Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1902 — THE SHOTE WAS THERE. [ARTICLE]

THE SHOTE WAS THERE.

Why One Old Farmer Think. He Would Make a Good Detective.

“Guess I wouldn’t have much trouble gittin on the ’tective staff in Detroit es I wanted ter make appellation,” and the old farmer kicked a log in the open fireplace so that he could see his neighbors better. They were assembled to hear him tell all about it. “When I missed that shote outen the pen, next mornin it jest came terne sudden as ligbtnin that it had been stole by that ther George Washington Pepperville what had been workin fur me. He knowed the dog, so it wouldn’t bother him none, and he was the powerfulest man fur fresh pork I ever see. So I goes inter town and tells the head man of the ’tectives, and he puts a couple of fellers on the job. and they reports that they was no shote about Pepperville’s shanty, and they was no case ag’in him. I ’lowed I might be follerin the wrong track, but I kim home here and sot my own stakes, and I was to Pepperville’s afore sunup.

“ ‘Wash,’ I says, ‘why didn’t you keep that hog when you had him? Wasn't he fat ’nough yit ter suit you?’ “ ‘Who you talkin to?’ he muttered. ‘l’ll hab de law on you es you make me any mo’Trouble ffiouFdat hawg.’ “ ‘Now, Wash,’ says I, ‘don’t git your dander up. That there shote kim home in the night and went ter squealin ter git inter the pen. I put ole Rastus on the scent, and be landed me right here.’ “ ‘Dog gone dat Rastus,’ he shouted, ‘l’ll flay .dat dog alibe!’ “And he sprung ter the middle of the room and ripped up the floorin, and there was the shote. Wash would have jumped on me, but I jest kivered him with that ole murzle loadin pistol of mine and tole him ter go gentlelike. “Well, sir, he begged and whined so I let him off, him agreein ter tote the pig home in a bag and ter chop wood fur me three days fur my trouble.”— Detroit Free Press.