The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-02-04
Select Gtorp.
TIE VILLAGE THIEF.

houses ana FAMILIES were plllefcu, but
who performed the ncfarious deed OF
deeds could not be discovered. Guns and
other warlike weapons were in demand
but these were Intellectual, for the guilty
party still exercised his vocation with
impunity. Police had been placed upon
his track, but their efforts to discover
him were unsuccessful no clue to the
appearance Of the thief could be obtained
from his victims; all Of the latter agreed
that they were plundcrcd, not by an
established band, but by one individual.
Some said that Immediately before they
were robbed, they had noticed ga large
fierce looking fellow proving around
their premises; others affirmed that the
guilty party was ga small, ine-lool;ing
man and, lastly, there were few super
stltlou5 ones who declared that the rob-
Der was not mon, but the cmissary Of
a certain individual supposed to govern
the warm regions. With these conflict
ing reports, it would puzzle the last
named gentleman himself to discover the
thief. 1t was for these reasons that the
villagers were alarmed.
| was neither detective nor police
man, but, as Il large reward had been
offered for the apprehension of the thief,
| concluded | would attempt his capture.
Accordingly, | started for the village Of
III. That night | stopped at an
obscure inn, some ten miles from the vii
lage. Having slowed away my baggage
and eaten my supper, went into the bar
room, where | found an old man CONVEX
sing with the proprietor. picked up Il
paper and pretended to be reading, but
in reality was listening to their CONVEX
sa'ion. They were talking about the
robbcrics that had been committed in the
adjacent village. The old man seemed
to know a great deal about the subject
so much 50 Ill fact, that my suspicious
were somewhat aroused and determined
to watch him. They were both sitting
with their backs toward me, and did not
notice the surreptitious glauccs | cast at
them above the corner OF the paper. The
old mans right arm was hanging over the
side Of his chair, and he held pocket
knife in his hand. | noticed while he
twrlcd it around, that it was peculiar
one. 1t bad two blades and something
which rcsomblcd a prong. While he wa,
handling ii i'll tins manner it fell from his
grasp, near my chair. He started hastily
to pick it up, but ere he reach it | stopped
down and picked it up, and gave it to
HIM; but not before | had noticed the
letters " d. X" cut upon the horn case.
The old man thanked me for my trouble,
and then placed the knife in his pocket,
While L pretended to resume my paper.
| was almost certain that the object OF
my suspicious was not an old man, as he
fcigncd to be for | observed, when he
started for his knife, that he manifested
too much agility for one of advanced
years; besides, he seemed very anxious
to conceal the knife, after | had seen it.
For these reasons | determined to watch
him. After remaining a few minutes
longer, he inquired Of the proprietor
what time the first stage left in the morn
ing for the village of NJ. | had not
originally intended to start at so early an
hour, but | now determined to 90 at the
same time. Accordingly the next morn
ing | found myself on the way to the vii
lagc, in company with the old man.
We had been travelling for about an
hour, during which time we had not spo.
ken At length my companion asked
me if | thought " the robbcr" would be
caught. | answered in the negative !;
and then, in Il seemingly boastng man
ncr, added. But | do not fear him,
and if he succeeds in robbing me, he is
welcome to his plundcr.''
III he knew where to find YOU, he
might visit YOU" my companion quietly
remarked.
l carclcssly answered. "Should he
desire TO visit me, he can find me at the
principal hotel in the village Of NJ"
The old man made no reply. We az
rived at our destination. | got out of
the coach first, to see about my baggage,
and when | returned my companion was
gone. | was sorry he had escaped me,
but, hoping | might yet discover him, |
started for the inn, which was soon
reached.
About two hours after, man, who
appeared to be a minister, arrived. lie
had a number of tracts, which, having
distributed, he was shown to his room,
which was on the same floor and opposite
that of mine. lie did not show himself
again until supper time, when he inform
cd US that he was travelling minister,
and intended remaining in the village Il
few days.
The next morning three Of the board
crs announced to the landlord that. they
had been robbed, and among them, the
minister.
The latter was just narrating the fact
when | came into the room. In the
course of his narration, he drew q hand
kcrchief from bis pocket; this action ier-
kcd out something, which fell upon the
floor Looking down, I discovered the
same knife which had seen in the pos
session Of the old man, and with the same
initials upon it. The minister hastily
picked it up, and then turned towards
me. pretended to have observed moth
ing. He seemed somewhat satisfied, and
resumed his narrative.
Now, for the first time, the idea struck
me that the old man in the sta c-coach-
the minister, and the object of my pur-
suit-Awas the man before me. | did not,
however, communicate my suspicious to