The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-08
An Able Advocate

lessor Driesbacll got his wife.
Professor Herman Drlesback, bota-
mist, seeking specimens In Arizona,
rode up TO a tavern. hitehed his horse
to a post, went into the house and
called for something 10 eat. 10 say
that the professor was engrossed in
his profession to the exclusion Of all
else IL to convey but faint idea of
his enthrallment.
But the moment had come when an
other kind OF fora crossed Professor
Drlesback's path to turn bis mind tenn
porarily In a new channel. While he
was sitting at table eating his dinner
and thinking on the latest varieties OF
plants be had picked up a girl In a
short skirt, cowhide boots, buckskin
leggings and sombrero entered the
room and. depositing a rife In cor
ner, sat down at the table opposite the
man Of science.
"Mornin'. stranger" she said. "Don't
know who you are, but I'm Kate Nc
Clennon, ranchman's daughter. Who
are your"
Professor Herman Driesback Of -
university, at your service"
Now, the professor was thirty-two
years OF age and, although he wore
spectacles, had pair Of mild blue
eyes behind them, with which he look
ed at Kate McClennon. If Kate was
revelation to the professor the pro-
fessor was revelation to Kate, whose
gentlemen admirers had thus far been
made up Of cowboys. gamblers and
such like rude material. The acquaint-
ance develops more rapidly than GRO
cuses IN springtime After the meal
both arose. The girl took her rife, and
they went out to where the professor
bad hitched his horse. Learning that
the girl was going his way. he offered
her a seat In his rattietrap buggy,
which she accepted, and they took
their departure In company.
They had not gone a mile when
there was clatter OF horses hoofs
behind, shot over their heads, and
before the young woman could get her
rife in position for defense man
rode up, crying:
"Halt, you horse theft"
Now, that the professor was horse
thief was proved by his own state
ment When asked the color Of his
horse he frankly ayowed that he was
black, while the hue of the nag he
was driving was white.
II didn't take the people whereabouts
long TO collect jury OF twelve good
and true men to try the professor.
There were no lawyers in those parts,
but Professor Driesbach was assigned |
counsel in the person of a cowpuncher
who had spent three months in town
lawyers office. The professor was
permitted to make bis statement He
said he had driven up to the tavern,
hitched his horse, gone out, got into
bis buggy and driven away. But since
meanwhile his horse had changed |
from black to white his story did not
impress people who had heard much
more probable stories from horse steal
ers. His counsel was stumbling along
with a cock and bull story $50 1t was
considered) OF a real horse thief hav-
ing taken the prisoners good black
horse and substituted a poor white
one when Kate McClennon took a
hand in the proceedings.
What do you ROSTERS mean any
way? know this here gentleman and
have known him since be was kid. |
Him and me used to play together In
his mothers yard back In Missouri"
Professor Driesbaeh opened bis eyes.
when he was six years DID, con-
tinued his advocate. ''he had fit.
After that he kept having fits. Then
he began to steal things Mother
couldn't keep anything In the cubbard
but he'd come in and steal it. And |
couldn't save any pennies because he'd
git 'em In spite Of all could do TO
hide EN-. DO you s'pose / told on him
and got him lickeds Not much.
What'd l wnnt to git kid that had
Ats and scarlet fever and spinal menln-
gifts into trouble for?"
The professor held his breath In
amazement.
And how could any one handicap
ped this way as boy expect to make
1 man Of himself? or course he's a
horse thief, and any one OF you who'd
had chicken pox and measles and
humps and fits when yon was boy
would make horse thief yourselves
when you grew up. This here prisoner
throws himself on the mercy Of the
court"
Before the plea was half finished the
minds OF the iurymen were made up,
ind Professor Driesback was acquit-
ed without their leaving the boards
IN which they sat.
After the verdict the court, the ac-
united man. his attorneys and the
spectators went outside and were
lbout to dispense when a couple of
men were seen driving
nan on black horse before them at
he points of their revolvers They
anne up and stopped before the crowd.
Good gracious" exclaimed the pro-
essor, that's my horsef' Then to the
nan on his back, where did you find
limp
Find himw growled one OF his
yards He took him."
I'D been watchin'," said the thief,
an when you drew up to the tavern
took a white boss standin' near an
'ut him in place o yourn l knowed
'ou was weak in the upper story an
d gain time"
A rope was brought for the horse