Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-12-27
such was the influence of beauty in dis


the company or make its fortune. You
60 to the police-~thats what you've got tc
do. All right, Joey; go ahead"
The bus drove away, leaving the young
lady standing on the curb. She put down
her fall to hide her wet eyes, and was turn.
Ing sadly away, when our conductor leaped
nimbly down, ran back to her, said few
words, and was on his perch again in less
than two minutes Thought 1t best to
give the poor young creetur my number u
he remarked confdentially to me, "anG
the address Of our Secretary, in case OF
anything turning up. But that amt like
ly, you know, sir All, it was that
hshy-iooking cove, you may depend
upon it."
Twas detained in the city till Fl We o'clock.
At that hour set off westward, with the
intention of walking home. The rain had
ceased hours ago, and a fresh, crisp breeze
was now blowing; over the murky city
roofs the moon was rising In an unclouded
sky, and all the shops were ablaze with
light. My rooms were in street leading
out Of Oxford street but having one or
two calls to make, chose, this evening,
to g. round by way of the Strand and
Charing Gross. My calls all made, I
turned up st. Martins Lane. as my near
est way home, and was walking carelessly
along that classic thoroughfare, when,
whom should see little way in front of
me, staring intently into the window of a
jewelers. shop, but the fishy. looking
cove" of my friend the conductor I re-
eognized him in moment, having taken
particular notice of him while he was nv
fellow-p passenger in the morning. Not
fhoft -,
pearance or manners that made me sus,
picious of his honesty, but rather that he
offered such marked contrast to the re-.
spectacle, well-to -do-looking city men who
made up the rest of the passengers. He
was thin, frouzy, disreputablel looking
man, dressed in suit Of rusty black, with
a hat and boots that had been carefully
doctored," and might still do some fair
weather service, but which " ere ill-calcu-
lated to stand the brunt of rainy day.
His mouth was that Of q habitual dram
drinker; his eyes were weak and waterY,
and his high-ridged aquiline nose had an
infamed look about 1t, suggestive of many
deep potation. His chin had evidently
not felt razor for several days, and the
minute fragments Of straw and chaff which
chung to his dress, and were mixed up with
his unkempt hair, limited at the style of
accommodation to which he had been re-
duced during the preceding night. Yet,
with all this, the fellow carried jaunty
little cane, which he swung to and fro, as
though he had not care In the world and
he had on pair Of dog-skin gloves, that
weuld have looked stylish if they had not
been quite so dirty.
But was 1t he who took the young lady's
hot 4.
oftener I looked at the man, the more In
clined | felt to indorse the opinion Of the
bus conductor. A brown morocco purse,
containing fifteen-and-sixpence in cash,
and lady's diamond ring, Of the value of
fifty guineas-not bad mornings work
for a gentleman in reduced circumstances.
In such case, however, all the surmising
in the world was of no avail. No one had
seen him take the purse, and so long as he
kept his own counsel he was safe from de-
lection. The grand point was to ascertain
whether he really had the ring, or a pawn
brokers' duplicate for it about his person.
But how to do thisp
This was the problem that l kept turn
ing over and over In my mind, as eau
tiously followed up my man when he went
on his way from the jewelers. shop. At
for half 3 minute; then he turned to the
right, and went up Long Acre, still fol-
lowing cautiously about dozen yards In
the rear.
81 will put you to simple test, my
friend" thought l; land as you come out
of it, SO will | adjudge you innocent or
guilty"
Hurrying up behind him, l tapped him
1iUhtlu on Tho orro &C ha0 ,o,,s ~ ~ -,
! said, but did you drop this pencil-case
Just now?"
He started as l touched him, and seemed
for few seconds as if he could not take
in the meaning of my question Helooked
at me with eyes full of suspicion. Wheth-
er he recognized me as one of his fellow
passengers by the mornings bus, could
not determine. We had halted opposite
large shop, and the light from the window
shone full on my silver pencil case, on
which, at length, when he was apparently
satisfied with his scrutiny of my face, his
glance fastened greedily.
Picked it up, did you say" he asked,
as he began to tumble with thumb and
finger in his waist-coat pocket.
Just behind you," / answered. "But
if it's not yours, shan't bother any more
about 1t, but pocket it myself"
But it is mine," he put in eagerly.
How stupid of me to lose it," r put the
pencil-case In his hand without hesitation.
II am really much obliged to you," he
went on, for your kindness in returning
1t. AS you grow older, young gentleman,
you will find that honesty is the exception
in this world, and not the rule"
Well, I'm glad to have found the own
er, | said, with laugh. "You seem to
value the case"
al do value it, young gentleman" an
swsred the old bypocrite. "Less, perhaps,
from its intrinsic worth, than from the fact
that it Ia the sole relic now left me of q
very dear friend. Friendship ever let us
cherish. A truly noble sentiment"
Then, if you value it SO highly |
said, "you can hardly object to stand hall
go of brandy for its recovery"
Half a go of brandy" he said, in a
Mortified tone. Young man, young man
I'm very much afraid"
| had taken out my watch, valuable
| gold lever. AS his eye fell on it his intend
ca remonstrance came to an abrupt con
clusion.
"Well - ahi--ycs, you are quite right
he resumed, sand shall be very happy &c
treat you to 60 of brandy. To what
place shall we ADJOURN"
"To the nearest house, please. want
to get home to my dinner"
80 we went into the nearest tavern
where my new Acquaintance ordered q
glass Of brandy for me and half pint OF
stout for himself Not to be behind hand
| ordered q couple of cigars.
"Been in London long?" asked my
rom MON 7 xroc
"No; only few months. Fresh from
| the cOnntrun