Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-12-01

THE MYSTERIOUS DISH.
A CITY INCIDENT.

o. Now husband let us sit down and have
nice little sOciable time together this evening;
You are gone so much and really you look
completely tagged out, running about so much
this hot weather. i dare say that you've had
to go'-
ITO the State prison, that's all, Julia; I had
to collect bill there, and stayed longer than
needed, to hear the comic defense which one
of the men employed about the prison made
when charged with carrying in tobacco to the
conyicts.'
.'Well, that's long walk, Sam know
you must be fatigued and hungry"
lis any of that ham left, my bonnie bird !''
- Left, do you suppose that have made way
with half ham? returned julia laughing,
and flying to the closet in which the victuals is
kept.
Having brought forward the platter with its
contents and placed it before her husband Ju-
liza said:
II aud there's no candle: I'll just run to
wagner's and get you one, for it is too dark to
see to eat" And the young wife scamPered
out Of the door at pace.
When Julia returned with the candle, she
found her husband sitting with his back to the
table, motionless, and glaring upon her as she
entered.
Il thought you couldn't see to eat" said
she, looking at her husband, and wondering at
his silence.
she kindled a match, and applied the blue
fJme to the wick Of the candle.
No sooner had Julia set the light upon the
table than she uttered loud scream, and sank
backward into the nearest chair
Her husband turned to her. "Then you
didn't know it was there?" inquired he SOL
emnly.
Juiia was speechless, but she looked at her
husband with q countenance like death.
On bringing the light to the table, she had
seen, instead of the ham, CORY human head
In the platter.
She Still sat staring, speechless, at her hus-
band. lie arose, took up the platter, and car
Iied it into the kitchen. He then opened the
closet, and found that the ham was not there;
il had been taken away, and the head left in
Its place. He searched the house in eye.y
part, and could not detect the traces OF stran-
ger-no;hing but the fact that the ham had
been removed and horrible object left In its
stead
By this time Julia was able to speak.
when did you see the ham last !'' inquired
he.
Not an hour ago." returned she, looking
around her with dread; d" L went to the closet
for a tumbler to offer Mr.. Shu.z a drink Of wa
ter; be brought homo your boots
'Ah, that cobbler was here, then Z"
"Yes, he brought home the boots, but he did
not stay long"
"Did you leave the room while he was here!'
Il don't reoollect believe not"
oWell, I'll see Shutz Immediately" He
rose as he said this, and was going out when
wife rose also.
..Oh 1 didn't think, Julia You are afraid
TO remsin alone with that horrible thing in the
house"
We can't surely sleep here to- night, said
the woman, looking around her in terror. owe
may be murdered in our beds"
..Guess not, >" returned her husband, smiling
GBut come must see the cobblsr, and you
car go along, you are unwilling to remain
here
- But they may bring something else while
we gone"
The body and limbs? ~ said he; " they
must know that we have no use Tor them. why
should they bring them here"
The house wa1situated in Orchard street,
near Dawson There were not many build
inys in that vicinity at the time, and the small
red-roofed house Of Shutz was on the next cor
ner.
Entering the shop, followed closely by his
trembling wife, Sam said:
ssYOu were at my house, to-dayH
" Yes, to bring home your boots, replied
the cobb!er, looking up from his work, but con-
tinuing TO draw the thread.
Sam booked sharply at the man, and thought
ths: mis- Indifference was affected.
You work late, to-nightE"
sYes, the proyerb tells us that 1t is never
too late to mend, and you see l am mending q
pair Of shoes"
- see you are; but a strange thing has hap
pened at my house since you were there, said
Sam, rather sternly.
Thsshoemaker dropped his work, and anx-
iousiy inquired what was the matter.
Will you let me look into your pantry OF
closet where you keep your victualso" said the
other
'sOh, you are short of provisions Yes, you
arc welcome to anything you find there. Here
Mary, show our neighbOrs what you have go
In the pantry, and let them have what they
want 10 eat"
Tho cobbler's wife stared, but led the maj
III ia wifi nj % " I
the pantry as if to bring out food. But San
followed, and quickly cried;
- Come here, Julia, is not this our ham,"
Julia obeyed the summons; and as she en-
tered the pantry her husband pointed at par
of ham that stood on q blue-edged plate nes
the door.
1T ia ours." cried ihe wife, looking up, as
tOnished, at the hostess.
What do you mean" demanded the latter
looking FIRST at the other woman and then q
the ban; ''if it is yours, how came it here!"
THAT is for yOH to answer" returned Sar
sharply; it has been taken from my hous
this afternoon, and as your husband calle
while my wife was alone there
{" So, Peter, Peter come here" cried th
woman, in n shrill key.
The cobbler came in hastily. "They say 20
stole their ham this afternoon when you too
home the boots, " said the woman Of the hous
turning very red in the face. As she spOk,
she pointed at the ham.
" How came that ham herer exclaimed Il
cobblsr to his wife.
"Hsw do I know!" asked the good woman
sitting down in great trepidation.
You must have taken it, for did not"
GOh, Mr.. ShultE' cried his wife, burstin
into tears, ''you want TO lay il to Dlen'
.'And you want to lay il to me-" said Il
husband, lifting the thong with which he he
his shoe when at work, 'yOu want u little strs
oil"
Don't strike the woman" said Sam "sj
h.s lot besn at my house"
If the ham is yours, take il, !" cried q
cotbler; 81 know nothing about your ham. -
but you know something about the hea
perhaps" said Sam, looking the man full
the face. ..-
What now" cried the eobbler, F." that's
new kink; has there been Q calls head stol
too? or sleeps head or hogs head !'
"No, but the head that was left when y
took the hamP'
I.nnk- a-haral 10 said shutz, "you and