The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1901-09-20

dressing-gown on the Way. and land
ed headforemost in a pile of hay. For
the time being | was safe. In a mo-
ment or two | emerged from the hay
20 find a substitute for my ruined
dressing-gown. A large piece Of sail
cloth left nothing to be desired, and
l arrayed myself after the fashion Of
the ancient Romans. But any satis-
faction l might have felt was cut
short by the sound of voices below.
"Whut wuz tibet noise in the hay
lot. Zekey" said one.
Dunno answered Zeke. "Onless
it wuz a tramp. Lots Of them critters
about. Guess III go up and see"
"Hor on. Zeke, till | get a pitch
fork. Wen have some fun stirring
um up!"
The prospect didn't appeal TO me in
the least. glanced uneasily around.
The nearest window faced towards
the house. | ran softly over TO il,
however, and wrcnched ii open.
There was a frail spout close beside
1t. To hesitate was to be lost in a
singularly uncomfortable manner.
| wrapped the anvas about me and
clambcred out. The setting sun
flooded my form with glory. Yet |
was not happy, and when | reached
the ground. breathless and bruised, l
executed n skillful flank movement
which placed me behind the barn.
After which | arranged my drapery.
Beyond the barn lay an orchard, and
beyond this again a widemeadow with
some haystacks. My hope was to gain
the Comparative shelter Of the Or
chard and await the fall Of kindly
night.
But as ! entered the orchard | saw
n large. white bulldog come around
the corner Of the barn. lie did not
notice me at first. but the particular
devil who governs complications
placed a sharp stone in my path, and
my anguished posture at once at
tractcd his attention. lie came over
at an easy trot expressive Of conscious
power aud fixed determination. Most
Of this saw at a glance-the rest
over my shoulder as ! girded up my
loins and fled through the checkercd
sunlight. The long grass impeded
the dog, hut he followed gamcly. and,
when ! sprang for the fence, grabbed
a trailing piece Of my toga. The eff
feet was to rip the piece of and send
him flying. There was a h%eaven-sent
haystack near at hand. ] reached it,
lodged round it, and climbed to the
top. The dog settled down at the
bottom, quietly enough. except for
an occasional bloodthirsty wag of his
tail. So ! settled down. too, and watt
ed developments. They were not
long in arriving. As ! lay, wrapped
in canvas. hay, and a sort Of dreamy
abstraction, a sudden, strident voice
cried:
"Say, come down ofr'n that thar
haystack!'
j started, and looked down. A
farmer stood below me. lie was bare
headed and in his shirt-slecyes.
Moreover, he was tall and Of rcd and
stalwart personality. Everything
considered, | decided to remain where
| was.
"Sec here, what yeou dom atop
OF my stack Come daown, yeou
tramp, or III make yeou!'
thought it was time TO defend nv
self.
"Pray. whom are You calling
tramp" said, with dignity.
"Aw. say!' was the response.
I'm no tramp. LET me tell you," !
continued, rising and gathering my
canvas about me; "and you're making
a big mistake" Then ] laughed
pleasantly, just to prove my self-pos-
session.
"0h!' said the farmer; "yeou
laugh, do yeou? Wall, / kalkilate in
jest five minutes yeou won't laugh any