The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-03-17

take cold as We ran through the oeWF
grass of the orchard examining the
horses tracks and patting the colt who
had so narrowly escaped capture.
we we're still at loss to account fos
the strange occurrence. Later, now
ever. as Fan and were coming from
the garden, casting wary glances
about. as though expecting to see some
thing start up from behind the waii OF
spring at us from the currant busncs' !
suddenly grabbed her arm.
.Listen, don't you hear COW moo
ino in the woods at the foot OF the
mountain
Fan strained her ears in vain for |
moment and then triumphantiy ex'
claimed:
"Oh, do, dol"
Fan" I said. impressivcly, those
villains have a den mp in the noun
tainr'
No sooner were the words out than,
seized by vague terror. we took 10
our heels and ran as though legion OF
horse-thieves were in hot pursuit
We reached the kitchen quite breath
less, with hardly pea left in our PAM
and it was some minutes before we
could communicate our intelligence.
On hearing il. Miss Elizabeth Haywood
Immediately rccollected that as sho
was drawing water at the well a few
hours before, she had smelled smoke
aud burnt flesh.
Miss Jennie skeptically remarked
that Il was probably the breakfast
cooking. But she was Indignantly
suuelched and reminded that we had
breakfasted on boiled eggs and toast
Yes, indeed; that ''burnt flesh" just
confirmed our surmise. We could talk
of nothing else. and impatiently await
ed the return OF Ed, who had repaired
| to the store, the Delphi of the commun'
ity, to consult with Mr.. Peters, the pro-
prietor-a man OF deep wisdom, whose
oracular judgments and predictions
were needed with y Difference that
would have honored Apollo himself.
By this time every one of us had
heard the cattle lowing on the noun
| tain: all had shifted the air with such
success that even slxeptical Miss Jennie
| acknowledged that she scented burnt
flesh" what supported the theory that
horse thieves had a preference for burnt
viands am unable to state) We had
settled it beyond doubt that the dark
character of last night was one OF an
organized gang who were probably
camping in some cave on the mountain
this one had been sent out 10 forage fol
provisions
What pity the detecting society
had wasted that money sending to Phil
adelphia, when the sly rascals were
hiding right under our noses until thu
excitement should die down!
OF course that was DIR. Andrews
chestnut he was riding. In fact. thu
only point of disagreement was thu
COW, Miss Jennie obstinatcly insisting
J that il belonged to Deacon Brown
while the rest of us were sure it wa
} the property of Farmer Jones. / vii
: acknowledge that felt a good dea
, elated at being the first one to hear tn
mooiug, and l fancied Fan rather en-
| We'd me the distinction. Still, ! vii
say in self-justitcation that | tried no
to feel too much pulled up.
At last Ed returned. He listened +
| our accounts with q complacent smil
, of superiority and then deliberately
{ crushed our neat little fiction with
5 few barefaced facts that he had learne
from Mr.. Peters, who had them straigh
, | from Deac on Brown.
1t had happened that Miss Deaco
Brown had had company to tea las
. night, and among other unusual In,
Q uries she had made some delicious CO.
. fee. The deacon had INDUCED prett
3 freely in the beverage, and, unused
the stimulant at that hour, it was int
: the night ere natures soft nurse
I, closed his weary eyes. While restless
3 ly tossing and turning. he suddenl
r heard his collie start up, growing an
barking with unwonted ferocity. j
/ arose and peered through the shutter
Just in time to see a man on horsebac
z disappear behind his barn. That wa
1 enough. Softly calling to his son, ii
t two stole out, armed with hors
d pistol and shotgun, and secrete
I themselves in the deep shadow OF tt
}. fence.
Presently COW issued from the gat
d way, Carlo swapping at her heels, 10
IS lowed by the man and horse. The de
n con sprang forward, caught Il
n startled horse by the bride, and. poin
d ing the pistol at the man, sternly d
l. manded who he was and where he wi
going at that time of night Mutterir
o some uncharitable hopes concerning Il
n future abiding place of the inhabitan
# of the peaceful valley, the man sulle
IS iy told his brief tale.
y The priest at W had purchas'
d the COW in New York and had hir
d him to bring it up on the night DO
and drive it home. And he, guileie
d man, knowing nothing of the pr
,r turbcd state Of the countryside, h
r. attempted to take advantage of {
moonlight and deliver her that nipi
d He ended with weary sigh, addil
that this was the tenth time he h
N been challenged since he had left t
boat. and asking how far he had
re travel.
The deacon, who had listened sy
pathetically, stifled tn, reproving vol
=, Of conscience, as ont of commiserati
ct for the feelings of the hapless co
driver he willfully computed the sew
at good miles to be. wal, bout six an
.. halfn Then. loosing his hold of
ed bride, he had allowed him to proce
-, HE hov, ssnd NAV railing after n