Year: 1873


an obstinate judge, who told us the
case was very plain one, at the same
time taking good care not to tell us on
which side it was so plain.


Most of the testimony on both sides,
we were convinced, was false; and the
problem to be solved was one not unus-
ually presented in law-suits-to find
out the truth by striking balance be-
tween contradictory lies.


Being in for night of it, and hav
ing regained toward each other the
good temper we had lost in quarrelinS
over the case, the next point was how to
get through the time.


Somebody tell story suggested
the foreman. "Mr. Dopple, you're an
old settler, and must have met with
some adventures in pioneer times that
would be worth telling"


Well, / have seen some queer
things said Mr.. Dopple-" Uncle Joe"
his neishbors called him-a hale old
man of about sixty, with a face full of
good humor and good sense, 81 have
seen some queer things, but I'm not
much at nalratinc them


Never mind, Uncle Joe," we said,
you'll do it well enough"


Well, boys, if you'll excuse mis-
takes, Ill tell you about case that
might have turned out great deal
more seriously than this one


"Go on, was urged.


This is how it was," began Uncle
Joe, clearing his vocal hatchway by
rolling an immense quid into one check.
when I'd made up my mind to come
out here and buy, mother, as l call my
wife, she made Inc belt to carry my
money IN


Them was the days before green
backs, and bank-notes were no great
shakes if they got too far from home.
So land buyers mostly carried what
they had in specie, which they common
ly did in belts, buckled around their
bodics--a dodge the robbers soon got
upto, and the first thing they did when
they got hold of Il chap, was to look for
his money belt.


Well, l kissed mother, and bid her
good bye one morning, and set out to
hunt new home for us, carrying the
price of it in hard cash.


" Nothing worth mentioning hap
pened, till one night stopped at a
cabin and asked for lodging.


"'You can have it, was the answer
that is, providing You don't object to
sleeping double, for another strangers
here before YOU


Il didn't exactly like the idea; but
houses were scarce in them parts, and
not caring to risk going further, and
faring worse, l lit, and taking my sad
dlc-bags on my arm, led my critter
around to the stable, the proprietor
showing the way, and when old Roam
had been looked after, we went into
the house.


The other stranger was sitting by
the fire, and gave me sharp look as l
came forward.


Gas I sat he kept watching rhe sharp
1 didn't fancy his looks much, but af-
ter spell he managed to be quite
friendly, and it was always my way to
meet that sort of thing halfway.


He, too, was on the lookout to buy,
and we compared notes on the subject
till bedtime.


Our host was one of the sort O chaps
that listen a good deal without saying
much, and his wife looked as if she
daren't say much if she would.


" We paid our bills before going to
bed. The other traveller said he was
going before day; but as our roads
lay but little way together, I con-
cluded wouldn't rise so soon for the
sake of only thatmuch company. Sun
rise was early enough for me.


"Our sleeping room was one end of
the cabin partitioned off by itself.


"' It's long time since you and me
slept together, said the stranger, when
we were both ready to lay down.


"'S So it is,' said l. (Which side do
you take?'


"' Front, said he, if it's all the
same to you


"' All the same, said I, jumping in.


"The stranger followed, and don't
know what he did, but soon fell asleep.


don't know how early ~ lo+o -