River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-01-25
A MYSTERIOUS THIEF.
How He Caused a Great Commo-
ton in a Rural NeighbOrhoOd.


had not been aroused by the report of
some fresh attempt to relieve a farmer
of his best horse and Sunday-gU-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 Dered
10 have been fastened the night before
were found wide open the next morn
ing, and in one instance whole bag of
oats mad mysteriously disappeared.
of course. none others than horse
thieves-who were known to be in the
viciniJy-couId have perpetrated such
deeds The air was filed with vague
suspicion and dread. And bOld-hearted
saains who veutured 20 make evening
calls on their sweethcarts inwardly
quaked a. they drove home, flashing
their nags past dark and gruesOme
places On the rOa d.
All the most thrilling details Fan
poured into my ears as we walked mp
the road winding between the fields
from the station. And !, my senses
the while gratefully conscious of the
soft tints of the sunset, the fragrance
of the wild roses blooming along the
wall, the restfui quiet md freshness,
aiteutively listened until she reached
the impressive climax
Two weeks ago that very night DIR.
Andrews horse had been stolen; and,
though members of The IIorsethief
Detecting society had started in pur
suit the next morning and three of
them were still searching. no trace of
il had vet been discovered.
woke with a start at midn light A
broad strip of light lay across my bed
from the lamp post opposite? No, 1t
was moonlight. ] raised on my elbow
WHY, of course, was at Haywood
farm, and that was Rover barking so
savaXely. and-yes. heard voices. and
scurrying feet in the hall Why, what
oh. quick. wake EN-, quicki Hes
turning into the orchard
That was Mrs Haywood. Instantly
! grasped the situatiOn-hOrse-thi
j sprang ont 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 time
Our Ned?" l CALCULATED, and flying
back To my window flung open the
shutters
The full moon was deluging the earth
with flood of silvery light, in which
surrounding objects stood out almost as
distinctly as at MONDAY. Plainly
could discern a man riding dark horse
among the trees in the orchard. Our
dear old Mel, who had been wintering
on the farm; the sight was maddening.
Catch him, Rover. Sic, Sic. +"
shouted. wildly clapping my hands and
dancing up and down in my anxiety.
Again came Mrs. Haywoods voice.
Girls, girls. tell them to hurry,
He's trying to take the colt Matthew,
told You it wasn't safe To leave il out
over night Oh dear. dear, what keeps
those boys"
''Oh. heard it whinny!' / screamed,
joining the other distracted females
oh. 50 do I. so do L.
ed. Frank. they're taking the coltr'
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 callins for a Ian
tern. Down we rushed IN a body.
leaving the thoroughly aroused young
men, who quickly drew on their neither
garments and follow ed in our wake.
Mrs. Haywood met Us in the hall
wringing her hands
Hes riding one horse and ealing
another" she cried oh. ' know he'll
get away. Matthew, l ID you it
wasn't safe to leave that colt out And
he'd just a. leave shoot as not Don't
one Of YOU stir step till you're all to-
gether.-
Frank seized the lantern and hurried
out Ia investigate che barns By this
time the hubbub had brought 10 our
assistance dutch Hans''-a man IN
charge of the neighboring place-armed
with a rusty old musket 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 of
the weaker sex timOrouslv followed as
far as the piazza, valiantly headed by
ma, who carried for defense an old
slipper and candle which the wind
eXtinguished
Instead of digging rOwels into Ned
and gallOping off at sight of our
formidable array, the desperate pur-
sued his way with un seemIy 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 where are
You going roared pa
No answer
Hi. eef you no speek l shoot"
shouted Hans. brandishing the usket
like a club.
But even this bloOd-curdling threat
was received in imperturbable silence.
As nan and both horses disappeared
around the bend of the road
We We're 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 a COW. How
ever. it was a suspicious circumstance
that a strange man should be driving
a cow through that lonely district at
midnight And his uuaccountabie
aversion 10 speak? We now remcm-
bered that all through the uproar he
had maintained the same uncanny 81
lence- The widest cOujectures 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 ROBBED herself in gar
ments more fitting a modern matron-
was greatly concerned for fear / should
take cold as we ran through the dewy
grass Of the orchard examining the
horses tracks and patting the colt who
had SO narrowly escaped capture.
We were still at a loss to account for
the strange occurrence Later. how
ever, as Fan and l were coming from
the garden, casting wary glanees
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 a 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, dor
Fan" / said, impressively, those