Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-06-17

guilty. Finally, they We're found
guilty of an attempt at bird nesting
with felonious intent, and were or
dered nine months imprisonment with
hard labor.
| This incident determined the mind
of the blacksmith as to the proper av
ocation for his SON. Joseph Samuel
must become a policeman. A ''bobby"
has to be about at night, and that was
precisely what Joseph was calculated
for, as he could not sleep at night
He was 50 able bodied, was such a
fine figure of man, that he was at
once accepted and put i'll the force. He
assumed the not unpicturesque uniform
of county policeman, and believed
that he had found his true occupation.
He was finally planted at place on
the opposite side of the little county.
Of course, the fame of his exploit had
preceded him He was looked up to as
n man of the greatest ability, energy
and resolution, and it was concluded
that with him in the parish everything
was safe.
1t was conjectured, rather than
known, that the fear of Joseph Samuel
had fallen on all the miscreants in the
county of Rutland. 1t was high time
that men of a superior order of intel
ligence should be engaged in the force,
for number of robberies had been
committed of late on the graziers of
Luthlandshire. The low land, readily
| nx Nj ha Of
| young cattle till they are fit to kill,
when they are sent in great numbers
| to the London market. There had
been theft of calves and young bull
locks. Sometimes the live beasts had
been carried off, rapidly dispatched
and dismissed to London before the
day broke. Some graziers had lost
severely. 1t was not possible to say
where the next robbery would take
place, consequently all were equally
anxious and uneasy.
A small farmer was one evening on
his way to the nearest town, He had
the carcass of a young bullock to dis
pose of. His ground was overfowed,
and as he could no longer feed his bull
lock he killed it, and was taking the
carcass to London, when, passing
through Bashentine-the village at
which Joseph Samuel was quartered-
he disposed of it to the village butcher,
who at once removed the dead meat
and paid the man for it.
The farmer had something to do in
the town besides selling the carcass, so
he proceeded on his way, but drew up
at little tavern where he was fond of
having his glass. He embarrassed his
horse, ran the light cart under cover,
and entered the public house. The
man was addicted to drink; he had
money in his pocket; he met there
with some chums; and the end was that
he resolved to make night of it.
A spirit of perversity rules the
destinies of men. As long as Joseph
Samuel was obliged to he awake by
day, he could not sleep at night; but
now that he was a policeman, and had
to make his excursions by night, he
felt sleepy when the dark set in, and
some nights was hardly able to keep
his eyes open. 1t was so ON this even
ing. He was coming along the road,
beside which stood the public house
into which the farmer had gone. He
was so weary, so heavy in his eyes,
that he resolved on having just a wink
Of sleep to freshen him before he pro-
eeeded on his beat. Accordingly, he
entered the shed attached to the
tavern, and finding light cart, crept
into it, stretched himself on the straw
in the bottom, and in moment was
fast asleep. He slept so soundly that
he did not stir-did not snore.
Not quarter of an hour had elapsed
before two men stole into the cart
shed. One had slight limp. The
other had a lump at the back of his
head.
You're sure of it ?" asked the latter
of these men.
Certain. He killed his bullock
this morning He's drinking in the
house"
"Shall We get out his cob, harness
it, and drive away with cart and car
cass?"
"Phe stable door is locked I think
we'd best draw the cart ourselves It's
light, and we shall get to the station
by daybreak. "
The two men drew the cart forth.
Its heavy" said the hmping man.
cts the bullock; it'saprime beast,
l can tell you"
=. The two fellows drew the cart into
~.
shafts, and started running as hard "a
they could, drawing the cart along
with them. The night was dark, the
movement was conducive to sleep, and
Joseph Samuel slept on peacefully, and
dreamed of home
A little after midnight. 81 say,
Tummas, 4" said the shaft horse, ''I'm
tremendous hungry. What do you say
shall we halt, cut slice out of the
carcass and have outlet each?"
81 wouldn't risk it, said the leader.
The fire might betray us: we
couldn't eat raw cutlets-we amt say
ages.
well, cut along, Tummas.
And away eantered the thieves with
the cart and carcass. Toward dawn
they neared the station.
Both were becoming fatigued.
Il say. Tummas, said the shat
horse, I'm SO rampageous hungry /
could eat the whole bullock"
And I'm so thirsty. said the
leader, u could drink his blood"
''Hark !"
Beth halted and looked back. The
gray dawn was breaking. Behind they
heard shouts and the sound of horses
hoofs approaching at gallop.
But they saw something that still
more greatly disconnected them-a
head and shoulders rising over the
splash board of the cart, and heard, !
"Boi"
The men let go the shaits-they ran /
ran as fast as they could in their |
then condition of exhaustion.