The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-01-25

the strange occurrence. Later, how
ever, as Fan and l were coming from
the garden, casting wary glances
about, as though expecting to see some-
thing start up from behind the wall or
spring at us from the currant bushes, /
suddenly grabbed her arm.
Listen. don't you hear COW moo
ing in the woods at the foot of the
mountain?'
Fan strained her ears in vain for a
moment and then triumphantly ex-
claimed
"Oh, do, do!'
Fan" / said, impressively, 'those
villains have den up in the noun
tain!"
No sooner were the words out than,
seized by a vague terror, we took to
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 pan.
and it was some minutes before we
could communicate our intelligence.
On hearing it. Miss Elizabeth Haywood
Immediately recollected that, as sho
was drawing water at the well few
OSloEc, SllC ouiCiiCN' ohohO
and burnt flesh.
Miss Jennie skeptically remarked
that it was probably the breakfast
cooking. But she was Indignantly
squelched 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 a Difference that
would have honored Apollo hims self.
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 skeptical Miss Jennie
acknowledged that she scented burnt
flesh" (what supported the theory that
horse thieves had preference for burnt
viands l 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 mountains;
this one had been sent out TO forage for
| 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 the
excitement should die down!
OF course that was DR.. Andrews
chestnut he was riding. In fact, the
Nf xx,uc thn
COW, Miss Jennie obstinately insisting
that it belonged to Deacon Brown,
while the rest of us were sure it was
the property of Farmer Jones. l will
Knowledge that / felt good deal
ateu . being the first one to hear the
mooiug, and l fancied Fan rather en-
wed me the distinction. Still, will
say in self justification that tried not
to feel too much puffed up
At last Ed returned. He listened to
our accounts with a complacent smile
of superiority and then deliberately
crushed our neat little fiction with a
few barefaced facts that he had learned
from Mr.. Peters, who had them straight
from Deacon Brown.
1t had happened that Miss Deacon
DToWu lldu ldu COulpduy W USd 1dSU
night, and among othe. unusual lux
uries she had made some delicious cof-
fee. The deacon had indulged pretty
freely in the beverage, and, unused to
the stimulant at that hour, it was into
the night ere natures soft nurse"
closed his weary eyes. While restless
ly tossing and turning, he suddenly
heard his collie start up, growing and
barking with unwonted ferocity. He
arose and peered through the shutters
just in time to see a man on horseback
disappear behind his barn. That was
enough. Softly calling to his son, the
two stole out, armed with a horse
pistol and shotgun, and secre,ed
themselves in the deep shadow of the
fence.
Presently a cow issued from the gate
way, Carlo swapping at her heels, fol-
lowed by the man and horse The dea-
con sprang forward, caught the
startled horse by the bride, and, point
ing the pistol at the man, sternly de-
manded who he was and where he was
going at that time of night Muttering
some uncharitable hopes concerning the
future abiding place of the inhabitants
of the peaceful valley, the man sullen-
ly told his brief tale.
The priest at W had purchased
the COW in New York and had hired
him to bring it up on the night boat
and drive it home. And he, guileless
man, knowing nothing of the per-
turbed state of the countryside, had
| attempted to take advantage of the
moonlight and deliver her that night.
He ended with a weary sigh, adding
| that this was the tenth time he had
been challenged since he had left the
boat, and asking how far he had to
| travel.
The deacon, who had listened sym
| pathetically, stified tn reproving voice
Of conscience, as out of commiseration
for the feelings of the hapless cow
driver he willfully computed the seven
| good miles to be, wal, bout six an
half" Then, loosing his hold Of the
bride, he had allowed him to proceed
on his harassed way, calling after him
the comforting assurance that 1T
| want SO very fur when you was prutty