The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-02-15

little use Of going to Shears and asking 10
time. He knew very well that Shears woui'
declare that he had paid the bill away
that il was not in his hands-and that HI
had no power to arrest the proceedings. y
he went to his aunt. The old lady was oh
durate. The terrors Of judgement" coui'
not extract sovereign from her. Repulse'
by this aunt, he had no resource but to up
peal TO his uncle. Tom knew well that tha
benevolent relative was ready to listen u
any appeal which was sufficiently backed W
by security. Tom had none to oaer-posi
lively none. To be sure, he had silver
watch, gold signet ring, a silver mounted
mecrschaum, cornct-a-pston, revolver,
turquoise shirt-pin. But what were oil
these il the scale against f4O lbs. 3d.? Hc
felt that it was but as &c los.-scarcely
enough 10 cover the costs.
Nearly fortnight had passed in fruitless
efforts to raise tho needful, and no less fruit
less cogitations how to evade the impending
vengeance of the law, when Sparkcs receiv-
ed letter from his friend Jones. Jones
was in the law, and his letter ran thus:-
In the way of business, I learn that judg-
ment has been signed against you for f4O,
odd, at the suit of Grabbins & Co., cloth
merchants, Gresham street. Nufr sed.-
Your friend, Harry Jones'"
Mr.. Sparkes's belongings were few; they
might have been put into a carpet bag in
FIVE minutes. AS if to prove the possibility
of the thing, Mr.. Sparkes crammed them all
all into his bag in half that time. To set
tie with the landlady and bestow sixpence
upon the Z" slavey" was the work of mo-
mcnt the next, Sparkes was ON the street.
Whittier should he fly! All, "a man in an
alpaca hat stood at the end of tho street.
Mr.. Sparkes took the opposite direction.-
A few steps brought him in view of man
with a knobby stick. Sparkes turned hasti-
ly to the right. The number Of suspicious
men in alpaca hats, carrying knobby sticks,
about the street that morning, was incredi-
bic. They loltered at every post, started up
at every corner, and stood sentry at every
turning. At length, after much walking,
Mr.. Sparkcs found himself in Chancery
Lane. Looking up suddcnS, he observed
written upon the blind of a window, "Pluck-
EFT, Officer of the Sheriff Of Middlcsex.
Like the little birds that are said to be fas-
cinated by the glare Of the cats eye, Mr..
Sparkcs felt himself rooted to tho spot by
the proximity in which he found himself to
the very danger which he sought to avoid.
He stood for moment transiixed with ter
ror, uncertain whether to fall down in q
faint, or rush down to the nearest alley
Great emergencies give birth to great reso-
lutions. At that moment Mr.. Sparkes
caught sight OF a card in Pluckctt s window,
inscribed, I" Lodgings for single gentlemen. y
The next moment Mr.. Sparkes was on the
sheria's officers door. \ burly man in a
low crowned hat answered the summons.
You have lodgings to let, / Observe"
said Sparkes.
Yes, have" replied the stout man.
"Can see thcm?"
Certainly"
Mr.. Sparkes entered, and the stout man
proceeded to show him the rooms.
Have the pleasure" inquired Sparkes
of speaking to Mr.. Pluckett?"
"You have, sir; Pluckett, officer, of the
sheriff of Middlesex :" and as Sparkes,
with an air of case, inspected the various
fittings of the apartment, Mr.. Pluckctt drew
from his pocket piece of paper, and ap'
peared to be taking an inventory of his Wis
itor. "very strange" he said in an under
tone to himself, :. but the description tallies
sxactly-tall, dark eyes, and wears collar
turned down. Answers tho description to
I; but no, it cannot be. A man with a
eapias out against him would never 90 and
take lodgings at sheriffs officers. Pooh,
pooh, of course not :" and Mr.. Pickett dis
missed the thought with disdaln.
"well, think the apartments will suit
me. Mr.. Pluckett," said Sparkes.
"very good, sir; when you would please
to come in 2"
"why, now, Mr.. Pluckett. I've bro'i
my carpeting, and mean to take possession
at once. There's weeks rent in advance.
1t was rule with Mr.. Pluckett to dis
pense with references when money was paid
in advance; and thus Mr.. Sparkes became
installed in his new apartments without fur
thcr trouble.
"would Mr.. Pluckett take anything
"well, Mr.. Pluckett did not mind"
Mr.. Sparkcs and his landlord were speedily
occupied in discussing pot of stout, over
which they became good friends indeed.
- SHOULD think, now," said Sparkcs, in
philosophic tone, Z" that yours is strange
life, Mr.. PluckettT'
"Well, it is strange life," replied the
sherif-s officer.
"An exciting lilc," said Sparkes.
"Quite SO" replied Pluckett. (" Hunt
ing the human species is very exciting, c.
pecially when man takes a pride in it."
"well you do, suppose Mr.. Pluckett." T"
"well, it depends entirely upon the case,
Mr.. l beg your pardon, but l think
you said your name was ="
"ThompsOn," said Sparkes.
alt depends entirely upon the case, Mr..
THOMPSON" continued Pluckett. "lf a
party Ats quietly at home in the bosom Of
his family, waiting to be took, it's unpleas-
ant. There's no sport in that kind Of bust
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