The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-12-11
SWIPES.


cus,es was. to use the v~ernacular OF
A.. 5av the kid around the telegraph
o4ee in the little town OF Cromp'on'
Who his parents werc-f. indeed ne
s,er had any-was not definitely known
~ the people of Crompton. No one
sm.d 70 take sufficient interestin him
90 look up his lineage, further than n a
almost any one of the villagers could tel
ron that he had been shipped to the town
some years before with four other boys
Of about his own age-seven years,
nom the orphans home at Boston' WIN
the expectation of finding homes ior
,hem among the farmers OF eastern Ne
lraska. :,
Ills four companions had only stopped
with The farmers TO whom they were as
SIGNED long enough to get fitted out with
cIo,hing. when they silently left Tor
parts Rumor a II that there
were missing from the various homes
they had left numerous articles CT
clothing and iewelry, and one farmer
said that he had missed s25 that he had
carelessly left in his pocketbook on the
kitchen table the night of the disappear
ance.
s,vipes. whose real namc-so far as
he knew-was Harry Russell, ana not go
with the other boys. but a good many
said that if he could have had his choice
be would certainly have gone.
So strong was the talk in the nelgh-
borhood against the boys that Deacon
povvles. who was a hard-fisted, avaricious
.~m.r and who had taken Swipes TO
raise" finally aid
Yves. indeed he must go! How nc
know but what he is stayin' here as
a kind of a decoy, to either steal every
thing on the place he can lay ms hahus
on. or murder the whole family some
night in cold blood?"
As tile deacon was a man OF ms wora
ewipes was unceremoniously pounceu
Reing in n strange country, the Dos
irdly knew what 10 do or where 10 20
pad he been in the city he would has'
kuownw what to do at once Asltwas' a
finally concluded that he must reaci
Denverin some way, where he would &c
a~kit- and 20 TO backing boots or sell
inr papers. as he had done in Boston.
IS Denver was a long distance away
and the only practicable means OF reaen
ing that point was by rail, he
drilled 20 the station to inquire concern
iny the distance, fare and tins OF trains
He met the station agent as he was starr
ing for the livery stable with an imPoi
tant message for Deacon Bowlcs, whic.
he intended sending TO the country D
special messenger"
when he saw Swipes he stopped al
rrptly and said: Hello! you're IN
very one I'm looking for. I've a me
sage for the deacon. and you can save n
the trouble of looking up some u
deliver it,.
Il amt stayin' at his place now sa'
swipes.
Since whcn?'
This mornin': he fired me-
well, is that so? You won't object
make hall a dollar. will you, by ia
ing this message TO him."
NO. sir: / can take it," Saying whic
Swipes took the message and walk
back to the deacon's.
Thought I told you to leave =
place.' shouted the deacon, as
caught a glimpse of Swipes through I
hedge. as he reached the end Of a row
corn he was blowing.
Guess they hain't no law agin a fell
bringing a message to you, is they
queried Swipes, as he handed the m
sage through the hedge fence TO
deacon.
As he read the telegram, the deac
grew livid with age, as was his custt
when things did not go as he wish
them to. mo. indeed!" he cxclaim'
TN not take the young upstart TO Ike
through vacation to have him poster a
worry the life out o. me" alluding to
contents o. the message, which was fir
his wealthy nephew in the city, "
asked thedeacon 10 keep his son throu
the summer vacation. The deacon |
kept aim he summer before and, n
compensation for his trouble, had
celNed a hundred dollars, which was Y
come to the hard-fisted old curmudgc
Well, why don't you go?" grow
the deacon when. after reading
hessage, he saw That Swipes was {
waiting.
want half . dollar" rejoi
6wipes.