Year: 1871

| The boys may he right, though
Susan, after ALL said the doctor
sWe1l try plan to prove it tonight.
Then, if there is a thief somewhere,
as Sam says, well BEE if we can't find
him.. Core, boys, time to 60 TO
work


| It was the doctors practice to saw
the household wood every evening.
Not that there was any necessity,
Sam and John both being half grown
but he liked the exercise, and tho't
it benefit to HIM. So they all three
worked together-he saving and
they splitting.


They were at the wood shed, hard
at work N ten minutes. After the
house wood was all provided, the
doctor sawed an extra quantity, both
dry and green, and told the boys to
split and put pile on each side,


Now, them he said, when they
were done, don't disturb stick OF
this when You carry the wood in
Let it be just as it is tonight, and in
the morning we'll come out and take
Items


Sam and John obeyed like we'll
regulated boys, and were out early
III the morning to see how the land,
or rather the wood lay.


The pile of green wood lay just az
they had left it, the dry had entirely
disappeared.


So,' said the doctor, there is
thief


we said there was, father, we said
So cried Sam


| i wonder who on earth it is !! cried
John.


That's more than we know yet
said the doctor.


I'd watch the wood pile, that's
what u do SAID Sam. ia watch
the wood pile, and when I caught the
rascal, Id cure him, you bet'
Would you p said the doctor good
naturedly.


We'll, perhaps would too. Wait
and see. Only You boys be perfect
~ dumb to-day, about this business.
Don't give hint to any one, and I'll
get on the track tonight.
The boys vowed that tortures
should not make them tell, and then
they returned to the house, to report
progress to Mrs Susan.
1t happened that there lived not
great ways from DR.. Hollis, dis
reputable sort of fellow, thriftless,
shiis!ess, idle vagabond, by the name
of Stipes. To him the good doctors
suspicion turned at once. But he
determined to say nothing, not even
to his wife, until he hal watched
that night and discovered the true
tibet.


However, as he was ri ling out that
afternoon, he was met by this very
man Stipes, who asked him to visit
a sick child at his house. DR.. Hollis
willingly complied, not being alto
gethcr without reason OF his own.


The child was only slightly ailing,
and while prescribing some simple
remedy, the doctor quietly sent his
eyes on a voyage of discovery. Not
entirely without success, either, for
in the corner, bv the old FIRE place,
they spied a pile OF nice dry wood
smoothly sawed ani split, which
looked very familiar.
And on his way out, passing
through the yard, he carefully noted
that on the spot which litter of
chips and a few old chunks and knots
indicated as the place OF deposit OF
the wood pile, lay an old axe, but
no signs Of saw, saw'lust or saw
buck.


Aha. he don't saw his wood then"
observed the doctor. Now, I not
only know there is tibet, but |
know who he is. And that cuts the
question down to how he shall be
punished


The remainder of tie afternoons
riding was occupied by these cogita-
tions of DR.. Hollis, npon the subject
OF justice in the case OF Stipes. And
before the good man went home, he
had fallen upon plan which he
thought would prove safe and eft.
fectual cure. And propose to re
late to you how he carried out his
plans.


Before supper he held short pri.
vate conference with Mrs Susan, in
winch he disclo ed to her, as a good
husband should do, his suspicious,
his discoveries and his intentions.
And at the table, he informed the
whole family that he meant to watch.
at the wood pile, and find out the
thief.


Sam and John begged valiantly to
be allowed to share his watch, but
he told them he didn't want any mar
plots about-which insinuation the
ambitious youths resented with vlr-
tuous indignation. They were, how
ever, bade to remain quietly in the
house with their mother, and the doc
tor made ready for his exit.
He put on his overcoat, tied
warm fur cap down about his ears,
| put over his boots pair of soft fur
overshoes, which would enable him
to walk without noise, and having
drawn on his buckskin gauntlets, was
fully equipped.


AT least, father, you'll take the
gun cried Sam as he touched the
door knob.


What for, Sam? l don't want to
shoot anybody


But the thief might hurt you.'


Very well-in that case I should
not be in fix to use it. Don't be
scared, Sam, nobody will get hurt


lie opened the door and went out
into the night. leaving Sam in high
dudgeon at the doubt cast on his
bravery, which, by the way, being
the son OF his fathe",' was in no wise
to be doubted. Not that Sam or
Sans bravery have great deal to
do with our story, but | just like to
| A. -, 49,. 90