The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-12

How Three Polite Horse Thieves Managed
TO Catch - Tartar.

was misnomer. She was an old maid and
aunt to no one-at least in that neiGhborhood.
Her name. as sho signed It to legal documents.
was Catharine Davis. and at the time OF my
story she was about 35 years old. Aunt Kate
and her brother Ben had bought the farm in
Iowa When Ben died sho continued on tho
farm. directing operations through hired help.
Let me fret tell you about a horse which
Aunt Kate came into possession of In the
spring OF 1860 Ono afternoon n stranger
came along in buggy drawn By n fine large
horse which had been takon Ill. He told what
seemed to be n straightforward story. and
Aunt Kate loaned him q horse for three days
and put his animal into the stable to bo doc
tored. The stranger did not return. and after
a few weeks everybody believed that the horse
had been stolen. Aunt Kntc advertised in sew
eral papers and had tho Information spread
rs FAR as possible. but no one called to claim
tho horse. He got we'll after week or two.
and was then used in farm work for about a
month. Then he seemed to be taken with
fit Of fury one day and did such damage that
everybody became afraid OF him. He was
turned into paddock in the rear OF tho barn.
the door to one Of the stalls left open. and he
was fed and watered from the main floor Of
the barn.
Several horsemen who came to look at tho
animal gave it as their opinion that he was
naturally vicious. while q veterinary surgeon
thought the horse had once been bitten by a
rattlesnake or mad dog, and would be subject
to " SPELLS at intervals every summer as long
as he lived. The stall which he entered from
the paddock was fitted up on purpose for him.
Stout plank partitions separated him from the
other horses. and the hay rack and water
trough were OF iron. There was no way for man
or boy to get into or out of his stall except by
the door. and as that opened into the paddock.
one had TO climb upon the fence to get good
view OF Mad Dick. as he came to TO called.
After three months had gone BY and no owner 1S,
horse. but she. refused to. While she, could
get no work out Of him. she was determined TO
che reasoned that the horse had been grossly
abused. and. being very tender-henrted wo-
days wsn Msa as
with the world. aud there were days when he
was SO furious that no man dared show his
On the both Of April. 1851. the girl who was
doing the housework for Aunt Kato RECEIVED
away. was dam erousy III. At o'clock in the
afternoon the hired man set out to drive tho
need not return until the next day. Aunt Kato
rode with them as far as my father house and
ns @ sn 81 sec 95
were considered as only neighborly among
neighhors. was anxious enough to go. for
Kate had plenty OF hickory nuts left over from
the winter
went home with her. fed the stock. got in
the barn. and the evening passed very swiftly
and pleasantly UP to . O'clock; That was bed:
Just started to wind the clock when saw a
mans face pressed against the kitchen win
but 1t was not lowered. 1t was a pretty dark
night outside, while tho light within shone OH
dsney "f' mas too to-
and Aunt Kate went on winding tho clock |
without suspicion that wS were about to
the clock and turned away when the kitchen |
door opened and in walked three strange, men:
the last turned and bolt ed the door
GOOD evening. ma'am:" salutod the one |
rain and is very arE we have called to for
shelter for the night"
They were not rough-lookinG men. On the |
them. Had they called by daylight with any
them down as bad men. While 1 accepted the
mans statement as he gave 1t. and was. Won
he hf the G put m
corner Of the, table, but it was only few Sec sec
onds before she replied to the man:
Il am sorry that cannot keep you. At the |
house half mile below yoG will be well taken
Zach man tossed his hat on n chair. coolly |
his overcoat and sat down. nnd it |
was COUPLE Of minutes before the leader
Sorry to put you to any trouble. mnam
but we are hungry and must have bite to
Aunt Kate hositatcd for n moment. her first
IMPULSE as she afterward explained: being to
a fD0fS asp she oncudea thst
would he unwise to anger them. and in the |
on the table. While she was busy tho men |
talked among themselves abopt, the state OF
they were ordinary and honest travellers that |
mentally blamed Aunt Kate for not making |
able She took q seat near me- and II noticed
she was all R-tremhle. 1t was n pretty light |
luncheon she had set out Tor three hearty men, |
and 1t didn't take over ten minutes to clcarthe |
able. Ihey Kept M an animated CONVEX |
sation as they ate but did not address either
zach lighted c cigar. Then the leader said to
Aunt Kate:
There is no occasion for you to be alarmed.
IL thought you were" gaspcd Aunt Kate.
ookinG greatly relieved at the information.
marked the man MS he blew a cloud OF smoke
,nd 1.-The the ceiling. you have four or five
'o9S don w sGSt ts sell any of them she
o "Nq5 Sorry for that, as we must have at
It a fair price I'm, afraid we shall have to bor-
$50 you are horse thievcs" exclaimed Aunt
Kate as she sprang to her feet and tho color
II don't like tho term" calmly repled tho
nan ms ne compared the time between his
Saatch and tho clock. 1T soun DIS rough.
ay horse remover and give u man u show to
10 gentleman. Our errand here Is TO 'ro-
move two or three of your horses. The boy
will get a lantern and accompany us to tho
,arn. and II you don't want to be used roughly
ou will remain right here. Should You at-
empt to leave the house or rnise an alarm wo
vll give you cause to regret 1t all tho rest OF
our life"
Tho man spoke quietly and in an even voice.
nut there was q menace In his tones that mndo
20 SILVER while Aunt Kate turned VIII Ito again
The lantern stood on shelf behind the pantry
DOR. and without further words got 1t down
nd made ready to accompany the men ~
20 went out the leader made a sal ann TO Aunt
late, and thanked her for tn" cold lunch. and
dded that one, OF his ,companions would bo
tationed outside the door for the next hall
our, That was n blum TO keep her quiet. as
he three followed me tn the stable Aunt
,ate had only three horses besides Man DicR.
nd the hired man was away, witt, one. Tho
ther two were fino horses, and unlocked tho
DOR and led the men to them was more more t smrt
cared that had no idea Of playing any tricks.
When tho mon found only two horses thcy
egan to grow and eNplai med thnt inc thirn
'as away. Just then they heard MAG DIX IN