Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-11-08

! And We We're countin' on arreStin'
| 'em:"
Il was, and finin' 'em, too" said
J Hank, firmly. There's a penalty OF
l ten dollars for eXceedin' the speed
limit. Half of it goes to the town and
the other half is divided between the
marshal making the arrest and Squire
Bascomb. There's a good two dollars
and a half 1 could have had lust as
we'll as not"
Its somethin' like fishin'," consoled
Tod. Better luck next time"
iii warrant the next one don't get
away from mer' threatened Hank. He
walked on, while Tod strolled SLOWLY
after him.
But the sturdy legs of the marshal
soon proved too fast for the older man,
and Tod dropped behind.
IF l see any Of them %autobilers goin'
too fast, shall l notify YEP called out
Tod after the retreating marshal.
YES, or We can arrest 'em yourself,
if ye want to-" answered Hank. NO
law again it. But ye'd better be care
full. 1t takes some one with a show
Of authority to bring 'em to Il halt"
well, Ill let We know if l see any
of EN-" said Tod, as he kept on with
hating pace.
The days came and went. Life con-
tinued the same in the M~orrisville
%poorhouse. There vas the same soup
and tea and bread. The little excite
ment caused by the mention of 4
Thanksgiving feast had died out. A
week before the holiday Zeke :Jedell.
the superintendent, called on Thomas
town selectmen.
"Whatll [ give the inmates for
THANKSGIVING" asked Zeke.
"What did they have last year,"
asked Mr.. Jenkins.
Roast beef and potatoes" answered
Zeke.
"Beef's high and funds are low"
said Mr.. Jenkins. Lambs cheaper.
Give 'em lamb stew
'They had that year before last"
ventured Zeke.
well, they'll forget it by this time"
reioined Mr.. jenkins.
"Humph. You don't know 'em as
we'll as 1 do" said Zeke. But there
was no appealing from the decision of
the chairman, and the superintendent
prepared to give a big dinner of lamb
stew to his charges.
Thanksgiving was three days off.
Even Sarah Tooker. most hopeful of
all, had given up, and resigned herself
to lamb stew. The others. after the
brief delights of an almost wild antici-
patton. had fallen back into their usual
apathy.
But some new spirit seemed awak-
ened in Tod Elkum. He slept less than
usual, and when True Kimball wanted
him to engage in the usual game of
checkers one afternoon Tod declined.
"What We goin' to do?" asked True.
81 got a little matter O business to
tend to down the road" answered Tod.
and he hurried away as fast as his
legs would carry him.
He was muttering to himself.
"If it works. there amt any reason
why We sha'n't all have turkey" he
was say lHS, soltlS. II L We Only got
gumption enough to do it. And I will
have! l will. Just to think-a lamb
stew for Thanksgiving. l never re-
allied before what it meant. It's all
along O Sarah lockers suggestin' it."
Tod walked along the State road,
scanning the fence closely. The wealth
er, although crisp, was clear. and there
was no sign of snow yet. The autumn
was late that year, and coaching and
automobile parties from the cities near
Morrisville were frequent.
81 guess that'H do" said Tod, as he
took hold Of a long. heavy rail. From
his pocket he pulled some rope, and
then he fastened one enc of the rail
to a fence-post, loosely. so that it
| worked as if on a huge hinge. Then
he hoisted the rail high in the air, up
right, fastening it there by a light pole,
used as a brace.
To this brace lie tied another piece
of rope, and then, holding the end of
the cord in his hand, he took his posi-
ton onSthe other side of the road. 1ear
the fence.
my spring traps ali complete now
he said, with a chuckle. I'm ready
for the game when it com IS along"
Any II who watched him might
have wondered what sort of game the
old man hoped to catch. He sat for
nearly an hour, resting his weary back
against the lowest fence-rail. The dried
leaves on the forest trees in the woods
TO his left rustled in the cool fall wind.
In his rather thin garments the old
man shivered.
Suddenly from down the road sound
ed a cry, like a lock of wild geese in
fight:
Honk! Honkl Honk!
"Tlere she blows..' cried tho old
man, jumping up. "Now for my trap:
If it only works!'
Around 4 bend in the road came a
big red automobile. 1t was speeding
along, the gay party in it laughing and
talking.
"Fifteen mile an hour if it's q foot"
mutterel Tod. He drew in his breath