The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1895-12-18
OUTWITTED.

Farmer Harris had long been re.
nowned for his thrift and independence,
but the nei9hbors declared that Joe
would never make such a man. In some
ways fate "a against Joe. He was i'm
only son and his mother and five sisters
had spoiled him. He was a bright boy
for his uge, too, and a good one, but his
father had not much confidence in his
molly coddled son. Joe had an idea
that he was as capable as most boys,
but his father would always say, why,
when l was half Joe's age, I was my
fathers mainstay."
3, One August day Mr.. Harris had a
slight sunstroke after working hard in
the fields getting ready a load Of fresh
corn to be taken 20 market in a neigh
boring town on the following day. This
was a predicament indeed, as his men
were not to be trusted, and he had small
cop6dencein Joe's ability. However, he
had to make the best of it and send Joe
with one of the hired men to help.
The journey was accomplished with
ont any unusual event, and Joe, to his
great delight, sold every ear Of corn,
and as the crop WAS an extra fine one,
he realized quite a sum of money for his
large wagon load, and he sold the three
jars Of butter his mother had made to
the hotel keeper. 1t was about dusk,
and Joe, who was feeling very good
after his day work, wished the dis
lance was II miles instead of I to the
fnrvrt Hhnrn vynd N fnnfnnfh yuhION
crossed the fields at q distance from the
highroad. and by walking he could reach
home before Andrew, the hired man,
who rode. Strange to say, he met nc
one ON the road, and yet he was sure
he had heard footsteps. Then the
thought that he IA being followed EN-
tered his head, and he started to run
again, bat the footsteps still followed.
As II last resource he jumped the hedge
at the side OF the path, hoping that in
the dim light his pursuer would miss
him. But there was no such good luck
in store for him, and in apother moment
a burly rufian had jumped the hedge
and demanded the bag of money.
As quick us u wink Joe picked up a
stone and flung it at the man, hitting
him in the head ard knocking him
down. Thul, without waiting to see
what harm the blow had done, he took
to his heels, retracing his steps, in the
hope of meeting with some. assistance
on the highroad. He had gone but a few
yards, when he ran into the open arms
of a huge man, who being outpaced by
his companion, was ready to catch the
boy a he saw him coming. There was
no use III calling for help, and Joe's
kicks and cries were to no purpose other
than to anger the ruffians. He might
have effected his escape had not the
other man. nursing a black eye, ap-
peared ut that moment. That was the
last lie knew until he came to himself
some hours later. He was in a cornfield,
and the moon vas shining brightly
above him. The bag of money was
missing Of course, and to go home with
out it after what he had said to his
father was not to be thought of. He
would follow the men and perhaps a
chance 10 recover the money might
offer.
1T must have been about noon when,
hungry and tired, Joe stopped at a
farmhouse and asked for u drink. The
kind hearted farmer, seeing that the lad
was hungry, made him sit down to q
hearty dinner, and Joe told his story to
tho sympathetic family.
1.-TWO tranps passed here about day
light, " lunteered the farmers daugh-
ter. "lan you describe the men?'
He could, and his description Tailed
exactly with that of the tramps seen by
the farmers daughter, especially about
II man having a very black eye. They
had taken the road to the north, she
said, but they were wicked looking men,
and she advised Joe not To attempt to
follow them.
The men were far ahead, but by max
ing careful inquiries at Il country store
he learned that they had sta.d in the
village some time and could not be
more than n couple of miles away. This
intelligence spurred him on, and IN two
hours he caught sis hit of The pair Gro s.