Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-09-28

Il
get up to the window, Joe?" / asked
jerking on my shoes.
Ladder" was the laconic reply.
whats the matter anyway" I ask
ed.
81 w-w-went up to the g-g-gin hous'
about m-midnight to put t-t-them tw'
bales Of c-c-cotton under the s-s-shet
out of t-t-the rain. J-j-just as 1 30
my lantern d-d-down under the SIS
shed I s-s-saw f-f-four m-m-men al
-huddled up in a c-c-corner. W.
when they s-s-saw t-t-that I s-s-saV
them one of t-t-them p-p-p-ointed TT
m-m- me to h-h-h-hold u-u-up MN.
my hands. w-while I was standing
there like a f-f-fool with my hand.
above m-m-my head the other three
left. The other f-f-fellow w-who wore
Man, mask told me II wanted tt
keep Mummy brains in my head tc
just b-b-b-be q-q-quiet till he left
T-they w-w-went down b-b-by the
pumpkin p-p-p-patch and old z-z-z'
zack kickin' up a t-t-terrible r-r-row
down there. L-let's g-g-go!"
AS we were dressed by this time, Joe
crawled out the window and tumbled
down the ladder, we followed closely
We could hear old Zack's loud, deer
barking, but by the time we had de-
scended the ladder he ceased.
Guess they're gone" Ladson lyasped
as we set off at a run for the pump
kin patch. In an incredibly short
time, Ladson, who was a swift run
ner, had left us far behind.
Us h-he r-r-runnin' or fiyin'?" pant
ed Joe at my side.
Seems like he's doing little OF
BOTH" 1 answered.
Not till the pumpkin patch was
reached did we catch up with Ladson
There we found him, inside the enclo-
sure, sitting on one Of the smaller
pumpkins. his face buried in his hands
BY his side. lying in a limp huddle
was the faithful dog. 1t took only a
glance to see what was wrong. Lad
sons big pumpkin was gone!
For full minute we stood staring al
the seemingly lifeless dog and at the
tracks beside the indentation in the
ground where Ladson's big pumpkin
had been. Ladson was the most lugu-
brious specimen of human disappoint-
ment that l have ever seen. But, sor-
ry as 1 was for him and as keenly as
felt the disappointment could
scarcely repress a laugh as he sat there
on the small pumpkin, rain dripping
from his tousled hair.
Cheer up lad, old boy" I said, con-
solingly. "Those thieves will be caught
for If I'm not badly mistaken, they
intend taking 1t to the fair and win
ming the prize"
Il think you are all wrong, Bob" Lad
son answered. ANY one with any
common sense would not run the risk
of serving a sentence in Jail for cash
prize of twenty-five dollars" -
I'll w-would like to g-g-get hold
of t-t-them r-r-rascals who held m-m-
me up at t-t-the g-g-gin house." Chin
ed Joe vehemently. lid shake h-h-
half t-t-their lives out for t-t-taking
the pumpkin, and b-b-beat a part
of the r-r-remainder out for hurting
my d-d-dog." Here Joe made ges-
ture Of such intense rage and shook
himself so vigorously that we smiled
grimly in spite of ourselves.
I'VE might have tracked them in
the morning, but this rain will, by
then, have entirely effaced their
tracks," Ladson said, as we stood look
ing down at my pumpkin. Better not
run the risk of leaving your pumpkin
here till morning." he added, kneeling
by the side of the PROSTATE dog.
Poor fellow! me and you have re-
ceived the cross without the crown,
suppose" he said, taking the dog up In
his arms and starting towards the
house at brisk walk.
In a few minutes Joe and follow
ed. Joe carried my pumpkin which he
declared weighed a hundred pounds
and carried Joe's lantern which made
only q bright blur in the dense dark
ness.
We reached the house safely and put
the pumpkin in the cellar. Joe's dog
which had been rendered unconscious
by a blow on the head, had, by this
time, partly recovered and was able tc
walk about in a crazed and ludicrous
fashion.
When morning came we related the
occurrence of the night to Mr.. Bright
We'll boys" he said when we hac
finished" it is needless for me to say
am sorry this has happened. But yor
were not the only ones robbed las
night. A friend has just 'phoned me
that the Charlotte bank was robbed Of
three thousand dollars and the cash.
Ter seriously shot. The burglars were
captured this morning about sun up
just across the river, but they hat
none of the money with them and re-
fuse to tell where they hid it. So tht
city authorities have offered three
hundred dollars reward to the person
or persons who find it and return it t.
the mayor"
"Whew! wish we could find tina
money and get the reward" Ladsor
exclaimed, as we went down to the eel
lar where the beautiful pumpkin wa
weighed and the prize awarded. Tht
pumpkin weighed ninety-eight ant
one-half pounds. Pumpkin at a dol
lar per pound" said Mr.. Bright, smil
ing kindly, as he handed me hundred
dollar bank note.
Ladson bore his disappointment lik
a hero, and though he obstinately re
fused to accept half the prize which
persisted was his by right, he hearth!
congratulated me on having won.
Next day we, in company with tn
big hearted "Stuttering Joe," left TO
Charlotte where we spent three day
at the fair. My pumpkin being tn
largest exhibited won the prize, whicl
gave to Ladson. But we saw noth
ing of Ladson's pumpkin; nor did W
find the slightest trace of same.
Guess them r-r-rascals m-m- MAD
| a E, ,;a ont Of II loo 1aala red -