Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-02-01

Sharp Prdctice.-A gentleman doing bu-
sincss on Main street, had occasion few
mornings since, to step out of his office for
short time, and, as he was wont on similar
occasions, left his door unlocked. After be-
ing absent for the space of half an hour, re-
turned, and Immediately discovered that
gold pen, which he priced very highly, had
been lifted" during his absence. His sus-
picions at once rested upon certain Hiberian
gentleman, who lived but a few rods distant
Business man put on his hat, and repaired to
the residence Of the supposed thief
as Mr.. So-and-so Within" asked the gen.
tleman Of the lady who answered his call.
"He's not, sir,-would yces be after seeing
hi-,?" was the response.
"Yes," said the gentleman, tell him to
call at my Office"
The lady nodded in reply, and the self
constituted detective returned to his place of
business.
In the course of the afternoon of the same
day, the Irish gintlcman" entered the office,
and enquired-
Sand did yees want to see me, Mishter ?"
eyes" replied business man.
"And what was yees after wanting, sir ~
asked the Paddy.
II want to know what it was you wanted
of me- said the gentleman, "when you were
down here this morning."
"Oh, yis, come to tell yees couldn't cut
any wood to-day, bekase of the kold."
"Ah!" said the gentleman, showing con-
siderable qualification in ascertaining that the
individual had been there that morning.
something which he did not know before
Sand was there any one here when you
came ~ he asked.
"Nivcr sowl, sure; the door was locked
answered the suspicious individual
This the gentleman knew to be false, and,
thinking it about time that the main point at
issue between them was being discussed, he
remarked, sternly, to the Irishman-
"Sir, want you to return the pen that
you took from my desk this morning"
This was changing the subject rather alb
ruptly, and the accused hardly knew how to
take it; but putting on an innocent look, he
said:
"And shure, Mishter, do you think I'd stale
a pens"
"That isn't the question" replied the loser,
I" all | want of you is to bring back the pen. ("
The Irishman seemed to be rather taken
back by the decision and frmness displayed
by his accuser, and at a loss what to say next
to vindicate his character. AT last, however,
his eyes frightened, and he Strengthened him.
self up with the air Of one who had been sud-
denly hit by good idea, and said:
Faith, now, Mishter, want any further
in this room this morning than here, !" laying
his hand on certain spot near the door.
The gentleman was now quite sure Of his
thief, and remarked more firmly than before
"That does not matter; want you to
bring back that pen, and that, too, by to-
morrow morning"
The gentleman from across the big waters
dropped his head at this, and for some time
was lost in meditation. He was aroused from
this By Well" from the lips of his tor
menter, when he heavcd . deep sigh, and said:
:" / think knows where your pen is, and
III try and git it." rather wishing to carry
the idea that he was not the thief, though he
knew something about the matter.
"Well, sir, have it here by tomorrow
morning. now" said the gentleman, as he
dismissed his subject, "and mind that you
never do any more pilfering around here"
The next morning came, and with it the
pen. The joke Of the whole affair is, that
business man had no more proof that this
/" Irish Gintleuan" bad his pen, than that
you had, dear reader. $3.50 49,