Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1900-05-10

round gave him a most sinister aspect
! The shepherd eyed the stranger
with some establishment. He had not
heard him approach, and his silent be-
i bavior was ominous. But it was ri
diculous to have any fears on the
score of SO insignificant person; So
nothing daunted, he slipped the salm-
on into his plaid and girt himself
again for the road. AS the other
showed no sign of addressing him, he
felt bound in civility to venture re
mark.
ii .''Extraordinar' fine wathers for the
back-end," he said, affably.
| "There's naething wrang; wi the
wather," answered the stranger, rude.
| ". cts fine and clear for seeing
| poachers."
The shepherd whistled softly. Could
! this man be?
rs it possible" he said, slowly and
deliberately, ''can you be what they
| ca a bailiff??''
''As yell sumo find out"
cay, man! Div We ken, never saw
a bailiff afore, and I've ay wondered
what they were like. But I thocht
they would pit On bigger men for the
job. bod! l took you for that new
tailor-body that's come to the muirs' -
The bailif was sensitive, and at the
suggestion his eyes flashed. '.Tailor!' .
he began, with snort OF indignation,
but checked himself. "In the mean
time" he continued, with forced po-
likeness, ''I'll trouble We for your
name" r"
And what if I dinna tell ye?''
asked the shepherd, sweetly.
It'll be the waur for yourself! I'll
just haze. to follow ye.'"
'Aweel, it's a. gey lonesome bit o
the road anyway, and TIL be name the
waur O your company. We can haze
a crack on the way. Ye see," he con-
tinued, as they set off together. II
Gamma afford to gang to the Jail just
the noo-the wather's over guild; and
I've nae siller to waste on fnes.''
IF We Gamma pay the. fine, to the
Jail We maun gang"
well see if we Gamma find some it'll
er way" said the shepherd, cheerily.
But We'll no crack about that the
moo. Talk fill,'' and he held out a
stump Of rank black tobacco.
The bailif was surly and taciturn.
He was deeply wrathful at being COM
PEELED to follow. and he walked on
ward in stolid silence. The shepherd
CT the other hand, was in a particularly
pleasant humor and, considering his
grave delinquency, his conversation
was light hearted to an unseemly de-
gree.
"Guid yowes!" he said, with wave
of his hand toward the flock. '.'rhe
best sheep to be got in the market!
And we would scarcely believe it, but
l bocht them frae the maist black
yird dealer in the country. It's a
queer thing. It doesna often happen;
but I've managed it this time;" and
he pol1ed at goodly sheep with IA
grunt Of satisfaction. And I see
ye're cycling the clowgs,'' he contin-
ned, airily. ''Eine animals! Man, are
they no. just beauties, bath o. them?
It would talk a lot to beat the black
yin; and for Meg-there's no her
marrow in the countryside ama1g
sheep; she's a gleg yin, and mony a
story could tell about her. Yell ken
that wild bit, AVA at the head O. the
waiter, ca'ed the Craig Slap? Wcel,
it was ae dark winters nich5'- And
he rambled into some story not over
creditable to himself.
So he ratified on, from subject to
subject, story to story, entirely recl-
less of the, fact that the bailif paid
him not the least attention That
minister of the law, albeit ut heart he
felt somewhat apprehensive, pre-
served outwardly a dignified and
scornful silence.
The day was approaching the dark
ening, and the night frost was ting
ling in the faces Of the two men when
at last the shepherd halted. They had
come to place where the stream ran
in pools and shadows, and as far as
the turn in. the valley there was no one
in sight.
Meg cried the shepherd, i watch
thae sheep" and he turned toward the
stream. Ea tsG
''Whaur are We gaun?" asked the
bailiff, suspiciously. 8sa b at
ITO catch saumon. Are we comm %
said the shepherd, cheerfully. He
peered cautiously over the edge of the
bank and drew back in silence. "Hush!
Here's a grand yin. Haze We gotten
your heuks, bailiff? No? Then I'll
haze toslend We mine.'' s.s
What for?'
ITO catch that saumon. . g.,a.+.
"Whae?'
'sYou.''
The bailiH laughed scornfully. 81
'Weel," said the shepherd, ''I'll no
pit We in there. Even a sma' thing
frichts saumon. But. that's a fine
deep pool yonder; and ] IN thinkin' it's
gey cauld moo that the suns doom.
Will ye catch that saumon %
s'No.''
''Then it Gamma be helpit;;" and, tuck
ing the small man under his arm. the
shepherd carried him kicking and
to the edge of the pool. In