Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-09-22
"What's up. Clark2-

! on level with the top of the wheat
| and looked across the field. In the
silence the ''clink, clink'' of the bell
was distinctly audible
No." he answered.; Il can't see any
thing. But / can hear her. There's
only one. think
sounds like that COW of Widow
CARROTS" resumed the farmer
''Well it isn't her" reioined the 9TH
| er-''nor her bell, neither. for we
| buried them both. But it does sound
like it,
1T does that" answered the farmer.
land there wasn't another bell like it
| old critter out, or shire Ii have half the
| wheat trampled down"
He shu fled away, following the
| ''clink, clink'' of the bell, that seemed
to come from just beyond the circle of
light east by the lantern he was hold
| ing.
Presently he stopped, for the sound
| of the bell had ceased.
| Mr.. Clark listened for a moment.
Then he kicked some of the hard earth
loose, gathered handful and flung it
| in the direction in which he had last
| heard the bell.
| Whey, you old fool,'' he shouted.
A light wind stirred the wheat, but
| there was no other sound; nor did he
hear the bell again that night, although
| he searched for some time: neither did
he find any cattle in the field. He ex-
| amined the fence, but could find no
! place where an animal could have
! broken in.
The more he thought about it the
more mystified he became. He feared
that the bell ringing would be repeat
| ed. nor Were his fears in vain. 1t be-
! gan somewhat earlier than it had done
on the previous evening, and, armed
with his lantern and stout stick which
| he had provided. Mr.. Clark sailed out
at the first ''clink. clink' of the bell,
and for nearly an hour followed it
about, as he had done on the previous
night. and to as little purpose.
Two of the nearest neighbors threw
| up their windows and listened when
they saw the lantern in the field. and
the singular affair began to be talked
of in the neighborhood.
| The only result of this second vista
tisn was to fix the idea firmly in the
| minds OF Mr.. Clark and those who
heard it, that it was really old Brindle's
| bell.
The next day Mr.. Clark called on the
| Widow Garrett.
| Il came" he began, with assumed
confidence. Ito buy your cow-beIl.
suppose you'd as lief sell it. as you have
no use for it now?"
| II should be glad 10 do se," assured
the widow, but they did not think It
worth keeping, and so buried it with
| the cow"
sd pay you good price for it," he
continued. watching her keenly.
/ I'm sorry have not got it, she re-
piled. I'D be glad enough to sell it if
l could"
| The man turned a shade paler.
| II can't always tell my cow bells
when I'm hunting my cows, they're so
like the others. and that was SO differ
emit
| I'm sorry" replied the widow.
| .-Oh. well. it don't natter con-
| Guided Mr. Clark Now l come to
| wasn't worth much. You'll be buying
a new COW, presume?"
The widow shook her head.
| NOulu Dc Il great mel 10 Ile. sue
said. but could not raise the money
| to buy one"
That night the farmer decided not to
| go out to the field. but he discovered,
| as did his neighbors, that the bell rang
| Just the same, whether he went out or
| not.
| Big boys began to whistle when they
had to pass the field after shutdown.
and little boys would not pass it at all
| after dark.
The next night the farmer lay awake
and listened; he did not get up until the
sound of the bell came through the field,
| and went up and down. up and down
| along his garden fence. Then he left
his bed. dressed himself and followed
it into the field. a number of the
neighbors stood in the road and shout
ed out to him.
why don't you set dog on it?'
called one.
Mr.. Clark did not keep dog, but a
neighbor brought one, and it was sent
| into the field.
! 1t went in fast enough. but it did
| not come back. Later the owner
| found that it had sneaked out on the
| opposite side of the field and gone
| home.
| The neighbors were standing outside
| the fence, and Mr.. Clark inside. just in
the edge of the wheat. With one &C
cord they seemed to have left him to