The Western news., 1903-07-29

home durin' the night before. But Gil
he said no, he didn't lay it to his pap.
"'Pap wasn't in them parts jest
then, Dan'l,' says Gil, so l didn't lay
it to pap says he. NO. 1t was old ST
that thunk of.
"'Old 81 was campfn' not more'n two
mile from me, and had my idees about
him. So jest says that my pork had
stuck to him some way and got out o.
my bailiwick.
But it was mebbe good thing fer
me that thunk a leetle furder before
goin' to old Sis and demandin' my pork
back. l thunk lettle furder, and
then says what was I thinkin' about?
"'Old ST would quick enough fas-
ten on to the pork all right, but he
never would have gumption enough to
head up bar'l like that barl was head
ed, after doin' of it. 'Tain't old ST. l
says.
$50 jest sot down and thunk that
the best way to find out who the smart
thief was would be fer me to hide and
watch for him. and so did.
"'The second day o. watchin', Danl,
see big bear come slouchin' out
of the brush nigh to the cabin, and
there hadn't no gun! Me, livin' along
the headwaters, knowin' the head
waters as to bear, and bein' there in
the woods without gun! I was mad
and I was sorry, for I thought l mont
as well as not gather in a nice lot o.
bear while l was watchin' to see who
stole my pork, and there didn't have
no gun.
az was jest on the pint o gittin'
when happened to think that il the
pork thief came along he'd more than
likely have gun, and that of course
he'd knock over the bear, SO that when
/ jumped out and took the consarned
thief by the neck while he was loadin'
himself with my pork ag'in, I'd have a
nice fat bear and good pelt., besides
gittin' the pork thief. So laid low
and said nothin'.
""The bear he nosed around spell,
and then elm one os the corner poles
O. the cabin to the roof, edged along
to the chimly, and then let himself
down the chimly right into the cabin.
l didn't suspicion the bear, even then,
Danl,' says Gil. but sneaked up to the
winder and peeked thro.sh.
"'Say. you could a tumbled me over
with chippy birds feather, was so
fabbergasted over what I seen! The
bear was workin' at the pork bar'l,
and good deal quicker than I could
a done it myself he unheaded tina t
bar'l! Yes, sir, Danl! Took off the
top hoop and lifted out the head o.
the bar'l!
""Then the bear took out two nice
them while was lookin' at him. Then
he licked his paws and his chops, took
out another hunk o pork, laid it on
the floor, headed up the bar'l as slick
as boss cooper could done it, took
the hunk o pork under his arm. skun
up the chimly like monkey. dropped
to the ground as easy as nothin', and
trotted off into the brush, GRIMM
enough to make feller crazy, before
I could say boo!
"'Danl.' says Gil, then was glad
didn't have no gun. IL Ia Killed that
bear says he, I'D a felt all my life as
if the mark o. Cain was branded onto
my brow!' says he.
sand jest as mild as could be, Reuber
without ever teeterin' his chair level
says to Gil:
"'Don't knaw but what you mawt as
we'll have the mark o. Cain on youl
brow says he, 'as to have Ananias and
Sapphiry stamped all over you palmer
than the brands on an army mule!' say:
Reuben.
81 didn't say nothing, but jest thunl
what kind o. things it must be thai
Jekiel, or old Jorum, Or even Ellis San
mowt be able to tell about headwateri
bears when they got to goin'."