The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-01-30
just show US to bis room an help all

| just show US to his room an help all
ye kin, an we'll give you pile O.
money. We're good-natured folks,
we air. Only ye mus step lively" I"
But into Scarecrow's eyes had come
new expression. His face was still
white aud his knees trembled as vio-
lently as ever, but his voice did not
hesitate. II won't. You can beat
me, kill me if you want to, but I
won't help you-one-bit to rob Mr..
Tefft. He's been good to me. IF
you try to rob him I'll fight, an hol-
Ter an do everything to hender you,
his voice rising in passionate protest.
Here, give me that rope, Bill r
cried the man called Jake. "I'll fix
him |" And in spite of the boys re-
sistance he was quickly bound and
thrown violently into one corner of
the porch the man gave him bru-
tai kick and followed his companion
into the house. Scarecrow heard
them tramping noisily from room to
room, opening drawers and boxes.
In his haste the man had not bound
him very securely moreover, Scare
crows hands were small. At the
end of ten minutes he found that he
could slip one hand from the rope.
After that it was comparatively easy
matter to free himself.
The tramps were now in the pam
try, helping themselves to Mr.. Tefft's
Sunday dinner.
Moving softly from the porch,
Scarecrow hurried down the lane to
the barn, keeping behind the trees as
much as possible. But when he
reached the barn he found that all
the horses except Old Nick had been
let out to pasture. Old Nick was
what the men calleda wicked horse, /"
and was never trusted to any of the
new hands. Scarecrow had admired
him excessively, he was so strong
and masterful and had such an inde-
pendent way of shaking his head.
Lately the boy had been trying to
propitate him by offering apples and
corn but so far had never dared to
approach him from behind or try to
gain his back.
But he never thought of these
things now. There was no time to
lose if he wished to save his employ
er's money. In a few moments he
had bridled old Nick end was leading
him from the stable. And apparent
ly the horse was too much astonished
by the suddenness of the movement
to make any resistance. Once out
side Scarecrow led him caustiously
along hedge of willows and hazel
bushes until they were quite dis
tance from the house. Then finding
convenient stone he climb nimbly
upon his back.
At first old Nick had been so pleas
ed at leaving the barn that he was
quiet, but finding the boy did not re-
move the bride he began to shake his
head impatientlY. When he felt the
slight form upon his back he sprang
forward with snort of anger.
But Scarecrow had not ridden the
animal to water for years for nothing.
AS the horse flew along the country
road he clung the closer, and instead
of trying to stop him he struck him
again with his open hand to make
him go faster.
Silas Tefft was seated near the
open window of the little country
church when he heard the wild clat-
ter of Old Nick's feet coming down
the hill. One amazed look and he
was hurrying to the door, knowing
intuitively that sowething was wrong.
Several of the men followed him,
and strong hands grasped Old Nick's
bride.
There were few hurried questions
and answers, and then a dozen men
ran for their horses and were soon
speeding away toward the farm.
Scarecrow followed them as rapidly
as possible on foot. When he arrived
at the farm he found that the robbers
had been captured and were being led
away to the county Jail.
Silas Tefft rarely commended one
of his hands, but that evening he
glanced across the table at Scarecrow
and said, approvingly, Eye done fust
rate, Scarecrow. Then something
else seemed to occur to him, for he
rose slowly to his feet and looked
down the table at two long rows of
faces turned toward him.
"Look here, men," he said, inter-
negatively, "Scarecrow don't seem
just the right sort of name for that
boy what dye think -
Scarecrow never rose from that
table. After supper it was John
Fearless, by unanimous consent, who
went around shaking hands with the
men and receiving congratulations
The gem.