The New era-leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1911-1912, 1911-08-04

~ mucn II8nJ 10 tine highway NJ you
have. q watching. and you didn't
turn out An inch"
Il I'm willing to pay the value Of the
goose" said Miss Mildred az she
opened her purse.
Very well, miss. My price IL $5O!"
What! What! Fifty dollars for =
goose!"
Don't you give him over so cents!"
put in coachee.
Fifty dollars, miss. and not q cent
less!" said the farmer as he set his
jaw. Il don't set that value on him
simply as an old gander, but because
he has licked a fox and q hawk In q
fair fight. One night, when q robber
was trying to get into the house this
old gander gave the alarm. ! had only
to watch his actions to tell the wealth
er three days In advance. Oh, yes.
you will have to pay the $50. and am
letting you of cheap at that"
But l won't pay it," famed the girl.
1T is simply ridiculous. I'll pay a dol
lar and no more"
Not another cent" added the coach
man.
Very well. ! am a constable, and l
arrest you both for malicious destruc-
tion of property. Drive to the village
and I will have you arraigned in
COURT"
Whereupon he climbed up beside the
driver and gave the word to go on.
Had he not declared himself an officer
he would have been pitched out. To
pitch an officer from a carriage on his
head into the highway ID no joke in
law. The coachman was glum. and
the girl bit her handkerchief to keep
back the words Of sass that rose to
her lips. and the remainder Of the
drive was not enjoyed by anyone.
On arriving in the village the car
riage was driven straight to the Office
of q justice of the peace, and Miss Mil.
'dred's feelings passed from indigna-
ton to fear.
Just how the briefiess young lawyer
happened to be in the village need not
be explained, but he was there and
saw the carriage and came to know
what had happened. After ten min
utes talk with the coachman he en-
tered the courtroom to nod to the girl
prisoner, and to inform the Justice
that he was her counsel in the case
Then and there occurred an episode.
The prisoners were a~rraigned, and the
Lawyer Chester drew a long breath
and prepared to do or die.
The killing Of the old gander was
admitted. 1t was admitted that he was
the property of the plaintiff. 1t was
further admitted that he had a legal
right on the kings highway, but there
the question of value. Even in
the city of New York. at Thanksgiving
or Christmas time, a tough old gander
was not worth over a dollar in the
market. That sum had been offered
the owner and rejected.
Fifty dollars for a goose? Whoever
heard Of the like? The cackling of
geese saved Rome, but not one Of the
flock brought over two dollars after
wards. Malicious destruction Of goose
life? Why, his clients were not aware
that such a gander was In existence!
That gander had fought a hawk and a
fox. but 1t was that same %belligerent
spirit that had brought about his
death. He was more of a menace to
the highway than the carriage.
Mr.. Chester spoke for an hour. He
waved his arms. He Numbered. He
quoted decisions. He appealed. He
his cas- and went over t o the girl
smiling.
"Just like my uncle!" she laughed.
yes, this Is my first case, and It is
about q goose"
And your next, let us hope"
"Will be about a young lady, and |
feel that shall win thatl"
Miss Mildred blushed and turned
away. The case may not be called for
some little time yet, but Mr.. Chester
has confidence in the plea he has pre-