The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-10-17

tits coyote!'
mo coyote made that mark-it's q
greaser! And,s lowering his lantern,
Fritz Krantz pointed to the broad
print made by bare foot in the sand.
81 guess you're right" said Will, the
younger brother, while MILDLY, the set
ter, who had been barking furiously,
added, "I'm sure of it!'' with a sniff
and wag and an eye fash.
The boys had been called out of bed
by Middy's noisy alarm and the loud
commotion among the fowls in the cor
raj They owned a chicken ranch in
southern California, near the bay of
San Diego.
Their invalid father had come with
his family from the eastern states
few years before and started this little
industry. He did not live to see it pay
dividends, but he told his boys that If
they would "stay with it, it would
support them and their mother, and
always remember" said he. that the
Lord helps those who help them
selves"
The young fellows mastered the hen
problem. They bred those famous
mortgage lifters," white leghorns
The boys broilers were the first in the
market, their layers had scientific care
and did business when others didn't,
and their income from their enterprise
was growing every year.
"He's got nothing" said Will at last,
with an expression Of relief.
"Good dog, MILDLY! Good fellow" ex-
claimed Fritz fondly, patting the set
ter. 1--WE can 60 to bed all right with
you on guard"
But before going in, they could not
help giving another look at the roost
where perched drowsily their pair of
pet cockerels the pride of the coops
and the hope of the young ranchers.
do you think they are winners,
VIII? asked Fritz, as he cast a Ian
tern glow over the plump. contented
birds.
I'm sure of it." said Will. "There
isn't pair in the country that can be-
gin with them. Everybody says So"
The county fair was near at hand,
and these young ROSTERS were candi-
dates for the special prize of $50 Of
fered by an enthusiastic fancier for the
best pair of white leghorn cockerels.
"Mucho bee-utiful!' cried old Este
ban, the Mexican egg buyer, when he
came around few weeks later. "They
win sure. Ay, Ia blancura! Only one
pair come near them. They ManuePs,
cross the bay, but not so white, nor
They were beauties, every one could
see that Yes, they were rare and al.
most perfect specimens Of their strain
and fully deserved old Esteban's eu-
logy.
One afternoon the boys had gone
back on the desert to hunt cottontail
rabbits, which their mother knew how
to fry so temptingly, and they were re-
turning with full bags, MILDLY trotting
: along few rods in advance.
AS they neared their home in the lit
tie settlement by the sea, where only a
| few cottages Stood and those far
apart, MILDLY came rushing back as
fast as he could gallop, barking like
mad and beside himself with excite.
ment.
They soon ascertained what had ex-
cited the dog. There was great hue
and cry in the poultry yards, and one
of the pens had been broken.
THAT thieving greaser again, and in
broad daylight this timer
They hurriedly took census of their
stock.
None missing here" said Fritz.
mo. they count up all right" replied
viii, land there are both the prize
cockerels over yonder."
Fritz paused moment and turned
pale.
"But what's the matter with them p
he exclaimed, and both boys anxiousiJ
rushed to the birds.
They're not our cockerels," cried
Will "See those yellow feathers"
"And the white in their faces" sai6
Fritz 81 see through the trick. That
greaser has snapped with us!'
Hes taken to the beach. See Mid
dy! He knows. You go down by thu
old road and I'll take the steps. Wei
catch him yetT'
The little colony sat on bluff rising
almost perpendicularly from the beach
There were two paths to the sea, on
by an easily inclined road which
wound around the cliffs, and the othe
by long. steep fight of steps tina
: scaled the face of the bluff.
Fritz and MILDLY anxiously scanne'
: Aofr nd oil OlIf tho HffI
2 eucalyptus grove before ScramDIn
: down the steps, but discovered nothin
:, to encourage them. VIII, who ha
e made the long detour of the windin
) road, arrived at the foot of the stair
D almost as soon as they did, hot an
D GREATNESS, but with no trace of tn
fugitive to report.
+ 81 wonder what that craft is about
: asked Fritz, pointing to a fisherboa
: lying to, short distance down tt
coast.
They hurried down the beach and {
the same time the little craft heiste
: a rag of sail and made toward ther
| She was almost opposite when MIDI
who had been jumping around like
/
started back as if he had been shot.
e The boys wheeled around and stare
/ Look" they shouted Simultaneous
/ and started after the dog.
d A bare legged and swarthy Mexics
j. had emerged from one of the large hC
l. lows worn by the sea in the bluff al
5 was running down across the sal
l. straight for the surf. They could 8
y that he had large sack in his hand.
a. Meanwhile fresh breeze had stru'
the dory anu it was making good hea
O. way in his direction.
Is I'VE shall lose him" said Wi
re Hes going to swim for it,"
IN After him! Go for him, MILDLY
Id yelled Fritz.
50 The dog needed no urging, b
tie bounded down the beach and took
IS the water after the man with the be
lg The tide was out, but the fellow w
I'd already in the surf and the boat W
te rounding to, just outside the breaker
en- mo USE" said VIII. HE has
i'd good start"
he Just then a shrill cry of pain cal
ly from the surf, followed by another S
on louder.
J The fugitive had. halted. He ST