Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-01-16

dangled from the frame Of the awning. 81
hopeshe means to buy one," said to my
wife, as we sat together over the tea table
land | shouldn't wonder if he did, for he
seems to have taken quite fancy to them
aBut the evening passed, and though
saw him every now and then on the other
sids of the way, looking across with his
bright eyes straight at the hams, he did not
coIs in or speak to me upon the subject.
And SO made up my mind that he would
send for it in the morning, and somehow
made sure of it that whenever saw decent
looking woman 60 by with basket on her
arm, said, "That's the policeman's wife
coming after the ham," was mistaken,
however, and after the street lamps were
Hghted that night began to see the man,
pacing up and down, up and down, up and
down, with. his eyes still fixed and as they
had, d,been the night previous upon the hams.
Once, he caught me peeping at him, and then
he turned so red and looked at me with q
.wolfish glitter in his eyes, that grew angry
and said to myself, It's we'll that keeping an
unsaleable article isn't crime in this country,
st was should expect to be arrested
Sol gave him back his look, turned on my
heel, and walked hack into the shop. l did
[notsee him again that night; but long after
Eeyerythiug had been taken in and locked up,
and was snug in bed, l heard tramp,
tramp, tramp, upon the pavement, and knew
itwas the new policeman, and that he was
locking at the hooks where the hams hung,
aswell as though had seen him. Son the
third evening he was there again; that, you
may say, was no wonder, foc it was Lii
duty to be upon that beat and no other; but
itEas curious that he should keep on staring
atthose hams with those bright, wolGsh eyes
9th l didn't like it, though could not
have said why. 4 vessel had been wrecked
at:sea about that time aud an extra, with the
latest news Of the disaster, came out that
evening. I bought . paper and sat down be-
hind the couatcr to read it. 1t was q stormy
night, and but few customers came in, and
taose were easily served, and somehow, be-
tween reading and thinking, time passed on,
Until the clock struck eleven, and had not
yet taken in my goods or put up nay shutters.
sssua.Just as was about to do so, Gin fact, l
had already lut my hand upon the first piece
Of the shutter,) ny door opened and an old
woman came ir. She was a sottsh miserable
creature, known about the place as Irish
Kate" and with her red nose, blearcd eyes,
and .boated limbs, was as ugly figure as
any one ever cast eyes on. Another dram,
Esupp- SC, said to myself going behind the
bar at once, for wanted to get rid of herns
soon as possible. But she, to ny surprise,
Game close up to me, aud put her great red
paw upon my arm,
EeI've made dislsiverY, mister," shc said.
you've not been keeping as bright look
DIT oslit as you shoald there's been thafe at
sEork without this blessed night"
'ff5as What thi.f?" asked.
sa More than I can tell ye," she answered.
3ssatBat think it's policeman, no less, the
5lackguard"
E;sSsssA policeman I cried, and my thoughts
Tewsat once to the man had seen staring at
aIps too dark to sec his lace," she said !;
"but caught the shine of :. star on the coat
he has on, and whoever it was took y ham
from your pegs and hii itin the ash box be
yant at the corncr. Yell find it there, il ye
look; and now Yell not refuse an old woman
a sup Of whiskce for the information l'
81 gave the old Creature what she wanted,
hurried her ont Of the SIP ard put up the
shutters, growing angrier every moment.
"lf it is the policeman Ill make him pay
dearly for it, as siuuk along the sidewalk
to The corner, keeping in the shadow all the
way, and when stool beside the box and
saw By The light Of the lamp, close by, that
the ham was there, wrapped in something
which looked like handkerchief, | bit my
lips aad clenchcd my haud with rage. Had
it been q COMMON thief should not SO much
have minded but policeman it was more
than could stand. So crouched myself in
a doorway aud waited The watch were re-
leyed ut II o'clock; knew that, and knew
also that this would be the time when my
policeman would come to take the ham ironl
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 towards the corner. | let
him get the ham well under hG arm before |
stirred, but then pounced upon him like
tiger.
"I've got you!" I cried. "a pretty po-
licelnan you are indeed, but You shall suffer
for it; you shall suffer for it can tell you"
"He struggled with me for u moment like
a wild thing, and then all OF q sudden drop
ped the ham ard fell down in a helpless sort
of heap upon the ground.
"Fm ruined man. he groaned, ia ru-
ined man there's no hope for Inc now. Oh
my God! my wiic-my poor little wife" aud
he burst out crying, like woman.
"The sight soitencd me, but was angry
still.
aYou should have thought Of that before
you became thief" | said. If the guar
dian of a mans property is not to be trusted,
what is to. become Of him? And you look
like gentleman-you do not seem like a
scoundrel /; how have you ever stopped to do
such dsgraceful thing as this 2
"Hc was standing beside me now, and The
lamplight fell upon his face. 1t was white as
any corpses and his eyes gittered terribly.
"1'll tell you what made me do it," he
said a" it was the only thing which could
have driven me 10 an act like that; my vile
and child are notwithstanding, tell l'you,
and had nothing for thcm"
"Policemeu's families do not often staryc,"
I said with u sneer.
"My God? can't you believe me-won't
you believe me 2" painted the man. 81 have
only been appointed three days-[ have not
received cent Of salary yet. have been
i'll long while, and had neither money nor
credit Last night We went to bed supper
less; to-day there has not been o crust in the
house, and those hams tempted me so. You
can never know how awfully they tempted
me- AID meant TO pay you afterwards"
He covered his face with his hands, and
couH sec great tears dripping through his
finger,, and before | knew it my own cheeks
were moist and so We stood silent with the
ham ling between us on the ground.
"a: last he turned towards me and said,
DO what you like with me. The last hope
IS gon..'
"B,t put my hand on bis arm and said,
Lc al hrhid tl,at [ shn,fld tnl.n the Last hnnn