marked the sickness, if
not death, of her enthusiasm. l never
did have any use for thief of no sort,
much less horse thief, and | haye to
take care of him just because you think
| like hi better than the rest
of you do, why l won't have anything
to do with him
Come, now, Net, l don't want any OF
your ioollshness. Of course you don't
like hoss thief any better than the rest
of us does, but | want you to take
charge of him and feed him until after
cou't meets and tries him. If you don t
III hire Nan Stokes
I'll feed him, pap. What sort Of 4
lookln man is he %
Looks well enough. It's the way he
acts that got him in trouble
Believe III 90 out there and see who
he's like
You can see out there now. It's
too dark.
i can take a light. If he's my pris-
oner must do lis | please about him.
She took down spluttering candle
and went out to the jail.
Hello in there she said, holding the
candle high above her head and at
tempting to shake the grated door.
There was rustling of straw, and
then voice answered
WELL
Come up here so | can see you,' said
the girl.
He came to the door. i can't see
YOU very well now, she remarked try
ing to throw more light on him and
pressing her face against the bars. i
never saw live hoss thief, and ! want
to see what you look like
I'm not horse thief miss or madam,
l don't know which
Miss, if you please. I ain,t but ff-
teen years old, and I don't reckon you
see many madams that young. | cant
see whether you stole that horse or not,
she said.
He laughed with loud haw, h@w,
and then said, Just like a woman.
OF course. for am a, woman, or the
making OF one, anyhow. Well, I'll
haye to wait until to morrow before |
settle yo' case. Oh, almost forgot to
tell you chat am your keeper, and yo'
cant hav" anything to eat except what
/ give YOU
1 hope, then. that your mind is lib
eral, miss
4 don't know about that; III have
to wait until get good look at you.
Just like woman again. he said
I'm Just like II woman all the time,
she replied.
And l never before had cause to
wish for good looks he rejoiped.
She went away without saying another
word, and the prisoner went back and
lay down on his straw bed.
Sunbeams were falling through, the
bars when he awoke the next morning,
and all old rooster and several hens
stood ,pecking at the door sill.
The chickens moved hastily away
and then the glrl stood there looking at
him.
Good mornin.'
Good morning, miss He went to
the door and smiled at her.