The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-04-13
He Took II to His Owner.
IOrigInal.1

and multimlllionaires are fencing in
thousands Of acres we are getting pre-
serves such as they have in England.
There are number of these estates in
New Hampshire, where all kinds Of
game are preserved, from a pheasant to
deer. A gentleman whom we shall
call Keith owns one Of them, though he
Is a very busy man and seldom goes
there. Tom Dealy is the gamekeeper,
and Tom has a son Richard, commonly
called Dickey, seven years old. There
is lots of honesty in childhood, and 1t
usually stamps itself on childish faces.
Any one looking into Diclcys honest
countcnance would intrust him with
untold riches.
One afternoon In October Dicliey was
out on one of the hills included in the
estate more than mile from the lodge
in which he lived. Suddenly he heard
a shot, and pheasant fell not hun
dred feet from him. In another mo-
ment man with gun and game bag
advanced from an opening in the trees
and was about to pick up the bird
when he was arrested by "Hl, there"
Looking up, he saw Dickey. The
sun shone full in his face. His hat
was thrown back, permitting the red
autumn rays to fall full on the boys
face. which expressed dlsapprobation.
The man paused and, resting the butt
of his gun ON the ground, regarded
Dlckey curiously.
"Well, what is itT
"Let that pheasant alone. It doesn't
belong to you. II is the property Of
Mr.. Keith, Who owns this place"
"what right has Mr.. Keith to it more
than II"
"He bought 1t with money"
"IIow did he get the moneyT
"Made It,"
Honestly? Are you sure he didn't
rob the pcople--frecze out a lot of stock
holders in some of his numerous
schemes and appropriate the properties
TO himself"
81 don't know anything about bat.
know that's not your pheasant. lts
his, and you let II alone"
"Mayn't as well have 1t as to per-
NIT it TO rot where It is?"
"No. II won't rot I'll take care of
It."
"What'll you do with it-take It home
for supper?"
"No. I'll take It to my father He's
the keeper. He'll turn 1t in to Mr..
Keith"
"How will l know that it reaches
| Mr. Keith"
"You have my word for It,"
"How do know your father won't
keep IL for himselfY
Because it's his business to see that
all game here is turned in"
: ''That seems TO you good reason,
| but because n man is employed to see
that his employer gets his own he
| doesn't always do 1t. However, you
! look and talk like an honest boy. If
you'll give me your word of honor to
take the pheasant yourself to Mr.. Keith
Wen say no more about it,"
| "Course | will"
The man shOuldered his gun and
walked away. leaving the pheasant
where it lay, Dickcy advanced, picked
up the pheasant and, carrying it by the
! legs, started off in n different direction
from that taken by the poacher When
he reached home supper was ready
| but as soon as it was over he took up
| the pheasant and started for the resi-
I dence Of It's owner. At the door he
handed it to the hutler, giving him an
account Of its killing, and was about to
turn away when the butler told him To
come In. Dickey. still carrying the
pheasant, entered the spacious hall lost
in wonder and was shown into n H.
| brary with more books on the shelves
| than he had ever dreamed Of, There
he waited, wondering why he was de
| talned, til presently he heard foot
step in the hall. and n man entered the
room. Dickcy was thundcrstruck. He
was the man who shot the pheasant
"Well, my lad" he said, 81 see you
have kept your promise Give me the
bird"
"Wel--I reckon-leastways-I said
I'd give 1t TO Mr.. Keith"
"I'm MIR. Keith"
Still Dickcy didnt deliver the prop
erty. lie ,stOod looking at the man
with Il puzzled expression. Finally be
said
"You said you wouldn't trust my IA
ther to deliver tho bird. How am IA
believe you're Mr.. Kelth?"
The man smiled. MY boy" he said
IL am in need Of men every day-hun
dreds of them-who have the attri
butes that are collected in that little
body of yours. won't ask you to be
lieve that I'm Mr.. Keith, but ] am.
came here last night for n brief rest
Take the pheasant back to your motn
er and tell her to cook it for your din
ner tomorrow. And tell your father
want to see him."
Dlckcy looked from the man to Tho
pheasant and from the pheasant TO The
man, Then he said:
"Woud You mind giving me bit o.
writing to show my father about it,"
"Not at ALL" and. sitting at n desk