Year: 1872




after your horse and cask."


Well on these terms the man was will
ing to go but he begged the Squire t.
be quick in putting his finger into th'
tap hole when he took his own out, ant
to mind and keep it there till he cam,
back. Yes. the Squire would do the bes
he could aud 60 the Master THE
mounted the horse and role off. AnC
titae went by, and hour after passed, ant
sIill no one came back. At last thu
Squire grew weary of standing ther,
with his finger in the tap hole. so he tool
it out.


''Now l shall hnve ten dollars more !!
groaned the old woman inside the cask
and then the Squire saw at once how the
land lay, and took himself off home
but he had not sone far before they mel
him with fresh horse. for the Maste,
Thief had already been to his house and
told them to send one.


The day after he came to the Squire
and would have his daughter as he had
given his word but the Squire put him
off again with fine words and gave him
two hundred dollars, and said he mus
do one more masterpiece If he could dc
that, he should have her. Well. well
the Master Thief he could do it, if bt
,nly knew what it was to- be


"Do you think, now" said the Squire
"you can steal the sheet off our bed and
the shift of my wif.'s back DO you
think you can do that p


alt shall be done" said the Master
Thief. Il only wi-h l was as sure oi
getting our daughter"


So when night began to fall, the Mas
ter Thief went out aud Gu. down a thiei
who hung on the gallows, and threw him
across his shoulders aud carried him off
Then he got long ladder and set it up
against the Squire's bed room window,
and 20 climbed up and kept the dead
man up and down, just for all the world
like one who was peeping in at the win.
dow


That's the Master Thief, old lass -
said the Squire. aud gave his wife a
nudge on the side.


Now see if l don't shoot him, that {
ALL"


No! No! Pray don't shoot him af.
ter telling him he might come and try
said his wife.


Don't talk to me. for shoot I will. -
said he; and he lay there aud aimed
and aimed; but as soon as the head
came up above the window. and he raw a
little of it. 80 soon was it down again -
At last he thought he had good aim
bang" went the gun, down fell the dead
body to the ground with heavy bump,
and down went the Master Thief too as
fast as he could


well" said the Squire. lit is quite
true that l am the chief magistrate OF
these parts; but people are fond of talk.
ing. and it would be bore if they came
to see this dead mans body l think
the best thing to be done is that l should
go down aud bury him.


You must do as you think best, dear >
said bis wife. So the Squire got out Of
bed and went down stairs, and he had
scarce put his foot out of the door before
the Master Thief stole in, and went
straight up stairs to his wife.


why, dear. back already! p said che,
for che thought it was her husband.


''Oh yes, only just put him into a
hole, and threw little oarta ovsr him -
1t is enough that he is out Of sight, for
it is such a bad night out of doors; by
and by I'll do it better. But just lei
me have the sheet to wipe myself with
he was so bloudy-and have made my
self in such mess with hin.''


So he got the sheet.


After a while he said


"Do you know | am afraid you must
let me have your night shift too. for the
sheet won't do by itself that l can see. u


So she gave him the shift also. Blu,
in-t then it came across his mind that he
had forgotten to lock the house door, so
he mu-t step down and look to that be-
fore he came back to bed. and away he
went with both shift and sheet.


A little while after came the right
Squire.


"Mhy. what time you've taken to
lock the door T. said his wife; and what
have you done with the sheet and shiftl


What do you say!' said the Squire


why. I'm asking you what you have
done with the sheet and shift that you
had to wipe off the blood p said she


'What. in the devils name r. said
the Squire, "has he taken me in this
time too 7"


Next day came the Master Thief and
asked for the Squire's daughter. as hi
had promised; and then the Squire dart
not do anything else than give her tc
him. and good lump Of money into the
bargain; for to tell the truth. he wal
at, aid le-t the Master thief should stea
the eyes out of his head. and that ,ht
people would begin to cay spitefni thing
of him if he broke bis word So tn
Master Thief lived well and happily