The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-13

attitude of a stranger who had lost
his way. This was evidently the con-
clusion arrived at by an object hid
den in the hedge which had proved
his nights lodging. The object sprang
out across the ditch with a suddennesS
alarm, to be soothed by the gentle pat
of it's riders hand, for the imperturb
able Armstrong seemed surprised at
nothing that took place. The object
had the wild, unkempt appearance Of
one who habitually slept out Of doors.
His long and matted hair, emaciated
face and ragged beard, no less than
his tattered clothing, or covering rath-
er, made up of odds and ends Of vari
Gus costumes, formed combination
by no means attractive. He held in his
hand, grasped by the middle, a long
stick, somewhat taller than himself.
MY gay gentleman" he cried cheer
fully, will you pay the price of FOOLS
adviceY
You haven't given me any"
1.-THE advice all depends on what you
pay for it, Let me see the coin, then
I'll show you my wares. We differ in
this, that I'll take whatever you give
me, but you can take my advice or not,
as you please"
The horseman threw him a coin,
which the object clutched in midair
with great experiences and examined
eagerly.
THANK you, gay gentleman. The ad-
vice is to turn your fine horse end for
end and get back among the fools of
your own kidney. We are always safer
among our own kind"
Are there any cattle for sale here
about? l see none in the fields"
Il sometimes sell cattle myself" said
the object, with cunning look.
1T does not seem a very prosperous
business, then. Where do you get your
stock!'
"Oh, pick it up on the roads. You'll
find no cattle on the way to Carlisle
The country is swept bare in that di-
rection. But 1 can lead you to fine
herd if you make it worth my while"
I'm which direction?"
Down this way. Come along. Are
you after any particular breedY
mo. Anything there's money in"
you're just like me-" said the va
grant, with a laugh, as he strobe off
down the unfrequented road. The OBJ
ject walked with incredible speed,
laughing to himself now and then, and
Armstrong was forced to trot his horse
to keep UP with him. On arriving at
a slight eminence the guide waved his
long arm toward stealing in the val
leys, which looked like a deserted
group of farm buildings, and said:
There's a fine lot of cattle down
yonder."
Il can see no signs Of them"
mo, no! They're we'll stabbed. Moth
ing lasts in the fields nowadays.
They're not such fools as that. This
herdsman knows when to keep his
beasts in shelter" And with this the
vagabond raised a shrill shout that
echoed from the opposite hills.
What are you crying like that for:"
asked Armstrong, without showing any
alarm.
"Oh, just to let the farmer know
we're coming. Always give friendly
warning in these parts, and then you
may not get something in your inside
that's hard to digest. That's a fools
advice and costs you nothing
Your cry meets with no response"
said Armstrong, laughing at the shall
low cunning of his treacherous guide,
for his keen eyes noted crouching figures
making way along the other side of
hedge, and he knew that If he went
down the lane, at whose junction with
the road the beggar stood with re-
pressed eagerness, he would find him
self surrounded. Nevertheless he fol-
lowed without betraying any knowl-
edge of the trap he was entering.
As they neared the farmhouse q
voice cried sharply Haiti and an
armed man sprang up from behind the
hedge, cutting off retreat, if such had
been attempted. While the others
made through the hedge to the lane.
the tattered man as nimbly put the
hedge between himself and his vic
tim. as il fearing reprisal. laughing