The Washington herald., 1908-06-07
Almost
KeEChed!
That's WhOt a Chicken
Thief Was by Hamr
GOOkinS-H Horrible De-
tails Give Below!

AS everybody knows Hame Gookins
has had several chickens stole outen his
henhouse Of late. Hame he advertised
in the Bugle that unless said chicken
thefts stopped the law must take its
course. but Hame's chickens continued
to disappear with painful regularity
Hame got desperit becuz he only had
about seven dominecker hens. including
one rooster. left, so he went 10 Seth
Dewberry. our herOick town constubble.
and put the case in Seth's hanoa. Seth
told him he would try 70 run re Gull
prits to earth as soon as possible Con-
stubble Dewberry according cleend up
his pistol and determind 10 watch the
premises last Wensday night. II was
about p. m when Seth TUX his
pOsishion neer the henhouse behint
large hogshead in the back Of Hame's
lot unbeknOwnst to nobuddy. Seth allus
finds when he is a chasin criminals
il is better to keep your plans TO your
self
Seth he had hts pistil loadened up 70
the brim and he scrouched down behint
the hogshead and waited. Seth KEEP
watchin with his eye on the henhouse
door and his pistol clenched ia his
right hand reddy TO shoot at tia drop
of hat, as you might say. Long about
midnight Seth's hair stood stTate up on
end as the hennouse door opend and a
man slept out Whot surprised Seth
was how did the theef git into the hen
house without being saw? Seth he lowed
he must Of dropt off TO sleep and thus
/ give the theef a chanst 70 enter Seth's
| first thOrt was to holler at the theef
and politely asst him to yacate the
premises, but he was afeerd this might
/ brighten him away. Then he thort Of
| his trusty pistil witch he had forgot he
/ he'd ana he prest his finger TO the
/ trigger, but his hand shuk 50 that the
pistil went of with a defining report
and the bullet went clean through the
| hogshead. Seth then jumpt 10 his feet.
but before he could excape the chicken
theef rusht upon him and they clincAed
| in a struggle to the deth The theef
/ tripped Seth and throwd him down. fall
ing on top Of him and most squeezing
the breth outen his boldly Then th,.
theef set a straddle Of Seth and hit him
a turrible crack on the jaw. IF YOU hit
me again like that" hollers Seth. I'll
arrest yew on the spot an | give yew
fair warnfn-do you reeulize that you're
resisting a officer whot is the constubble
Of Bingville."
At these turrible words the Iheef got
up offen Seth and reeched into his
pocket and struck a match and helt II
dohwn to Seth's face and saw II was
Seth, and Seth saw that the theef was
none other than Hame Gookins. whose
chickens had been stole
Hame he apologiZed 10 Seth for whot
he had went and did 20 his face. but
Seth he wouldn't except the apology and
said that he l1nowd his rights and would
Arrest Hame for a salt and battery
Hame explained to Seth that he had
concealed himself into the henhousC
about dark, expecting TO watch out fOI
the chicken theefs hisself, but wAer
they didn't arrive by midnite he started
for the house. and seeing Seth thort H.
was the theef
Seth he cooled down a little mite ard
Hame TUX him into the house by the
fire and helpt him warsh off tne blood
/ on his face and gave him leetle mir
! of Ticker to cheer him up and while
they was a talkin they hecrd chilclSe1
squawk and rushed outen the house only
TO diskuvver that the henhouse door
was open and that four more pullett:
had been stole.