South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1868-02-28


cd the Captain, 'but it's no joke for mo to
lose my pistols. Hair triggers-bcst En-
glish make and gold mounted There amt
! faer pair of 81 oOters in America
20, We viii End them. We will go on a
pilgrimage from house TO house, asking if
any lady there has lost a night cap and
found a pair Of ducling pistols
In very good spirits tho party crossed
the river, and inquired at the baggage room
in reference 70 each and all black leather
travelling bags that arrived that lay-took
notes of where they were sent, and set out
to follow them up. In due time they reach
Ell the Continental, and as luck would have
II, met the unhappy bridal pair just CON-
ing down stairs in charge Of the policeman
What's the mcauingof all this 2 inquir-
ell the Captain.
90. couple Of burglars, caught with
valise of stolen property
q valisc what kind Of n valisc -
a black leather valise. That is It, there
Here Stop !-IIaloo Policeman
Landlord It's all right You are all
wrong. That is my vaIise. 1t is all
mistake They got changed at the depot.
That lady and gentleman are innocent.
Here is their valise, with her night-cap IN it,
Great was the laughter, muIiifarious the
comments and deep the interest ofthe crowd
in all this dialogue, which they appeared
to regard as a delightful entertainment got
up expressly for their amusement.
Then you say this here thing is yours 2
said the policeman, relaxing his hold upon
the bridegroom and confronting the Captain.
y es, it is mine
'And how did you come by these spoons?
Spoons, you jackanapcs !. said the Cap
tain, 'duelinG pistols
DO you call these pistols 2 said the po-
iccmau, holding up to view one of the sill
yer spoons, marked T. Is.
The Captain, astonished, gaspcd, 1T is
the wrong yali5e again, after all
stop, not 50 fast" said the police func-
/ tionary, now invested with great dignityby
the Importance Of the affair ne found him
self engaged in. IF so be how you've got
the lady's valise, she is all right and can
60. But In that case this is yours, and it
comes on you to account for them as stolen
spoons. Have to take you in charge, all
four Of ye'
Why, you impudent scoundrel" roarcd
/ the Captain, I'll see you in -; | wish
| had my pistols here I'd teach you to
insult gentleman = shaking his fist.
The dispute waxed fast and furious. The
outsiders began to take part in it, and there
is no telling how it would have ended had
not an explosion, followed by heavy fall
and a scream Of pain, been heard in an adj
joining room.
The crowd rushed TO the scene of the
new attraction.
The door was fast. Tt was soon burst o.
pen and the mystery explained The thief
who had carried of the Captains valise by
mistake for his own, had taken it up to his
room and opened it to gloat over the booty
be supposed it to contain, thrusting his
hands ia after the spoons. In doing so the
pistol hal gone Of, the bullet making a
round hole through the side Of the valisc,
and corresponding hole in the calfof his leg.
The wounded rascal was taken in charge
frst by the policeman, and then BY the Doc
tor and the duelists and the wedding pair
struck up a friendship on the score Of their
mutual mishap. which eliminated in sup
per, whore ,hc fun was abundant, and where
II would he hard to say which was 10 the
best spirits, the Captain for recovering his
pistols, the bride for getting her night-cap,
the Bridegroom for escaping the station
house, or the duelsts for escaping each 9th
or. All resolved TO 'mnrk that day with a
white stone aud henceforth to mark their
I names on their black travelling bags in
white letters.