Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-06-17
A HORSE THIEF.

The hrSt prisoner tnat graced
the new Jail at Oak Knob, the coun-
try seat of Patterson county, Ark,
was a young fellow named Dave
Chillew. He was stranger in this
romantic community, which went
far toward proving that he had
stolen the horse. 1t was fact that
a roam mare was stolen and that cir
cumstances pointed with a steady
finger at the stranger. This being
quite sufficient, he was put in Jail.
Oak Knob could hardly be classed
as village; indeed it scarcely held
the dignity Of crossroad point of
Importance. Its buildings consisted
of a court house, which also served
as a church; general supply store,
few residences, and the jail, a
strong log pen with an iron grated
door.
Lige Morgan, sheriff and jailer.
lived within a few rods of the Jail.
Net Morgan, the old mans daugh-
ter, returned from school in an ad-
joining neighborhood one evening,
and was told that a prisoner had at
last been secured for the Jail and
that it was her duty to feed him.
At this appointment to high and i'm
portant trust the girl jumped up and
clapped her hands.
''Oh, that's finel" she cried.
Glad you like it." said the old
man, for | don't want nothin to do
with a hoss thief, an yo' mother
lows she wouldn't feed one to save
his life"
Il don't like hoss thief better
than you and mother do, she quick
ly replied, coloring and dropping her
hands with limpness that marked
the sickness, if not the death, of her
enthusiasm. II never did have any
use for a thief of no sort, much less
boss thief, and if | have to take
care of him just because you think
like him better than the rest of you
do, why / won't have anything to
do with him."
Come, now, Net, ! don't want any
of your foolishness. OF course you
don't like a boss 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 I'll hire Nan
Stokes"-
I'm feed him, pap. What sort OF
a lookin man is he2"
Looks well enough. It's the way
he acts that got him into trouble"
Believe I'll go out there and see
who he's like"
you can't see out there now. It's
too dark.
II can take a light. If he's my
prisoner | must do as | please about
him"
She took down a spluttering tallow
candle and went out to the Jail.
Hello in there" she said, holding
up the candle high above her head
and attempting to shake the grated
door.
There was rustling of straw and
then voice answered:
We'll"
"Come up here so can see you,
said the girl.
He came to the door. II can't see
you very well now," she remarked,
trying to throw more light on him
and pressing her face against the
bars. II never saw live hoss
thief, and / want to see what you
look like"
I'm not a horse thief, miss OF
madam, don't know which"
Miss, if you please. ] amt but
fifteen years old, and i don't reckon
you see many madams as young as
that. / can't see whether you stole
that hoss or not.
He laughed with loud haw, haw,
and then said, Just like woman.
"Of course. for | am woman, or
the making of one, anyhow. Well,
I'll have to wait until tomorrow be-
fore can settle yo' case. Oh, ! al
most forgot to tell you that l am
your keeper, and you can't have
anything TO eat except what | am a
mind to give YOU"
II hope, then, that your mind u
liberal, miss"