Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-12-23

There was no pursCit, however, and
we soon dropped into walk.
"Do you suppose that was Whitby?"
painted John.
Guess So" replied, laconically,
"Hope he didn't see who we are"
"We might as well try some of these
apples" ventured John, after time
We each selected what felt like n
good speciment, and took large bite,
The next instant there were two
"thuds' in the adjoining field, where
the uneaten samples landed. looked
at John. Although ii had been in.
tensely dark in the orchard, there was
a faint light in the open, and could
see that his mouth was all puckered
up.
"Oh, well, he explained, Eve couldn't
see, and maybe we got some green
ones! Wen hide the pail, and pick out
the good ones in the morning"
Not another word was spoken until
we reached home. Then we carefully
concealed the plunder in a crevice of
the woodpile, and proceeded to the
house. Pausing awhile on the veran-
da, we conversed aloud, for the benefit
of those within, and then entered the
sit ting-room. Here we found the fam
i'v inst as we had left them, save that
Ben had retired, leaving only my
t. e and aunt, and Cousin Mabel.
Uncle Silas glanced up from his paper
"Where have you boys been, Juhn?"
he asked.
John colored slightly.
"W-why," he stammered, "j-just
down the road for little walk"
"IIow did you tear your clothes?'
pursued Uncle Silas.
We were both at loss for an an
swer, but the question was not pressed.
and we breathed more easily. Present
ly we stole out into the hall. and were
about to proceed up the stairs, wher
Uncle Silas spoke again:
Going to bed, boys?" he asked.
"Yes, SIR replied. respectfully.
swell, it is about time, isn't It? Now
/, you boys will just bring in those
apples and put them on the table, we II
all go to bed"
With burning face, | looked at John.
My cousin was flushing furiously, but
there was no help for it. We were dis
covered. The situation became un-
bearable, and l dashed out into the
open anr, soon returning with the pail
of apples, which I deposited on the
center table.
Uncle Silas did not speak another
word, but simply looked at us, and
then at the apples. Apparently all of
the fruit was so green as to be un-
eatable. Choking with modification,
| fastened upstairs, with John close
behind. Silently we undressed, and
crept into bed.
When we came downstairs next
morning. . allusion was made to the
incident o, the previous evening. just
as we were about to leave the break
fast table, however, Uncle Silas
broached the subject.
"Now, boys" he remarked, 81 want
you to take those apples up to Mr.
Whitby and tell him you stole them.
For moment / grew weak. / had
never had any personal experience
with "Old Whitby," but Johns descrip.
tion of yesterday was not likely to
inspire confidence. There was no way
out of the difficulty, however, and in
a short time we were going slowly up
the road, seeking to delay the painful
moment as long as possible.
We found the old man working in his
garden, and as he Strengthened up al
our approach his six feet OF height
seemed double that to my excited i'm
aginatiou. He glanced curiously a us
and as he noticed our burden, a grim
smile played upon lis face.
"Mr. Whitby," / began, desperately
setting the pail down before me, "here
are some apples that we came over
and-and-aDd took last night"
There was moment of silence, and
I have no doubt we acted like fear
stricken criminals brought before the
bar of justice.
THAT cross bull that I turn into the
orchard every night didn't bother you
did it?" asked Whitby, at length.
1t seemed necessary TO say some.
thing, so attempted 1t.
Something chased us, sir. We
thought it was a man, and tore ouI
clothes on the fence getting out"
Mr.. Whitby chuckled.
81 reckon you know what | ought tc
do about this" he said.
There was no answer.
Come mp this way"
We followed tn e farmer to the
house. Here he directed us to empty
the contents Of our pail into basket
and then led the way to the orchard
Now our fears were increased tenfold
and we trembled as we followed, foi
evidently our captor was bur taking
us to the scene of our misdeed to ad,
minister summary chastisement. Sure
enough, he took us straight TOWARD
the crooked tree in the corner, but
how differently those red apples
looked from the green ones we hat
secured! We had mistaken the tree
in the darkness. IGalting beneath this
crooked tree, Mr.. ahitby turned to us
"Give me your pail" he said. "Thost
weren't very good apples you had
boys, and I'll give you some Of these
ripe ones, And when you want any
apples after this, just come up in thu
daytime, and see me about it. The bul
may hurt you at night, you know
AS he proceeded to fiji the pail Johr
and just stared at each other. Evi
dently Mr.. Whitby understood boy ma
ture, and the theory of "coals of fire, ;
for this was far norse punishment
than fogging would have been.
Some way, ! never could eat any O
those apples, for such unpleasant as