me a man passed through the country
that was acquainted with Arndt's antecedents, and being a dirty dog he
thought it was his duty to inform the farmer that his hired man was an
ex-convict, horse-thief and a desperado of the worst type. Some men are
so officious and are so anxious to do their duty when it is in their
power to injure a fellow-man who is trying to earn an honest living. Gus
immediately got the "bounce." He was informed by his employer that he
did not want to make his home a harbor for horse-thieves. Gus took his
wages and clothes and started for Marysville. He could not bear the idea
of being discharged because of his former misfortune. He again applies
to the bottle for consolation. He goes on another spree. When crazed
with liquor he acted just as he did before; he goes to a hitching post,
and unties a team of horses attached to a buggy. One of the horses had
had its leg broken at some former time, and was almost worthless, while
the other one was very old. He seemed to select the very worst team he
could find. Maybe it was the buggy he was after! He was probably very
tired and wanted an easy place to rest. He unhitched them just as if
they had been his own. It was in the afternoon. The streets were full
of people. Gus crawled into the buggy in his half drunken manner and
started off down the road. When found by the sheriff some two hours
after he had gone, about half a mile from town, the old horses were
standing at one side of the road and the drunken Dutchman was lying in
the buggy sound asleep, with one bottle of whisky uncorked, the contents
of which had run out and over his clothes, and another bottle in his
pocket untouched. He had evidently gone out for a drive. He was taken
to jail, and the news soon spread that he was an ex-convict and
horse-thief. He was tried on a charge of stealing horses, and was
returned to the penitentiary for a term of two years. Here were seven
years' service for two drunks! Ancient Jacob, "how tuff!" After Gus had
completed his narration to me he wound up by saying, "Ven I shall oudt
git this time, I let von visky alones."

BOVINE TROUBLE

Woodward R. Lopeman was sent up from Neosho County for murder in the
first degree. Under his sentence he was to be hanged at the close of the
first year. This part of the sentence is never carried out in Kansas.
The particulars of his crime are as follows: He was a well-to-do farmer
residing in Neosho County, and never had any di