The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-05

a white horse was hitched to the
same tree and a man stood beside hin
lingering the harness.
How'll you swap" asked Alden with
! an air of ownership. He was merely
joking. but the man said:
L dunno; let's look at your horse"
He looked the horse carefully over
| while Alden did the same to the white
horse.
III swap even," said the stranger.
Il guess not" said Alden. decidedly.
Young as he was he knew a good deal
about horses. and he saw that ike
white one was the better animal. but
he was not going to take any chances.
Give me 81 to boot. and you may
! have him.
! The stranger was astonishingIy Quick
in accepting the boys offer, and in
few minutes the wagons had ex-
changed horses. and Alden was driving
nome with clear conscience and a DOL
lar in his pocket for his uncle.
He greatly enjoyed his drive home bv
nimself, and he reached his uncle's in
less time than most of the teams took
that day His uncle had lust arrived
! with his cattle and a premium. Only
one pair was not the same that he had
driven cut in the morning. He had
snapped on the way home.
Hello, Uncle Dan. Sim went 10
Uncle Zenas', and l snapped .lorses for
you. Isn't he a beautv?''
Mr.. Merriam was too much astonish
ed to speak at first. But when he had
examined the horse he was still more
astonished. The animal was worth ar
least twice as much as Jim. He took
the dollar and said:
Alden, don't know what to saw
about this. Jim wasn't yours 10 swan.
Dur know you meant to do me q good
turn, and if you snapped on the merits
OF the horses you must be good juGge.
why did you make him give YOU a COL
lar 20 boot?"
SOS TO cover myself if l overlooked
any faults, but he's worth a good deal
more than Jim, isn't he?"
so much more that I don't believe
the man who swaoDed him owned him
any more than you owned Jim. Now.
my boy, if that man is a thief. We
probably seen the last of Jim, while I'll
have to return this horse to his o,vrPr.''
Alden stared at his uncle as The full
meaning of his words came 10 him. and
then ne compressed his lips, and. turn
ing, walked slowly toward :he house
A born little judge!" said Mr. Mer-
riam to himself
When Sim and his uncle were driving
home to Burlington they were over
taken by the stranger driving Jim. Sim
recognized the old horse in a minute.
Why, Uncle Zene, there's our horse
Jim. That man must have stolen him.
'Tain't your buggy, is it? Are you
sure rs Jim?'
Il guess 1 know old jim" said Sim.
so his uncle whipped up his horse and
drove in such a manner that at the
next barnyard they came to he forced |
the man to turn in in order to avoid |
being run down. When taxed with the
theft he sprang out of the wagon. and |
leaping over q fence disappeared In a |
patch of woods.
He was not pursued. Sim got into
the strange buggy and drove Jim home. |
as he knew his father would be any /
ous. He found the owner of the wagon |
and the white horse at the house 1t
was a Mr.. Needham who had driven
to the fair from Winsted and who had
stopped at every house on his way
back on foot to inquire for the missing
team.
Alden had remained in his room since
he enormity of his offense had dawned
Upon him. Mr.. Merriam now called