Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-12

e4amlHSu IL mlnurely. l "Just what fought. Look at that" and he handed it to Carter for inspec- tion.
 ''The rein's been cut near through" replied Carter. tI wonder it held as long as it did.'
 "A dirty, low-down trick" commented Mike. "I'll hang it back on the peg just now, but don't use it again fer a bit" ...
 As he reentered the saddle room brisk ly his heel slipped on the plank floor, bringing him down. "Id take me oath that was banana peel, if it was on the sidewalk" he exclaimed, after gym nastic twist that nearly dislocated his neck. Some of ye fellows is pretty careless wit hoof grease, I'm thinkin'."
 More out of curiosity than anything else he peered down at the cause of his sudden slip. What the divil is it ony- way?" he muttered, kneeling and light ing a match, which he held close to the spot. Bot t'umbs!" he exclaimed, tits candle grease. Have aither of ye b'ys been in here wit a candle? It's agin the rules.'' >%
 There isn't candle about the barn, an you know it, Mike!" cried Garter, indignantly. ,t....- s.
 Mike was prospecting the floor with another light. ....... 7 Here's two burnt matches" he con- tinued, picking them up. ""An' they were loighted last night, too. See that. they're long; an that means that they wasn't used for lightin' a pipe or cigar jest fer touchin' of candle, that's all. I know they was 1oighted last night" he said, as though to convince himself, fer they're fresh, an ain't been tramped on.- This wan didn't light at all hardly, an there's little wool fuzZ stickin' to it. Gee! that names some wan sthruck it on his wool pants, Git the lantern, Ned, p'raps we'll fin out somethin' more The light from that 1 high up winder ain't good enough fer trackin' a bear" #, l When the lantern was brought, Mike 1 continued his detective operations, nose and eyes close to the floor.
 Whats that, Ned ?'' he asked, point ing his finger at dark brown spot on the boards. z. .:.
 Carter crouched and scrutinized l Mikes find. Tobacco spit"
 "Roight you are; that's what it is. | Now, who chaws tobaccie in this stable?" he demanded of Carter.
 '1 don't.''
 Does Finn?" .u .....
 "No; don't think so."
 Didn't Snandy always have a gob of it in his cheek-the dirty pig?"
 .'Yes, he did. Mike.''
 'tI fought so; fought it was that blackguard But how did the swine get In here? The stable was locked, an I had the key in me pocket" l Carter took his cap off, ran 8 hand effectively up and down the crown of his head. Suddenly he replaced his cap and whistled softly. T know, Mike; he crawled through the dung window I've seen him do it half dozen times. When he was too lazy to go for the keys. he'd wriggle through that hole"
 Mike said nothing, but led the way to the back of the sable! Theref he climbed up the pile of rotting straw, and examined closely the small, square opening, with it's board slide.
 Good! fought sol' he calculated. Here's more tobacco spit"
 Looking down, his eye caught the glint of something bright deepCin the straw. He dug his hand down in the mass and brought up knife.
 Carter looked at it closely. .j Shan day's," he answered.; I'll swear to that I've borrowed it from him more than once to clean out the horses hoofs"
 Bot t'umbs up! I'd hang that by to a beam if had him here. He cut that T rein as sure as God made little apples, ,'' declared Mike, vehemently. An the gall av him to go an sit there in the l ould stand to watch the black run away wit somewan an kill 'em. Now jest kape yer mouth shut, Ned, an we'll put a halter on this rooster. By Hivins! whin I git him I'll make him squale. tool" r. *