Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-10-01
OUTWITTED..

Farmer Harris had long been re-
nowned for his thrift and independence,
but 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, fWhy,
when was half Joe's age, was my
fathers mainstay.o
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 to market in a 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 oyent, 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. 1t was about dusk,
and Joe, who was feeling very good
after his days work, wished the dis
tance was IL miles instead of to the
farm. There was q footpath which
crossed the fields at a distance from the
highroad. and by walking he could reach
homo 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 ruffian 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 a 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 rufiians. He might
L. I. - II.
other man, nursing a black eye, ap-
peared at that moment. That was the
last he knew until he came to himself
some hours later. He was in a cornield,
and the moon was 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 to recover the money might
offer
1t must have been about noon when,
hungry and tired, Joe stopped at a
farmhouse and asked for drink. The
kind hearted farmer, seeing that the lad
was hungry, made him sit down to a
hearty dinner and Joe told his story to
the sympathetic family. 5ld
"Two tramps passed here about day
light, . volunteered the farmers daugh-
ter. "Can you describe the men?"
He could, and his description Tailed
exactly with that Of the tramps seen by
the farmers daughter, especially about
one man having very black eye. They
had taken the road to the north. she
said, but they were wicked looking men,
ard she advised Joe not to attempt to
follow them.
The men Were far ahead, but by MAX
ing careful inquiries at a country store
he learned that they had staid in the
village some time and could not be
more thar. a couple of miles away This
intelligence spurred him ON, and In two
hours he caught sight of the pair Cross
ing field some distance ahead. Keep
ing well in the shelter Of fences and
trees, he followed as close as he dared.
It was sultry day, and the sun scorched
everything with which it came in con-
tact. They were now approaching the
river, and Joe looked with longing eyes
at tho cool water.
To his great surprise the two men
stopped ON the bank, and after talking
for some time they removed their clothes
and piling them in crevice in the
stone wall. they prepared to enter the
water. The younger Of the TWO, the one
whom Joe had decorated with black
eve, looked .suspiciously in every direc-
ton before he went down the bank, but
seeing nothing to alarm him he went
ahead witt. his bath. Apparently neither
of the men cdnId swim. They splashed
about IN the shallow water, while Joe,
,,-itJ, Sash HEATING heart crent IIrdar 4Ita