Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-02-04

lowed, and Bert did it with yigor
that was characteristic, and that
brought him dreamless sleep and
perfect health.
He found time, however, to repair
the spring house and liberate the
choked-up water. Then be fixed 8
battery that churned the butter to
perfection. This was, at present, a
secret between the two, and aunt
Abby was as delighted as child
with new toy.
He delighted to tinker up things
for the tired little woman, who, I'M
der his care, was growing young
again, but he rarely or never in
truded any suggestion on uncle
Joshua:
One night, while he was sitting on
the porch planning dish washing
machine, he saw uncle Joshua run
ming toward the barn bareheaded.
So he went out to see what the
trouble was.
"My Jersey heifer's got away with
her calf, and I'm 'fraid they're in the
cut on the railroad track-the fence
is down and the 9.l5 express'll catch
'em. must get one of the horses
and go after EN-" explained uncle
Joshua.
Bert glanced at his watch and
thought of the trotting capacity of
the two fat horses within the stable.
"Don't worry, UNCLE" he said.
an get her."
He was on his wheel and down the
road like a flash. Uncle Joshua
stood looking after him with his
mouth open, and he still had it open
when Bert returned, having driven
up the heifer and her frightened calf,
and propped up the fence.
as be dismounted, uncle Joshua
looked at tue machine with an APP
preciatiye twinkle. Handy thing
to have around when you're in a
hurry, / vum," he said. "Much
obliged"
There were almost nightly pilfer-
ings going on from the henhouse,
and always the missing fowls were
the tenderest and plumpest, showing
such discrimination that Bert's sus-
picions were strongly centered on
the man who, as an ex-lightning-rod
agent and ex.preacher, still visited
uncle Joshua nightly.
Uncle Joshua seemed very uneasy
over these thcfts, and Bert strongly
suspected that he had money secret.
ed about, for uncle Joshua consist
emily refused to put his trusts in
banks, and it was probable sums of
money were buried or hidden
around the place.
Bert therefore resolved. if posi-
Bile, to catch the thief, and his plans
were perfected one dark, windy
night. His faith in his plans was
SO implicit that he went to bed and
fell asleep easily.
It was about midnight when he
heard cry of fright and great
squawking of hens. He sat up in
bed and laughed. Then he ran to
the window and caught sight of a
strangely familiar figure flying across
the yard.
The next morning he arose early
and developed most excellent like
ness of Mr.. Jones with his hand
stretched longingly toward aunt
Abby's fattest pulIet. This he took
down to uuncle Joshua.
"Where under the canopy did you
get this?" gasped uncle Joshua.
Then he turned pale and rushed
outdoors. Behind the barn be dug
up a box, bit alas it was filed with
nothing but q brick. Then he danced
something like the highland fling
and uttered very reprehensible Ian
guage. Presently be grasped Bert
by the shoulder.
The knew where I kept it, he
gasped. ~ told him, like fool.
You ketch him on your flying ma
chine. III give you $25 If you catch
him."
But Bert was off, blessing his
stars all the way that only two trains
daily stopped at the station nearest
uncle Joshua's, and the first one was
not yet due.
Bert came in sight of Che station
however, just as the train rolled 10
and q lean. lank figure came hurried.
u out Ct the woods near just as Il
was starting By sgain, vitb Intent Il
climb on the last steT
Bus be fouad hiaaelf trsrs6 aT
and an athletic young man sat dow