The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-05-15

| heads are better than two IN ms
understanding"
The young farmer continued smil
ing for minute, but before Lucy
had finished her story he had become
! very grave.
"Get her a lunch, Jennie" ne sud
denly exclaimed. Shes half-starved
l know" Then he ran to the Darn
and it was with difficulty that Lucy
was kept from following him.
In very few minutes he was back
and at the telephone, calling up the
produce-dealers and butchers of Nor
ton. He learned nothing there The
old teams gone, and so are the bobs, )"
he said to his wife. Turning TO Lucy
he asked:
did your father ever employ
fellow named Lem Decker?
Eyes, last summer: but father said
he was good for nothing"
"Your father is an excellent judge.
the young man remarked, grlmly.
Did you ever hear of Frank Min
err"
why, yes. Lem said he had work
ed for him, off and on
Exactly. Well, I'm Miner, and our
friend Lem has got your pork and
my team. He took the team when
YOUR horse gave out. And he's gone
to Bolton, to sell the pork, I'm pretty
sure. Now eat your lunch, and get
ready to go with me-"
Lucy was so nearly famished that
she had barely finished her meal
when a cutter drove up to the door.
Darkness was coming on, as they
dashed off up the road, and went
hurrying westward over country
wholly new to her. The young horse
needed no urging, and its driver made
no effort to check its headlong flight.
What makes you SO sure it was
Decker?' Lucy asked.
because he left his old mittens
in the barn, and took my new driv-
ing gloves. l knew he was worth
less vagabond. but this is greater
crime than l supposed : him to be
ago: and l suppose he saw your
sleigh, recognized it, and thought he
could get the money for the pork
and escape before being followed
An hour passed, and the swift
young horse never slackened its pace
With seeming tirelessness, the ami
NAL mounted long hill, and the
lights of a village cleaned far ahead.
A sleigh could be seen against the
whiteness of field at the foot OF
the slope.
That's Bolton" said Mr.. Miner.
"and I think there's our man"
Down the hill and across the fiat
they shot like an arrow, rapidly ap'
preaching the sleigh. When within
hailing distance. Mr.. Miner shouted:
wait minute, Lem!"
The man addressed dropped the
lines, sprang out and ran through an
orchard at one side of the read. His
pursuer made no attempt to follow
him, but instead called scothingly to
the team, till the horses recognized
his voice and slowed to walk, when
he hurried to their heads and stop
ped them.
They were within a half-mile OF
Bolton, and over thirty miles from
Lucy's hcme. They slowly went on
to the village, the girl we'll pleased
at driving such a spirited, although
gentle horse; Miner was in charge
of the team ahead.
At Bolton they stopped long enough
to call up Mr.. Rogers at the Corners.
Lucy learned that her mother had
been there, but had gone home, leav-
ing a neighbor's son to wait for news,
should anything be heard before the
store was closed. The girl explained
that she would go back to Mr.. Min
er's house, and would return home,
after disposing Of the pork, on the
following day.
It was past midnight when she
reached a warm bed, feeling so cold
and exhausted that it seemed to her
she would never be comfortable
again. But by morning she had al
most forgotten her fatigue.
Old Side was also refreshed, and
she so humored his pace that he
reached Mr.. Walden's blacksmith
shop at the Corners in fair condition,
after leaving the pork at Mr.. Blake
slices.
Once shod. he went blithely home
ward nausinp only to "SidoStep' at
the two intervening hills. Lucy found
her father much better; his worry
had apparently conquered the quinsy,
by causing him to forget it. OF course
the daughter came in for warm
praise, although she was gently child