Connecticut western news., 1895-11-28
OUTWITTED.

Farmer Harris had long been re- powned for his thrift and independence, buS the neighbors declared that Joe would never make such man. In some ways fate was against Joe. He was an only son and his mother and five sisters had spoiled him. He was bright boy for his age, too, and 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 I was half Joe's age, was my fathers mainstay."
 One August day MT. Harris had slight sunstroke after working hard ill the fields getting ready load of fresh corn to be taken to market in neigh boring town on the following day. This was predicament indeed, as his men were not to be trusted, and he had small confidence in 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 out 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 sum of money for his large wagon load, and he sold the three jars of butter his mother had made to the hotel keeper. It was about dusk, and Joe, who was feeling very good after his days work, wished the dis tance was IT miles instead of to the farm. There was footpath which crossed the fields at distance from the highroad. and by walking he could reach home before Andrew, the hired man, who rode. Strange to say, he met no one on the road, and yet he was sure he had heard footsteps. Then the thought that he was being followed en- tered his head, and he started to run again, but the footsteps still followed. As 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 another moment burly rufian had jumped the hedge and demanded the bag of money.
 As quick as wink Joe picked up stone and flung it at the man, hitting him in the head and knocking him down. Then, 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 few yards, when he ran into the open arms of huge man, who being outpaced by his companion, was ready to catch the boy as he saw him coming. There was no use in 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 u other man, nursing black eye, ap- peared at that moment. That was tie last he knew until he. came to himself some hours later. He was in acornfield, and the moon was shining brightly above him. The bag of money " s missing of course, and to go home wit out it after what he had said to h-s l father was not to be thought of. F {, would follow the men and perhaps a chance to recover the money might offer.
 It must have been about noon when, | hungry and tired, Joe stopped at 2 | farmhouse and asked for drink. The kind hearted farmer, seeing that the lad l was hungry, made him sit down to 3 hearty dinner, and Joe told his story
 the sympathetic family.
 l 1.-Two tramps passed here about day light, volunteered the farmers daugh ter. "Can you describe the men?'
 He could, and his description tallit exactly with that of the tramps seen ? the farmers daughter, especially abor one man having a very black eye. The, had taken the road to the north, sh, said, but they were wicked looking men and she advised Joe not to attempt t follow them.
 The men were far ahead, but by mak ing careful inquiries at country sror' he learned that they had staid in th' village some time and could not
 more than a couple of miles away. Thi intelligence spurred him on, and in tw hours he caught sight of the pair cross ing field some distance ahead. Keep ing we'll in the shelter of fences an' trees, he followed as close. as he dared It was sultry day, and the sun scorche' everything with which it came Ill con tact They were now approaching tn river, and Joe looked with longing eye at the cool water.
 To his great surprise the two me- stopped on the bank, and after ta1kin
 for some time they removed their clothe
 and piling them in crevice in tn
 stone wall they prepared to enter tn
 water. The younger of the two, the on
 whom Joe had decorated with blac
 eye, looked suspiciously in every direc tion before he went down the bank, bu
 seeing nothing to alarm him he wen
 ahead with his bath. Apparently neithe
 of the men could swim. They splashe
 about in thu shallow water, while Jot
 with fast bseting heart. crept under th
 shelter of some bushes warily towar
 the pile of clothes, for he was confide1
 Lis money was concealed in them. If
 could only get it and get away wltho'
 being discovered
 This seemed likely to be the case, f'
 he had the bundle of clothes in his arm
 and had risen from the ground al
 cleared the fence before an exclamatie
 from one of the men announced that
 was discovered. Joe threw the clothe
 with the exception of the trousers
 felt to contain the bag of money, in : | the river as he rapidly crossed the lit II foothridce At the end of the brid