Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-12-06
CALL it downright mean. boys"

what we think of him. Well, we can
show him there are more ways than
sune to make him care.
Tom Winslow was the leader among
his friends. and what he said usually
carried weight. The three boys were
walking arm in arm from school. kick
ing the rustling leaves before them
They were greatly interested in the
subject under discussion. and the love-
Nv blue sky and twitter of birds on
the mild October afternoon were lost
20 them.
"Ill tell YOU, boys. Lets go over
to the house. out by the grape arbor.
and talk this thing over. No one will
catch "A word, and L have PLAN sug-
gested Tom.
The conference was held that after
noon and a plan laid which the boys |
were TO carry out the next night.
Tom was spokesman. and he talked
earnestly between grapes.
'.Now, this is my plan: We all have
air guns. and there's plenty OF good
shot and if we can't climb over his
fence because of that great bulldog
we can spoil his apples for him. we IL
get Jim. Harry and Lou. and with
ours there will be six guns. We can
take some short ladders and climb up
far enough to shoot, and We'll just
pepper those apples so full of shot
he won't have Il tooth left it he tries
TO eat one. It's good moonlight. and
ave can see to aim pretty straight.
and old bully can have dose. too.
Mr.. Brown. against whom this plot
was laid. was a bachelor and man
of means. but was very close-tisted,
and he showed his penurous spirit by
never offering an apple to anyone, al
though the trees were loaded. The
bows had even asked for little fruit,
but were refused. and soon after a
high board fence With a barbed wire
along the top was built around the
orchard; and, what was worse. surly
bulldog took up his abode at Mr..
Browns.
The trio seemed TO think the plan
a fine one. and all ate another bunch
of grapes to seal the compact. Mrs.
Winslow called supper, and Bert and
Ernest were invited to stay. This
was an unexpected pleasure and al
ways a treat as the Winslow home
was full of good cheer and welcome,
especially to the boys of Medeville.
After tea Grandpa Winslow said:
"About nutting time, isn't it. boys?
This warm weather won't last long.
Wen have frost one of these nights.
and then hurrah for the hickories!
That reminds me-" the boys nudged
one another and winked sly winks,
and grandpa had a merry twinkle in
his blue eyes.
"Next to my fathers farm" re-
sumed the old man. when I was about
your age. there lived a man by the
name of Silas Holmes. and he was as
mean as dirt we used 10 say. He
was honest enough and a good work
er, but as stingy as people were ever
made. We boys grew to hate Silas,
and not without reason, for he
watched us day and night, for fear we
might somehow coax a melon or an
apple over the fence.
''Iie seemed to gloat over the idea
that he alone raised and ate ciestnuts
y
and finally things came to crisis
One evening just at dusk l was going
from the barn to the corncrib and
saw figure in the melon patch: sup
posing it was father or Brother jim
went on. but on second thought
turned back just in time to see Silas
climbing the fence with Il big water
melon under his arm. | called out
Good evening. Mr. Holmes. and he
called back: cd eyenin'. Tommy
II was dumfounded. but concluded
to keep my counsel until Bill, my
younger brother, and / got to bed
Then we talked the matter over an(
decided to wait until chestnuts were
ripe and have our revenge in some
way. October days soon came. Will
the dropping leaves and the yellow
corn, and we were busy making iacl
O. lanterns to light the barn. for WI
were to have the annual Corn-huskin!
bee at our place All hands We're Sc
to work that day: the old barn wa
swept and great bouehs hung abou
the sides and from the rafters, ant
the pumpkin men never shone s.
brightly
I'VE had laid our plans, Bill, Jac'
Hardy. who lived the other side o
Silns. and myself. OF course Siia
would be at the huskng. and as tn
women were all busy getting the SUP
per his daughter, Sally. would be owe
carly to help. We all liked Sally; sh
sept house for her father. Yes. sh
was good girl, but she had to to
ne mark. About eight o'clock tn
tulks began to come. and by min
. clock tho barn was full. Supper wa
announced about II o'clock, and the
came our chance.
I'VE stole away to the corncri1
<.here we had hidden our bags. an
then crcpt back OF the barn, throug
the melon patch, across Silas garde
SO .',s other side Of the house, owe
tnc fence and away across q field t
where six big chestnuts stood. wit
tho MOONLIGHT streaming over the