The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-05-20
the trying time had come. We lay wfths
out moving a muscle.

me. Anyone looking under the sheet
would be likely to raise it at tEc fore
end. Our clothes would be seen; then
we should inevitably be discovered. l
sat up in my excitement, throwing oil
the cotton.
What sound was that? a humminG,
somewhat like a threshing-machine. in
the distance. But | had helped unload
too much cotton to that music not to
recognize il. Uncovering Dape'S head, l
whiSpered:
Hes brought US to the gin. Don't
you hear it,"
Dape sat up instantly, and made a
gesture of delight. Now we've got
him" said he.
As the gin-yard gate was creaking en-
its hinges. the man who had come out
to open il. the ginner himself. asked:
How much have you got on there"
about eighteen hundred, | guess
replied the man on the wagon. Enough
for Il bale. Can you run il through
right away"
Think | can get it out by noon. Only
one lot ahead Of you"
Cant You give me first show: LIN
in an all-tired hurry"
No. | can't. I've started the other
already"
oh. well. | s'pose | got to stand it,"
and il he drove.
"Now's u time" said Dape.
So | raised the sheet AT the back end
eFI, l,,l ,,J Ia.l-npaJ m th. piunpr
who WAS closing the gate after us. lie
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. lie
doesn't know anything about that.
though. And he's sitting on our
clothes"
The ginner looked incredulous. but
0 SAW from III and dress
that we were speaking the truth.
Keep still till | can send for some
Guns, Wen arrest the sc%oundrel." he
said. and hurried on to the clubhouse,
while the wagon continued its way
through the yard among scattering cot
%ton-baleS.
This clubhouse stood on posts six or
eight feet high. At the IGOR was a plat
form about ever with the top OF 4
Uarou-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 or
upon the platform.
Now for our clothes" whispered
Dape.
We began to dress. sitting on the cot
ton. but ! had only jcrked on my SHIRT
and pantaloonS. and WAS Juggling al Il
boot, when the sheet. or W~agon-coN"r.
| was suddenly thrown up, and the wind
carried it off the bows.
There stood Il tall, sha"%y-bcardcd
| man, in a sIouchy black hat and Il yell
low "slickcr," or r%ain-proof coat, reach
ING to his heels. The CONSERVATION on
| his face, when he saw what he Il
stolen, was iudicrous. His mouth flew
open. and he stood staring at Us stu
pidly.
Il arrest YOU" exclaimed the ginner,
rrutfiv. as lie 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 Il violent
push. The next moment he threw OH
| The SIickcr. snatchcd Il pistol from his
uackct. and with an oath and Il threat,
i"aped from the platform.
Cut came two bowic-knives, ana he
tried to cut one of his horses loose; but
seeing two gin hands coming with
with guns, he dashed round the house,
spran~ over the fence. and fled through
the woods with everybody. including
Dape and me, in pursuit. But don
think ANYBODY was half as eager to
ovurtake him as he WAS to get away, Tor
h, had Il very d~isagrecable Ii III
i!"%urishin" his pistol.
Now WHAT said |.
Get the cotton ginned," said Dape.
Good enough" said /: and we cas-
iIv b~argained with the @inner. he keep
ing ont enough. besides his toll, 10 pay
for the bag"in- 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. Ii
miles away. early in the afternoon. and
soon met father and another man on
horseback. The disappearance of a
wagon load of cotton and two boys had
made a sensation in u nei"hborhood.
and the roads were now being secured
in every direction.
Father was greatly amused with the
story OF our adventure. "Nhy." said he,
that man was no thief: he was Il reg
ular philanthropist. We couldn't have
picked cotton to-day. anyhow. And he's
hauled the load for Us and made us Il
present of his horses. Good horses. too,
Md whenever he comes to my place fnr
his horses. thcreIl he chunks of fun"
1t was after dark when we reached
home. The mex morning the cotton
thief's horses were turned into the pas
ture.
Now if the owner wants them. lei
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 We're missing Il week