Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-02-10
"Lordy Lordyr quavered the olo

the sage mems.
"Blest if them ain more comfortin
an Elijah S ravens, " laughed Ike
By the time the third and fourth sage
hens had each produced one gold dollar
the emotions of the Barnhills and Their
guest were too deep for words. They sat
gazing at the remains and trying t.
think it all out.
At bedtime the old man lighted a
candle and left the room.
"Well, be durnl' he kept mutter-
ing to himself as he climbed the ladder
which led up to the loft Its nothin
short Of a miraclel'
The Barnhills were early risers but
before they opened their eyes the follow
ing morning the fortunate hunter had
left for his days sport.
81 don { know as anybody can blame
him, growled jim ms he started on his
round Of morning chores; "only I'd like
to take few cracks at them gold lined
birds too. -
And it was in very much the same
strain that the other members of the
Barnhill family communed with them
selves.
Late that night the hunter returned
to the ranch Drawing a chair up be-
fore the fire, he sat down and fell to
studying his boots in moody silence
Didn't you hit nothinf' queried
Ike though he could see the bullying
game pockets.
Without replying directly the stran-
ger drew out six large birds and laid
| them upon the table.
Feel EN- he suggested in IA husky
voice
This time Amelia was assisted in her
work by the old man and the two boys,
| and the kitchen soon bore the marks OF
the terrible carnage. There was little
said, but they all worked with nervous
energy, while great beads of perspira
tion stood ont ON the old man forehead.
They thought themselves prepared for
the result yet with the disclosure Of
each successive gold dollar they cried
out in amazement The old man wiped
his face on his sleeve and swore joyous
ly, while Amelia was too much occu-
pied to check him.
Look here, stranger, he at last fall
tered as he dragged his guest ont on the
front porch, Il want to make you a
proposition! Let's all blaze away to-
morrow an divide whatever we getr.
The stranger sighed heavily. "Oh. if
l only could he lamented. But you
see tomorrow is election day and l am
under oath to appear in Westcenter.
The old man said nothing further,
but the light of avarice burned in his
faded eyes.
Just like findin money, he unused
"I'm right glad he s goin.
Jim, whispered Ike when they
We're all in bed that night, Il reckon
were goin to town tomorrow an put in
our first votes.
Jim chuckled
Il reckon Were goin to put some
shot into them sage hens. he replied
With the first tinge of dawn Jordan
Barnhill and his two sons were gone
from the ranch. Amelia preserved a
discreet silence as she went about pre-
pairing the stranger breakfast
Later in the day the disappointed
hunter gathered together his guns and
dogs and gold dollars-and departed
for Westccnter.
"Shall | remember you to Davey" he
inquired as he babe Amelia goodby.
What do you know about Dave
she demanded with sudden show OF
interest
The stranger only shook his head and
drove away.
Several weeks after the election Dave
might have been seen approaching the
Barnhill ranch with all the caution OF
an Indian scout in hostile country Hav
ing convinced himself that there wer,
no ''men folks about the place, he ad
vanced to the front of the house anC
raped.
"Well, " said Amelia sharply. "dC
you want to die real sudden"
HE amt about, is hey" questioned
Dave, with sudden trepidation.
"If you mean pa, he is fiat ON hi
back in bed. Blistered his feet huntin. >
Dave repressed grin with difficulty
Heard about the 'lectionG" he ask
ed in IA subdued voice.
Eyes, Pa said everything had gon,
to the devil
1--WE only swung the state by TIVE
majority, chuckled Dave. "If y'r pi
an the boys had voted. we'd have los
the whole thing.
Amelia's eyes grew big, and clouC
of suspicion slowly spread over her face
''Dave Dietz. she cried with suddeI
anger, "who was that young fool tina
was shootin ont here?"
Dave hung his head and looked fool
ish
"Who was he3" persisted Amelia.
"Well since the lection he's BEEF
the new governor son. Did you thinl
he was good lookin, 'Melia2"
Getting no response, Dave looked III
and found Amelia in tears
"Oh, we've been took in' she sob
bed Then raising her voice she shouted
Spa, pa, we've been took in, an tina
young fool sailed them birds just a
sure as you're alivel'
From somewhere above there came
, terrific explosion of profanity. and Dav
, made ready for fight.
you'll be a dead man as soon as
tell pa that his party lost the state 70
, want of three votes, declared Amelia
IAN I'm goin to tell him right now. 4"
? With wonderful presence of min
Dave caught her in his arms and effeC
finally Silancad INV furtbar vuords