Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1896-05-14

torrent a chap like me. came here to
crack this crib, you fairly get me, and
no word about the police never a
word. First you give me thrashing
and then you give me supper"
well, you can't deny that you want
ed them very badly. What else should
a parson have. done? What did you ex-
,pect? Tell.me honestly
Speaking honestly, / expected more
tallS--more parson-talk, you know"
And what do you mean by tnat?"
'Why, the sort of thing was always
hearing when was boy-about the
sinfulness of it, and repenting, and
hell" 80 Es5.
DO you think it would do you any
good if talked like that?" 5 ,s.ss
''Well, no. Y:
''Nor do X He changed the subject
then, and told me that there was a good
chance for work at Enton mills. They
were short-handed there for the mo.
ment, and he could give me line to the
foreman. ''You tell me- he said, shat
you are interested in machines, and
know little about them; that might
help you. II you can do anything at all
special-anything, for instance, in the
way of repairs, when some trife goes
wrong-they'll soon find it out. Smart
men that go there stop, and work their
way up. It's the rarest thing for them
to be short-handed-in fact, you're in
luck"
I thanked him, of course. 1 had
meant, if he let me off, to go to Enton.
But l had no intention of going near the
mills or getting regular work of any
kind. However,, i did not want to worry
him by telling him that 1 preferred nv
own way of living, especially as he
seemed so pleased with the idea about
the mills. After supper he sat down
and wrote line: or two to the foreman,
whom he seemd' to know we'll. AS he
was writing it, the clock struck three.
''You will start at once," he said, $50 as
to be there early. You won't be able to
work that day, after being up all night,
but you can begin work the next day.
It's important that you should apply
early, before everything's filled up.'
I thanked him again, and asked him
to put me on the right road, What 1
wanted was to get him out into the
dark. He came out of the house with
me, showed me which turn to take, and
said good-by. ''Come and see me again.
I have much more to say to you when
the right time comes" l thanked him
and said good-by.
I walked until heard his front door
shut, and then ran just about as hard
as could co. I passed one policeman,
and he tried to stop me, but I lodged
him and got away. J was on the out
skirts of the village then, and once past
him | had a lonely country road and
nothing to fear.
You see, while I, was On my back L
had noticed the parsons watch. chain.
l took care MOTTO look at it again, but l
kept it in my memory. While he was
saying good-by to me in the dark got
an easy chance. The parsons gold
watch and chain were in my trousers
pocket, and he never lad the least
notion when I took it. My notion was.
now to get to Enton about five, and take
a workman's train on to Waterloo.
chuckled to myself. He'd called me
a ginger-headed scoundrel, stopped me
swearing, spoiled my little game and
given me thrashing, but I had the bet
ter OF him in the end. There was his
watch and chain in my pocket, and in
less than four hours should be hand
ing them over to Ike and getting three:
or four sovereigns for them. .s.
AS walked along it gradually began
to grow light, and somehow or other I
lost my spirits. I stopped chuckling;
the more thought about the neat way
that had scored off that parson the less
I felt inclined to laugh about that or
anything else. got angry about moth.
ing. 1t may seem queer, but I was
angry with the parson for having stood
out there in the dark, close against me,
and given me my chance. called him
all the names could lay my tongue to
for his foolishness. Twas just as angry
with myself, though, fog no sensible
reason. Then I began tc get nervous
and took fancies, thought I heard steps
coming after me, and imagined there
was policeman waiting to catch me
behind every big tree passed. Ididn't
enjoy that walk. I wished to heaven
that parson had taken me out by the
scruff of my neck and handed me over to
the police when he first caught me,
though don't know why wished it.
'Who wants this blooming ticker?" l
said out loud, pulling it out of my pock-.
ct. "Strike me if don't pitch it over
the hedge and be done with it!''
i. But l didn't. l pulled myself to-
gether, and argued with myself. eff