The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-07-23

to- and two Of the guards stretched them
selves on the straw and prepared to sleep.
But just then they heard some one singing
far down the street 1t was a jolly song
and the sound Of it came louder and
louder AS the singer going by the light
In the stable caught his eye and he paused
and looked in. but still kept up his singing.
"'Friends he said when his song was
done, what Is the trouble?
"'We are watching a horse
us he sick? Perhaps l can aid you L
have doctored many horse in my DAY.
"'He is not sick, replied the Watchers.
He is we'll and taking his ease we are
watching to prevent thief from stealing
him.
Then they told him the threat the thief
had made. .;os +,a rew-
CONFER. This thief will be worth loohlhs
at when four such stout lads as you get
thu ough with him. Wheh uoe' "
hin self?
:. o1,ba+ &c what we are to find out re-
piled the watchers .,,
Every WE'LL the newcomer salo' IL
stay, by your permission, and see you uou-
BILE him up
"The watchers gave their consent gladly
for the newcomer had a lively manner ana
a rafting tongue He sang songs and
told stories for an hour or more, and then
pulled a bottle from under his coat
"a little wine he said, will clear the
fog from our throats,' He passed the bot
tie around and all drank except the guard
who was watching in the stall
..Now. the man who had come singing
ND the street was the thief himself, anu
the guard in the stall was his companion
The wine was drugged, and in very few
minutes three of the watchers were 1ast
asleep Then the thief and his companion
took the horse from the STALL
"T shall have to remain here and pre-
tend to be asleep said the companion.
You will find saddle around the corner.
He then told the thief about the man with
the saddle.
".You are fool, my FRIEND said the
thief Tt is trick-a trap.
But when he had carried off the horse
and hid it at the house of acquaintance,
the thought of the man with the saddle
worried him so that he went back to sat
isfv himself Tip-Top and his saddle were
there, and Tip-Top had slept so soundiy
that his head had rolled from his pillow.
The thief thought it would be a good
stroke Of business to take the sadie
along. but when he tried to lift it Tip-Top
awoke and seized him. and cried MURDER!
at the top of his voice.
1.-THE mayor and his brother rushed from
their place of concealment and soon the
thief bound.
"'Where is the horse? cried the mayor.
What horse?' exclaimed the thief. DO
you think I carry horses in my pocketT
"'What were you doing here, them
""This fellows head had slipped from
its pillow, and when I tried to put it back
he seized me and yelled that 1 was muir
derng him! I saw no horse under the
saddle
"'Wait here little said Tip-Top. Hold
this thief till I return
HE went to the stable, woke the thiefs
accomplice, who, by this time, was really
asleep and told him his companion had
been captured. If I can find the horse
and hide it our friend will be safe, for
nothing can be proved on him.
1.-THE so frightened that he
told Tip-Top where he had arranged to
meet the thief the next day. Then Tip
Top returned to the mayor and his brother,
who still held the thief, and took them to
house where the horse had been stabbed.
when the horse had been found and
restored to it's owner the mayor said to
Tip-Top that he would not only reward him
handsomely, but grant any request he might
make.
Then, your honor replied T1p-Top,
give this his liberty
Why, asked the mayor much aston
ished
Because. your honor. he is my broth
err
1.-The thief was as much astonished as