The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-04-07

ming speed: If you swore 10 me on a
stack Of Bibles you knew nothing ABOUT
nv colt I wouldn't believe YOU ! SHAH
GO straight to Major Yoatcs and ask ms
advice. believe him 10 b. a gentleman.
IN sDite OF tho company he keeps
I wtfhered deeper into the fuTze bushes.
ord thereby discovered a sandy rabbit
RIM along which ! c~rawIei. with my ea'
well over my eyes and the turze needtss
stab5ing mo through my stockings fht
ground she!yet a little. promising pro-
found conccaluent. but tie bushes NfFe
very thick anu had laid hold Of the bare
stem or on 10 help my progress ~ MT
III out II the ground n my hand. reYeaI-
{rg i fvtShlv-rut STUMP >omt3hlhA
srorred not + yard away ! giaTed through
re on@ufre ana was confronted ~ III
long horrifed face Of Mrs. kLoNs colt.
mysteriously on d level with my own.
Even Without the White diamond on rs
forehead | should have OWNED the truth.
Bat what in the name OF wonder hAd
! persuaded him to crouch like q ~oodeo'N
III the heart Of a furze brake for :
fnll minute ! lay as still rs death !"'
fear OF frightening him. while the voices
or FURRY ana Ms grandmother faBta -
/ a1a-mfnrly lose to ne. The colt snorted
ana blew long II takAS "a o%@A4 49,
n~ostriis bat 10 did not move. ! cra"lsi
on al inch az two nearer. and after ?
few seconds Of cautions geering ! graspad
the POSITION. They hal buried him.
small sardptt among The fnrze had
been utilized a. i grave, they had filled
him 10 to his withers With sand and 2
few furze bushes. artistically dispose
round the nit. had done the rest. As the
depth Of F1urTy's guile was revealed
laughter came upon me like = flood !
gurgled ana shook alphabetically and tn
colt gazed at me with ser.cns surprise,
until i Student outbuIs % barking close
to nv elbow administered 4 fresh shock
to my lettering nerves.
Mrs. Knox's voolly dog had tracked M2
!. into the furze. and was now baying the
colt and me with insled terror and in
dignation. / addressed him in 4 whisper
with terhdious endearments. advancing
q crafty hand toward him the while, made
a snatch for the back of his neck. missed
it badly and got him by the ragged fleece
Of his headquarters as he tried 70 flee,
If | had fayed him alive he could hard
" have uttered q more deafening series
Of yells. but. like 4 fool. instead of let
ting him go, | dragged him toward me,
and tried to stifle the noise by holding
his muzzle. The tussle lasted engrossing
~ for a few seconds. and then the climax
Of the nightmare arrived.
Mrs. Knox's voice, close behind nc
said: Let go my dog this instant. SIR
Who are yOu'
Her voice faded away and | knew that
she also had seen the colts head.
positively felt sorry for her. -
her age there was no knowing what If
feet the shock might have On her.
scrambled to my feet and confronted her
Major Yeates!" she said. There was
q deathly pause. vii you kindly tel
me- said Mrs. Knox, slowly, am / ii
Bedlam, or are you? And what is that.
She pointed to the colt, and that an
fortunate animal, recognizing the voice
Of his MISTRESS, uttered a hoarse and la
mentable whinny- Mrs. Knox felt around
her Tor support, found only furze prick $
gazed speechlessly at me. and then, t
her eternal honor, fell into wild cacklcs
Of laughter.
So, l may say, did FURRY and |. | EN-
barked on my explanation and broke
down; FURRY followed suit and broE,
down, too. Overwhelming laughter hell
Us all three, d~isintegrating cur very souls
Mrs. Knox pulled herself together first.
4 acCuit you. Major Yeates, | acquit
you, though appearances are against you
It's clear enough to me you've faller
among thieves She stopped and glow.
cred at FURRY. Her purple bonnet was
over one eye. I'll thank you, sir" sht
said, TO dig out that horse before
leave this place. And when you've due
him out you may keep hiE1. I'll be NJ
receiver of stolen goods,'
She broke off and shook her fist at him
! Upon my conscience, Tony, Id give
guinea to have thought Of that myself