The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-19

the steeds after him. "What devilments this now? What ye want? What ye don' round here this time O night?" He spied two other huddled forms. "Come out that" he thundered. "Fixin' to steal my peaches, hey? I'll fix ye! Come here. Don't ye run CT I'll use my gun on ye
 'eWe-we just come for our horses, the Captain finally managed to artlcu- late; we've don't steal peaches.
 "Ye don't, hey? Come fer your horses! He glared. Be these brutes yourn? He glared again, at every one successively. Every one felt himself addressed. Three trefnulous and successive "yes, sirs' re- warded the query.
 "Well, I'm glad ye've come" said the man ominously. We're jest who I'm lookfn' fer. This devil here (yanlxing Will liam) has ct up 'n' knocked down at least a bushel of my finest peaches-nary one s left on my ch'icest tree I was savin' fer the fair" His wrath choked him. He paused for control. The captain inno- gently felt that some response was awaited.
 ''Yes, s-sir, he-he-he-likes peaches" he trembled politely.
 The mans eyes distended. He made threatening movement toward the gate.
 ''He does, hey?" he yelled. "Wel, I'll peach him fer ye. N this here carcass" he continued yanlxing Oklahoma Belle. "bas smashed nine punlins, ruined my womans petuny beds, ct all the tops often my cane broke--' Words again failed him. He made a despairing gesture. "--by hookeyi' Then, 'N' ye've got to pay me fer it, by ---!" he broke out, dye live? Where's yer fathers? What's yer names?" He glared at them in turn again, lastly at Private Bill.
 "W- Willie
 willie what?'
 "O-Osborne."
 "Where dye live-in town?
 The captains heart gave thud. He recalled how Tow Saunders had run off to Pawnee, and the police had found it out and put him in the cooler till his father came.
 "N-no, sir" began Private Bill vera ciousy; i've live in
 Nav, we don't either" interposed the captain desperately; we've live out two mfles-on-on farnl-we do.'
 "On a farm-be ye brothers?"
 The captain gasped. The mans tone implied that he the captain, had implied that they were. He had evidently com. mitted himself.
 
 "Strilxes me you n him. indicating the Aid de Camp, "are pretty near of a size to be brothers-'n' ye don't look like twins commented the man. Don't ye go lyin' to me!'
 But the captain had gone too far for retreat. "N-N-no, sir, IT wouldn't. We ain't twins" he trembled but we-we're prit' near it." he wound up hopefully.
 Huh! Well, what's yer name?
 Earl"
 Earl what, by gracious?"
 Hilton"
 '.Hitonr'-he addressed Private Bill. Didn't yet say yourn was Osborne?'
 ''Yes. sir" faintly.
 He turned to the captain. How comes 1t yourn's Hilton?'
 The captain prepared to die Then he rolled upon Aid de Camp look that ought to have solaced that parsonage for the ingratitude of others through life.
 That's his middle name,' the the Aid de Camp was saying assurlngly; The thought you knowed his othern'
 'Well, I've an idee we're all lyin'," de- clared the old man, Tn l ain't goin to take no chances. I'll keep these critters. m ye c'n go home n tell per paw, n he c'n come m settle fer the damage they've don, m git em. N tell him to be quick about it, too CT I'll skin 'em. I'll get somethin' outen their durned hides. Yer paws got a farm ye say. n likely he's pretty well-to-do, while ye c'n see I'm a."
 'Awnk-ee! awnS-ee! awnk-ee!"
 It was only the pensive voice of William, but for some reason it seemed to enrage the old man more than anything else had done. He kicked the donkey with both feet then turned on the terrified urchins. "-Pm a poor man." he roared; "'n' 1 have to live on my garden truck. You hike right now, m don't ye stop till ye tell yer fool dad to come n pay me, CT I'll have the law on all ofAye.'
 They hiked Planting, stumbling, sob ping with fright. they reached the creek. Here Private Bill, with a seeming genius for misfortune, missed the foot-bridge and lit in two feet of muddy water They dragged him out by his sailor collar, which was the only thing nautical about him. and not until they. found themselves in the alley back of the town did they slacken speed. They stole around behind the buildings and into passageway be- tween two of them. These happened to be the bank and the cafe Here they paused to face the situation It was truly ap- palling: they would have to continue the expedition on foot, for how could they ever hope to redeem their noble steeds (the captain shuddered, lost in s sick ening vision of William skinned) and they stared at one another with horror they could have no supper either! Coffee,