The Coconino weekly sun., 1895-01-24

% ~-& WOOL was SIX
 teen, and a frank, honest, lmpulsive lad, as one read in his blue eyes. Nick Bolter was older by two years, and his otherwise pleasing face was marred by grasp ing look,
 A covered buggy drawn by lean white horse rattled up to the gate and stopped, and large man in gray homespun jumped out
 The stopping of the vehicle brought Teddy's father out of the house and down to the gate.
 "Nornin', Kirkwood," growled the visitor. "Seen anything O that bound boy of mine-young Joe Hackett?"
 Mir. Kirkwood shook his head. "Did you lose him?" he asked.
 "He ran away last night" replied the angry farmer, "an' stole purity near everything he could lay his hands on."
 Any valuables, eh?'
 "Waal, mo-" admitted the farmer, it was all in the eating line. He cleaned out the pantry. What rifles me is the ongratefulness of it. I treated that boy like my own son, fed an clothed him, and looked after his moral bring in up. An that's the way he rewards me. But I'll fix him when get him back. He's legally bound over to me till he comes of age, and ain't goin' to let him slip. You boys goin' hunt in'?" and the farmer turned sharply to Teddy.
 We're going to try our luck for squirrels" the lad replied.
 linen keep lookout for the young rascal If you catch him and bring him to my place I'll give you five dol lars-a two-dollar-and-a-half gold piece for each of you"
 With a smack at his pocket that made the coins therein jingle, Mir. Jefferson Skinner leaped into the buggy and drove swiftly off.
 'l saw Joe Hackett the last time I was up in the valley" said Teddy. "He was cutting corn, and he had only one suspender l wonder if he really is on the mountain? I'd like to earn the re- ward. Two dollars and half will buy lots of things I want"
 The boys crossed the road and plodded through the sloping belt of pine trees, discussing as they went along the chances of finding the fugi- tive.
 When they reached the heavier tim Der on the upper part of the mountain they found other things to think about. The sharp barking of squirrels was heard all around them, and they advanced with noiseless tread, stop ping now and then to watch and liste
 At noon they were several miles from home, and on the flat top of the noun tain. After eating a part of their lunch they stretched themselves lazily on the dead leaves and lay there for several hours, looking up into the clear blue sky.
 Finally Teddy rose to his feet and shouldered his gun. ''Come along, Nick" he said, II want to bag half a dozen more"
 Plenty of time," Nick replied, with yawn, "Im tired. Wait bit"
 Lazy bones," laughed Teddy. Well, I'm of"
 He started briskly along the ridge in northerly direction, and before he had gone a quarter of a mile he heard the distant barking of a squirrel amid the thick timber.
 So noiseless was the young hunters approach that not a sound came to the hearing of lad who was sitting in a sunny glade amid the dense thicket, with his back against stone and his hands deep in his pockets.
 As Teddy broke softly and suddenly through the thiclSet into the glade the lad sprang to his feet with gasp of terror and stood there trembling and startled.
 Then Teddy let his gun slide to the ground, darted swiftly forward, and seized the fugitive by the coat collar. No, you don't, Joe Hackett," he cried, triumphantly. "No gettin' away from me. I'm in luck"
 The lad made brief and hopeless struggle and then he submitted quiet iy, dropping Imply down on the grass when Teddy loosed his hold. He screwed a tear out of each eye and drew long breath.
 "I'm your'n." he said, in bitter tone, as he looked up at his captor. "'Tain't no use to kick. Are you go- ing to take me back to Jeff Skimmer?"
 "Of course," replied Teddy. "NYhat else? You're a criminal according to law, and there's reward out, you know" ''I ain't criminal" the lad asserted with mournful doggedness, II ain't .aoue rothin' bad" - ., t". '