The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-02-23
A MYSTERIOUS THIEF.
How He Caused a Great Commo-
ton in a Rural NeighbOrhood.

The whole countryside was up In
arms Hardly a week had passed the
entire spring that the neighborhood
had not been aroused by the report OF
some fresh attempt to relieve farmer
of his best horse and Sundays go-to-
meeting turnout.
To be sure not in one case out OF ten
was it ever proved that any marauder
had been within miles of the place; but
strange noises had been heard. Barn
doors that were distinctly remem Dereu
TO have been fastened the night before
were found wide open the next morn
ing and in one instance whole Dag Oh
oat, had mysteriously disappeared.
OF course, none others than horse
thieyes-who were known to be IN the
yicinity-could have perpetrated such
deeds The air was hlled with vague
suspicion and dread And bold-hearted
swains who ventured to make evening
calls on their sweethearts inwardly
uuaked as they drove home, lashlng
their nags past dark and gruesome
places on the road.
All the most thrilling details Fan
poured into my ears as we walked up
the road winding between the fields
from the station. And l, my senses
the while gratefully conscious of the
soft tints of the sunset, the fragrance
of the wild roses blooming along the
wall, the restful quiet and freshness,
attentively listened until she reached
the impressive climax.
Two weeks ago that very night DIR.
Andrews horse had been stolen; and,
though members of The Horsethief
Detecting society" had started in pur-
suit the next morning and three of
them were still searching, no trace of
il mad vet been discovered
woke with start at midnight A
broad strip of light lay across my bed
from the lamp post opposite? NO, IL
was moonlight! | raised on my elbow
why. of course, was at Haywood
farm, and that was Rover barking SO
savagely, and-yes, | heard voices, and
scurrying feet in the hall Why, what
'Oh, quick! wake 'em, quick! Hes
turning into the orchard"
That was Mrs. Haywood Instantly
| grasped the situation-horse-t se-thieves!
| sprang out of bed and rushed into the
hall
They've got your Ned. Ma heard
him step out of the BARN. cried Fan, as
she dashed past me and up to the next
floor, two steps at IA time
Our Ned?" | calculated, and flying
back to my window flung open the
shutters
The full moon was deluging the earth
with "A flood of silvery light, in which
surrounding objects stood out almost as
distinctly AS at MONDAY Plainly l
could discern a man riding a dark horse
among the trees in the orchard. Our
dear old Ned, who had been winteriug
on the farm; the sight was maddening
Catch him, Rover! Sic, sic! " l
shouted, wildly clapping my hands and
dancing up and down in my anxiety.
Again came Mrs. Haywood's voice:
Girls, girls, tell them to hurry!
He's trying to take the colt Matthew,
| told you it wasn't safe to leave it out
over night. Oh dear. dear, what keeps
those buys!'
''Oh, | heard it whinny!" l screamed,
joining the other distracted females
''Oh, so do l. so do I!'
Ed Frank, they're taking the colt"'
we cried, rushing pell-Inell into the
Young mems apartment, where we
found Fan frantically trying to drag
them out of bed by main force.
Now we heard pa calling for Ian
tern. Down we rushed IN body.
leaving the thoroughly aroused young
men, who quickly drew ON their neither
garments and followed in our wake.
Mrs. Haywood met US in the hall
wringiug her hands.
He's riding one horse and leading
another" she cried ''Oh. | know he'll
get away! Matthew, l told you IL
wasn't safe to leave that colt out And
he'd Just as leave shoot as not Don't
one of you stir a step till you're all to-
gether!'
Frank seized the lantern and hurried
out to investigate The barns. by this
time the hubbub had brought To our
assistance Dutch Hans"-a man in
charge of the neigh hboring place-armed
with a rusty old muske and no ammu-
milton.
Thus reinforced they sailed forth to
meet the horsethief, who was now in
the road in front of the house. We Oh
the weaker sex timorously followed a
far as the piazza, valiantly headed by
ma who carried for defense au ola
slipper and candle which the wind
extinguished.
Instead of digging rowels into Ned
and galloping off at sight of oui
formidable array, the desperate pur-
sued his way with un nseemly leisure.
Halo, there! who are you, and
where are you going?" called Ed.
The specter-like figure moved on
without vouchsafing a word.
Halt! Who are you, and whore are
you going" roared pa
NJ
Hi, eef you no speek l shoot.
shouted Hans, brandishing the musket
like a club.
But even this blood-curdling threat
was received in imperturbable silence
as man and both horses disappeared
around the bend of the road.
We were relieved To learn that Ned
was safe, but ma was rather chagrined
to hear that her led horse had ON closer
inspection proved to be IA COW. How
ever, it was a suspicious circumstance
that a strange man should be driving
COW through that lonely district al
midnight And his uuaccountable
aversion to speak? We now remcm-
bcred that all through the uproar h,
had maintained the same uncanny 81
lence. The widest conjectures were
hazarded, but as no satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION could be given all again re-
tired, to await further developments in
the morning.
Everyone was up betimes Mrs hay
wood-who had discarded her ghostly
habiliments and robed herself in gar
ments more fitting a modern matron-
" = greatly concerned for fear l should
not wish To steep again on the ground,
he began To look for a tree in which hC
could lodge, and st length discovered
the wide-spreading banyan, who's,
branches, bending to the ground, TAX,