Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1894-11-29
WAS SURPRISED.

! ssFhat must bs the place. It answers
The description they gayo me. II hs
doesn't fead me at the FIRST opening, theia
I'll feel pretty safa despite the old gentle
hRn j esusty tetfpef 2
The traveller rode up to thee farmhouse,
his eyes fixed upon q man who stood in
the doorway.
Good evening, sir, called out thu
yeung man as the either made no move:
n ns1,;,, , u presume this IS vhsfs MI
:, ssM Nos on Hsnndayy. Resi- If The week
Uhcle Lie runs the place. IF you want
to sec me, you'd better light out an hitch.
Supper's jest ready, an don't wait fol
no man. and SO speaking tho farmer
turned his broad back and disappeared
within the house,
Tho subdued chatter of knives and forks
met his ear, and through the long hall
there. eaihb an hppetizing odor pf, hot food:
His hesitntibii was brief. A long ride
had made him hungry, and literally fol
lowing his nose he stalked into the dining
room.
s.Sit down an cat" mumbled Uncle
Lille, his mouth full. 1--WE was spectin
yen
'.Thoro hiust be sbme mistake, Nj. %
Ef they Is, ! iiaih't made it. Eff you n
hungry, eat; eff not, sit by ontel amt
growled the farniet. .
), Tho, fafiner's 1eife, two sons and !
daughter were present, but only one o.
these won much attention from the tray
eler, and before that silent meal was end
ed no Caught himself acknowledging that
he had never beield prettief, moro
graceful girl thin rosy checked; bright
eyed; curly headed MARI; a!crrill. 4,
uJiin, said Uncle Lija,.ss,t length arts
Ing, =: YOU GO put iip the sls;.cEef's boss.
MARI, YOU 60 fetch tho doi:: $ in t'othel
room, an you, stranger, como along O.
me. y
The young man obeyed.
In few moments Maria followed them
Bearing pipes, homemade tobaec5 glasses
and a bottle OF whisky.
Placing these upon the table; SHE anick
Is vanished.
"Stop thar exclaimed Uncle Lie in
his deep, echoing voice rs the stranger
was about to speak, and pouring out +
glass of whisky he pushed it forward
Drink that, then take q smoke. Vel
. look to business h 'terwafd -
''I'll smoke with pleasure, but I seldom
arilk''--
II reckon you'd better drink, sttangsr, >
and Uncls Liis slowly arose from his
chair, 'sef ak it as favor"
''That's another thing" hastily replied
the traveller, swallowing the liquor
though it brought tears to his eyes.
"Good enough Now set down al
have smoke. won't have one wore
ontel you've did as say" With faint
smile tho traveller obeyed the peremptor,
command of his eccentric host, and Thu
twain sat blowing d tloua In perfect 81
1ehes. Quietly Mrs. Merrill and her three
children entered the room and took seats
Then emptying the ashes from his ex
hausted pipe Uncle Life spoke: Nov
stranger, we kin talk business. Who ali
ye, an what ye want O. NE or mine?"
''I'm a drover looking for cattle.
heard you had some to dispose of AMI
came here to see if we could make bar
gain, - was tho prompt reply.
eyes, hearn you was likely to com,
this way, and SO, rs mebbe you noticed
we was sorter on the lookout fer ye Nv,
got the cattle, an I'm always ready fer
trade CT the farms suit But fust-yo,
had a good supper-all you wanted t
eat?''
Certainly, and am ready to-
II don't doubt it mite, stranger, blu
jest hol up a bit. That was good whisk,
and pretty far tobacco, seein raised it
ehs An we've treated you like gentle
man, hain't we? Jest So WAL, tina
was all fer the fellow you said you was
an here's for the pizen critter you be-
As he spoke Uncle Iije Strengthened
out his arm, with a huge fist at the en-.
of it, and tho drover lay quivering in tn
opposite corner of the room, knocked
senseless, and in a minute Or two more h.
was bound hand and foot.
AS he tried to remember what had hap
pened he heard the sharp explosion of
rifle, followed by another and another
mingled with wild cries and yells of pail
and anger.
came silence.
The door opened, and bright ligh
flashed in upon the prisoner as Uncle Lii
| entered, accompanied by Maria, bearing
candle
You've woke up, hey?" he said, will
harsh laugh, bending over the youn!
man. "I'm right glad o. that, fer it'll
save me trouble. Now your legs is free
Git up and travel"
Not unless you tell me what so,
| mean"--
Jest as you say" and he tossed tn
prisoner upon his shoulder and passet
through the hall and out upon the piazza
Nov, then, stan thar, he added, lower
ing the young man to his feet. Don
try none of veur tricks, or you II fare th
Huss.
, Two men lag dead across the doorstep
Two others, their garments torn an,
blood stained, were lying upon tho grouni
bound and helpless, whiio little Tom, tn
youngest son, crouched between them,
cooked revolver III his hands
''You don't pear to like the way you
speculation S turned out, I" laughed Uncl
Lie. Never mind Thar's two on zen
wonderful Lc able to keep you company ii
pulling hemp soon as the neighbors gi
here. F."
Good heaven! You don't think wa
in league with those mem" cried tho yonn;
man rs a sudden light burst upon hi
head And that's why-Uncle Lie, Tn
! Will Cook, your nephew son of Aun
! Nancy's brother. Feel in my breast peck
| ot 1'vs got letters for you, only
thought would surprise you all and hav
little fun first by playing stranger"
! Uncle Lie was too immensely disgust
ed with himself to tell the story, but littl
Tom quickly supplied tho deficiency.
| 1t seemed that he had been dit gun
ming, and running a squirrel into it's hol
concealed himself in dense clump O
bushes toawait tho animal S temperance
While waiting he heard voices, and tn
first words he caught caused him to crouc
still closer.
| Two men We're slowly passing by, an
| their words revealed Il bold plot to 70
| Unclo Life, who was known to have sol
o valuable herd Of cattle two days before
! Not only did Tom hear this, but Ii
heard that ono man was to drop in at til
| house, and If possible obtain night
lodging, thus making it easy for him t
admit his confedcratcs at tho right hour.
An hour later Will Cook made his az
pearance and received the treatment in
tended for the spy. Just why the pla
was changed was never known, for til
two captured thieves made no confessio
AZ. 4 ~,