Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-10-06
.He'd make a pa. : up detective !"

He'd make a Dag up detective"
laughed Abner. "One day was at
Filmore's store. Neil sometimes, when
he's rushed, gifts Pole to clerk fer i'm,
beca'se he's quick at figures. 1t hap
pened that Pole had the store to Unset
one day when Neil had gone off to cut
down a bee tree with a passle O. neigh
bors, an a triflin' Teller come in an
begun to nose about An when Poles
back was turned to weigh up some
cotton in the seed he stole a pocket
book out O the showcase. reckon
Pole didn't like his looks much nohow,
fer as soon as the skunk had gone he
begun to look about to see eff he'd tuck
| anything. All at once he missed the
pocketbook an told Neil that night
that he was mighty nigh shore the fell
Ter lifted it, but he couldn't rally
swear to it. About week after that
he seed the same Teller comm down
the road headed fer the store on his
gray mule. Me an Neil was both thar,
an Pole hustled us in the back room
an told us to stay thar. He said he
was a-goin' to find out eff the Teller
| stold the book. Neil was afeerd of a
row an tried to prevent i'm, but he
| Jest showed us back an shet the door
on us. Neil got i'm crack in the par
tition, an found me knothole.
''The Teller hitched an come in an
said howdy do an started to take a
cheer nigh the door, but Pole stopped
| i'm.
Come heer to the showcase SEES
he. I want to show you some'n.' The
Teller went, an l seed Pole yank out
the box at had the rest O. the pocket
books in it. Look v her, Pole said
in loud, steady voice-you could "a
heerd i'm clean to the creek-'look "
heer. The regular price O. these books
Is fifty cents; that's what we sell 'em
fer; but you've got to run yore hand
down In yore pocket an give me a dol
lar fer one quicker'n you ever made a
trade in yore life
"'What do you mean?' the felle1
said.
81 mean exactly what 1 said, an
you are a-losin' time said Pole, talkin
louder an louder. The price is fifty
cents; but you got to 81 me dollar
fer one. Haul 'er out, my friend; haul
Ter out! It'll be the cheapest thing you
ever bought in yore life
"The Teller was as white as sheet
He gulped two or three times fore he
spoke; then he said: 4 know what you
think. You think took one t'other day
when l was lookin' in the showcase
but you are mistaken
81 never said word about yor
takin' one Pole yelled at i'm, but
you'd better yank out that dollar an
buy one. You need it,
'The Teller did it. heerd the money
clink as he laid it on the glass, an
knowed he was convicted.
""rhey are only wuth so cents ht
said kinder faintlike.
"'Yo're liar Pole yelled at i'm
fer you've jest paid dollar fer one OF
yore own account. Now I'll jest Civ,
you two minutes to straddle that mule
Eff you don't, I'll take you to the sheriff
myself. you thief
"I've always done my tradin' heer,
said the Teller, thinkin' that d sortel
pacify Pole, but he said: Yes, an yor
stealin', too, reckon, you black hyere,
jailbird. Git out, git out!'
"Me m Neil come in when the fel
Ter d gone, but Pole was actually to-
mad to speak. He got off too durnet
light he said after awhile. 4 could a
sold i'm big bill O. goods at 100 pc
cent profit, fer he had plenty O. money
Now he's ridin' off laughin' at me-"
RIO be continued