The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-08-03
THE cRocER'S STORY.
ICONCLUDED.

CONCLUDED.
eff it is the policeman, I'll make
him pay dearly for it." as I slunk
along the sidewalk to tho corner,
keeping in the shadow all the way,
and when I stood beside the box and
and saw by the light of the lamp,
close by, that the ham was there,
wrapped in something which looked
like handerkerchief, bit my lips
and clenched my hands with rage.
Had it been a common thief, should
not so much have minded; but
policemen! it was more than I could
stand. So I crouched myself in
doorway and waited. The watch
were relieved at 12 o'clock; [. knew
that, and knew also that this would
be the time when my policeman
would come to take the ham from out
of its hiding place. And sure enough,
when the time came, [ heard him
challenge the man who was to take
his place, and come marching down
toward the corner. [ let him get the
ham well under his arm before I
stirred, but then I pounced upon him
like tiger.
Give got your' cried. CA pretty
policeman you are, indeed; but you
shall suffer for it; you shall suffer for
it, [ can tell you
''He struggled with me for mo-
ment like Wild thing, and then all
of a sudden dropped the ham and fell
down in helpless sort of heap upon
the ground.
''I'm ruined manv' he groaned,
"a ruined man! there's no hope for
me now. Oh my God! my wife-my
poor little wife, and he burst out
crying, like q woman
''The sight softened me, but was
angry still.
You should have thought of that
before you became a thief" I said
If the guardian of mans property
is not to be trusted, what is to be-
come of him? And you look like a
gentleman-you do not seem like a
scoundrel-how have you ever stoop-
ed to do such disgraceful thing rs
this?
''He was standing beside me now,
and the lamp-light fell upon his face.
It was white as any corpse's and his
eyes glittered terribly.
''I'll tell you what made mo do it,
he said; cit was the only thing which
could have driven me to an act like
that; my wife and child are starving
starving, I tell you, and had moth
ing for them"'
''Policemen's families do not often
starve," said, with sneer.
"My God! can't you believe ne
won't you believe me?" painted the
man. 81 have only been appointed
three days; L have not received a
cent OF salary yet. 1 have been i'll q
long while, and had neither money
nor credit. Last night we went to
bed supperless; to-day there has not
been q crust In the house, and those
hams tempted me so. You can never
know how awfully they tempted me,
and l meant to pay you afterwards. :"
''He covered his face with his
hands, and [ could see great tears
dripping through his fingers, and
before knew it, my own cheeks were
moist, and SO we stood silent, with
the ham lying between us on the
ground.
cat last he turned towards me and
said, DO what you like with me.
The last hope is gone
''But 1 put my hand on his arm
and said, God forbid that should
take the last hope from you; that I,
OF all men, should be the one to ruin
you. Ii your story is true-and 1
oelleve 1t isl pity you more than
blame you
che looked at me in q sort Of bc-
wildered way, as though he scarcely
understood me, and / took him by
the arm and led him back to the shon
There filled basket with bread
butter and coffee, and put the ham
,ife on Top : OF % an Take s,; it home to your
you get your salary, and if you are in
need before that time, come to me
I'm poor man, myself, and can
feel for other poor men
81 shall never forget that mans
face in all my life, SO wondering, so