The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-12-08
HER LEVER SHOT THE COW.
When, Thinking 1t Was a Burglar, She Got
Her Fathers Gun.

When, Thinking 1t Was Burglar, She Got
/ Her Fathers Gun.
The pretty village of Hollis, N Y, was
recently excited over the mystery surround
ing the shooting of a fine Jersey COW owned
by Farmer Fredegicks, peaceful tiller OF
Hollis productive soil.
| The farmer was aroused late that night
by a terrific explosion at the rear of the
house. He ran down stairs, and Selling
double barreled shotgun which was stand
| ing in the kitchen made hurried search
about the premises. No evil effects of the
explosion were then apparent, so he went
back to bed. The next morning he found
the COW riddled with shot in the barnyard.
When the shooting of the COW became
known in the village, everything else was
| forgotten, even politics Everybody won
dered who the guilty person was-that is,
everybody except one young mamie knew.
Farmer Fredericks would probably never
have learned who shot the cow had it not
been for the kicking qualities of his double
barreled shotgun.
While his pretty daughter Phoebe was
standing ate the gate talking with Coles
Hendrickson Friday evening Farmer Fred
ericks, unknown to the young people,
passed near them AS he did so he over
heard Coles tell Phoebe that his arm had
been lame from the kichi ing of the gun ever
since he shot the COW.
Farmer Fredericks did not want to be
deemed as an eavesdropper, but he could
not restrain himself. He made his presence
known to the young couple, and in the same
breath demanded an explanation from Hen
erickson.
The young man, finding he was caught,
made full confession. He told Farmer
Fredericks that he had escorted Phoebe
home from church on Sunday night, as
usual, and that after they had been in the
house awhile they heard strange noise in
the yard. 1t sounded like some one trying
to break into the house.
"What time was that?" demanded the
farmer.
"About-about-12 O'clock" answered
the young man hesitatingly.
"Was there a Light"
Eyes, sir, but-but-it was turned low"
go onr' Numbered the farmer. Il want
to know it ALL"
"Phpbe became frightened and got me
your shotgun out of the kitchen"-
''That accounts for the gun barrels being
hot when grabbed it," broke in the farm
en- Il thought the heat was due to it's
standing against the chimney. Go on"
81 stole out of the front door," continued
Hendrickson, ''and crept around the house.
l saw a dark object in the garden and
fired. Both barrels went off at once, and
the recoil fioored me- Hearing a groan, l
ran back to the house and gave Phoebe the
gun. | thought l had shot some che, and
ran home"
Phoebe said that she put the gun back in
its accustomed place, and hearing her father
coming down stairs she put out the light.
When the farmer went out, she stole up to
her own room.
Hendrickson added rather undiploma-
tically that when he heard the next day
that il was the cow and not human be-
ing that was shot he felt greatly relieved
Farmer Fredericks, however, has forgiven
him.
The COW, too, is recovering from her
wounds. Young Hendrickson would con-
sequently be happy if his confession had
not leaked out.-New York Sun.