The Irish standard., 1899-05-20
"Oh, we'll. s'pose got to stand it,"
and in he drove.
"Now's our time!" said Dape.

"Oh, well. I s'pose got to stand it,"
and in he drove.
"Now's our time!" said Dape.
So raised the sheet at the back end
of the load and beckoned to the ginner,
who was closing the gate after US. He
looked surprised, but seeing from my
mysterious manner that something was
wrong, he soon overlook the wagon.
This isn't his cotton at ALL" wills.
pered down. Its my fathers. That
fellow stole it last night"
"Stole US. too," put in Dape. HE
doesn't know anything about that,
though. And he's sitting on our
clothes"
The ginner looked incredulous, but
soon saw from our manner and dress
that we were speaking the truth.
Keep still till l can send for some
guns! Well arrest the scoundrel!" he
said. and hurried on to the Clubhouse,
while the wagon continued it's way
through the yard among scattering cot
ton bales.
This Clubhouse stood on posts six or
eight feet high. At the door was a plat
form about even with the top of a
wagon bed, where cotton was unloaded.
When the wagon was against this plat
form, our driver stopped and threw on
the brake. Then we heard him step OF
upon the platform.
Nov for our clotheS!" whispered
Dape.
We began to dress, sitting on the cot
ton, but had only jerked on my shirt
and pantalooas, and was Juggling at a
boot, when the sheet, or wagon-cover,
was suddenly thrown up, and the wind
carried it off the bows.
There stood a tall, shaggy-bearded
man, in slouchy black hat and a yell
low "slicker," or rain-proof coat, reach-
ing to his heels. The CONSERVATION on
his face, when he saw what he had
stolen, was ludicrous. His mouth flew
open, and he stood staring at us stu
pidly.
II arrest you'll" exclaimed the ginner.
gruffly, as he hurried out and caught
the thief by the arm.
ARREST me?" and the man came to
himself suddenly. stand back!" he
shouted, giving the ginner violent
push. The next moment he threw Off
the slicker, snatched pistol from his
pocket, and with an oath and o threat,
leaped from the platform.
Out came two bowie-knives, and he
tried to cut one of his horses loose; but
seeing two gin hands coming with
!, Iac hn
sprang over the fence, and fled through
the woods with everybody, including
Dape and me, in pursuit. But don't
think anybody was half as eager to
overtake him as he was to get away, for
he had very disagreeable manner in
fourishing his pistol.
"Now what?" said 1.
Get the cotton ginned," said Dape.
Good enough!" said 1; and we eas.
lily bargained with the ginner, he keep.
ing out enough, besides his TOLL to pay
for the bagging and ties to wrap the
bale. He also gave us feed for the team.
With the seed and the bale loaded into
our wagon, we started for home, 1d
miles away, early in the afternoon, and
horseback. The disappearance of a
wagon load of cotton and two boys had
made sensation in our neighborhood,
and the roads were now being secured
in every direction.
Father was greatly amused with the
story of our adventure. why" said he,
that man was no thief; he was Il reg.
| In hi lo,, 4 lro 1,,s% ho,
picked cotton to-day, anyhow. And he's
hauled the load for us and made us a
present of his horses. Good horses, too.
And whenever he comes to my place fox
his horses, therc'll be chunks of fun"
1t was after dark when we reached
home. The next morning the cotton.
thicf's horses were turned into the pas.
ture.
Nov if the owner wants them, let
him come and prove his property"
father remarked, as he put up the bars.
The owner did not come to claim the
horses, but they were missing week
later, and found next day at a house in
the woods about seven miles from the
gin. The man who lived there was ear.
nestly sought by the sheriff, but could
not be found. His wife, when ques.
toned, declared that the horses had re.
turned home, and must have jumped
out of the pasture. Not long afterward
the family disappeared, going Off be.
tween two days.
A country neighborhood clings to a
joke tenaciously, and Dape and have
not yet heard the last of the night when
we went to guard the cotton and were
stolen ourselves.-Youth's Companion.
THE AUSTRIAN EMPRESS.
An Instance of the Presence of Mind