The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-02-18

| hU-u-d!'
est heart to beating wildly. II didn'
see your ring at all, ma a'amp'
"You must have seen it whom 70,
placed tho pitcher of water on tho stant
and'--
'But l didn't" protested Dolby
Deed an double, ditn'tr'
And tho pompous appearing office
looked into tho lads honest, troubled
faco and felt that no told tho truth.
Miss Rossiter," he began, "isn't i
possible'-
"No, sir" interrupted that lady de-
cidcdly. '"That boy stole my ring, and
if he does not return it instantly he must
bo arrested"
81 didn't, 'docd an double'-
Little Martha burst into u howl OF
| fear. y rough looking man WAS just
stepping in at the open doorway.
"Oh. Mr.. Cash, you won't arrest
Dohly?' cried the child. "Plcaso don'tv'
" Rest Dcbby?' snortcd tho ncwcom-
cr. "Waal, reckon not! Sortcr dropped
in to SEQ if you folks had nodiccd Injun
jim sncakin ycrabOuts Hc"-
Are you an of1iccr?' questioned Miss
Rossiter.
eyes, mom-constahlc Names Cash.
What''-
Arrest that boy" the lady com.
mandcd, "hnlcss no instantly returns
my diamond ring, which he has Just stol-
enr'
"Oh, don't arrest Dolby! Please
don't!' cried littlo Martha.
"Nly boy would not stcal," said Mrs.
Baxter bravcly. "Dobby is good boy. "
Her chin quivercd rs sho spoke Lit
tie Martha was almost choking with
sobS, and DOLBY was very close to the
crying point. The idea Of being arrested
seemed very terrible to these honest
souls.
The lieutenant looked several times
rs If on the point of speaking, but re-
Trained. Miss RossitCr was the guest of
| his CONN. anding officer and must not be
! offended
"Mom,' y began tho constable, II
don reckon Dohhy'd'--.
"Will you or will you not arrest him?"
interrupted the lady impaticn,ly.
II s'poSc Ill haf to- admitted tho
constable reluctantly, "if you make u
complaint, but you'll haf to go before
Squire AShburn. Bat don't Lelicvc"-
| "What you believe or do not believe
has nothing to do with tho case. The
ring must no returned at once, orr
| Il haven't got it, cried Dolby.
| 'Thcn it must h" paid for! 1t cost
my father $3.50, and
| 'We have no money! began pool
| Mrs. Baxter
MIR. Constable, do your dutyl These
| pcople'-
And then there WAS wailing in the
little weather beaten house Martha Just
simply howlcl, Mrs, Baxter broke down
and even Dolby shifted II littlo
| 'I'll haf to do my duty, Dolby" sale
tho constable. "But l don't belicv,
you're guilty"
| Neither do L." said tho straigh
backed lieutenant suddenly.
There was fluttcring sound at th
door, and Lijor, tho prophet, staggcrc
in, looking ns if he had hccn very hard
ly usod. Somo Of his feathers were out
md others looked as il thoy had bee
rutlled the wrong way. Ono win
dragged us if broken, and as ho stag
gcrcd fccbly across the room to Dobb
he left few spots Of blood Oh tho floor
at tho boys feet he stopped, unable t
hop into his lap, but he held up his bill
and in it glistened the lost damon
ring. AS DOLBY took tho jewel the propl
OF uttered IL feeble "whoor- -hoor- hH
a-a!" of satisfaction and settled dow
OIL the floor completely exhausted.
"My ring!" cried Miss Rossitu,
| "How"--
Skinny Jackson and little Joe Rizdo
, slid i'll at the open door.
, "Wc'vc hrung back tho lady's hoss,
, SAID the foremost. "Ho's tied out to TIN
fence, an | reckon it's worth bout
halter dollar bcin's we've hon chasi
4 hlm for tho last half hour. -
' "Oh, you've got Lijcr!' said tho otl
u or i'S soon as tho first speaker had COZ
g., clndrd. "Wo told Injun Jim if he ditln
+ let the crow alone we'd tcll Mr. Gas
q on him."
y what do you mcan;"
'Waal, while we was chasin the no
d re saw Iniun Jim sneak away fro
r. here an lhJcr iiyin along after him. Th
t lnJun took to the gully in u little while
q an wo couldnt see him, but Lijcr kol
q tlyln along above ns if follerin him" "
q Tho boy proceeded that, owing
II their attention being taken up with til
v horse, they had forgotten tho crow for
q few minutes. When they looked ngai,
they SAW him fly 6ut Of thickct an
|. alight III tho top uS II small tree. The
# tho Indian appeared, and they saw hi
fro II shot from his revolver at Lii,
/. and saw tho prophet tumble from h
:, perch and alight III tho big fork Of ii
Y tree, high above the Indians hca,
They shouted tho threat to inform NJ
r Cash, which seemed to frightcn tho Ii
) dian, for he plunged into tho gully az
8 disappeared. AS soon us they capture
). the horse it was their intention to &
with Dolby to tho rescue Of tho CROW
!, Before tho story was dono Constab
;, Cash had rushed away in pursuit Of Ii
jun Jim.
'"Tho explanation is SIMPLE" said til
I straight backed lieutenant. "Tho ha
breed, in snoaking toward tho gully
! approached tho house and looked in q