Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-10-17
jim.

Jim gave no answer except toss of
the head as he slowly walked across the
kitchen, but Deborah's quick ears caught
little chuckle as he went out the door.
'pll give it to you some day, you
young rascal, if you carry away my
things!" went on Deborah, shaking her
fist at the little fellow.
Whats the matter, Deborah?" asked
her mistress, coming into the kitchen.
''Oh, it's that jim! He's always up to
mischief. 1t comes material to that
gypsyish sort to be tricky and sneaky,
and there's no such thing as gettin' 'em
out of it."
''If it's natural to them we ought to
make some allowance for it," said Mrs
Graham, with a smile, as she helped
Deborah to hunt for the missing pepper
pot.
mo use a-harborin' such, seems to
me-" said Deborah.
May. be So" said Mrs. Graham, "but
none of us somehow seems to have the
heart to drive him away
II have" said Deborah very decid-
edly. Look nova everlastin'
tease!'
The two watched jim as with a
roguish twinkle in his small black eyes
he made his way to where old Carlo
was taking his morning nap under the
lilac bush and gave him a sudden poke.
The dog raised his head with a growl,
but Jim stood at little distance, with
grave and innocent look at something
on the ground.
Carlo settled down again, and quick
as lightning Jim gave him another
poke. Up jumped Carlo, with a savage
look at his tormentor, but Jim stood in
the same place, half asleep, and Carlo
lay down with Il long drawn sigh. Jim
kept it up until the poor dog went to
find quieter place.
''rve seen him do that dozen times"
said Deborah laughing, "and l know he's
hidden my pepper pot. Why, it amt so
long since | read a story about one O.
that set-must ~ been first cousin to
Jim l reckon - that stole a elegant
breastpin, and it was laid to u poor
young girl that worked in the family.
She was disgraced and turned off, and
ever so long after it was found out that
that creetur'd been the thief. I've no
use for such!"
And so every member of the family
could have declared, but no one would
be the one to say that Jim must 90. In
the course of a long drive over country
roads through a heavy storm the farmer
had found Jim drenched and half
cta ha h,.n,,
home, and after being warmed, fed and
made comfortable the wild eyed, dark
looking little vagabond had wisely set
tied himself in such good quarters, and
had since showed no desire to leave them.
"You can come and help me peel the
peaches now, Marian" called Mrs. Gra-
ham to her daughter.
Marian came, looking admiringly at
the baskets of rosy checked, downy fruit
on the great table, all of which was wait
ing to be made into peach butter.
SIS that your pearl ring?' asked her
mother
"Oh-yes. was clearing my drawer
and put it on to see how pretty it looks
and forgot it. IN take it of"
The pretty lassie worked for hours
over the peaches, pairing, stoning, meas
uring out sugar, stirring and tasting. At
length she skipped up to her room to
dress, but soon came running back with
an anxious face.
MY ring, Deborah! l left it on the
corner of the table-back here. Have
you seen it?'
"The land, Miss Marian! No, amt.
And I've just this blessed minute scraped
up all the peelin's and flung 'em out to
the pigs"
With tears in her eyes Marian ran
out to the lot in which the pigs were
kept, and searched eagerly. But the
grunters had made quick work of their
luscious meal, and no ring was to be
found. More slowly she went back, and
looked about the kitchen with forlorn
hope that the ring might have escaped.
But Deborah's scraping had been vigor-
Gus, and she went up stairs again with
woebegone look.
"She's dreadful careless little piece"
said Deborah, looking after her, "always
a-leavin' her things round. But amt
a-goin' to say it to her now she's a-f -elin'
so bad"
"Ha, ha-you thievin' rascal! I've
caught you at last, amt II"
Mrs. Graham and Marian hurried out
at sound of Deborah's excited voice to
see Jim struggling in her grasp. He
was uttering short, angry cries and do
ing his best to free himself.
II was just a-washin' my dishes, cried
Deborah, when this limb comes a-peek-
in and a-pryin' round I mistrusted he
was up to somethin', an | KEEP my eye
on him and seen him pick up one O. my
teaspoons and sneak off with it. l took
after him, and just got hold O. him right
here-see? He was just a-slippip' that