Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-01-20
Selected Storv.
THE PECULIAR THIEF.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN.

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN.
The wealthy merchant, Van Beeren, of
Amsterdam, went to his bankers one morn
ing to get fifty newly coined forins. He
had with him magnificent Newfoundland
dog, with curly hair, an expressive face, and
beautiful true brown eyes.
Oppas was the favorite of the whole fam
ily, and the steady companion Of ibis mas
ter, whom he never left, except when he had
strict orders given BIN to watch the chill
dren, or to keep guard over some article of
value. Van Beeren could safely put his gold
headed cane in the middle of the street,
and say to Oppas, 'you stay here until |
come back" and there was no doubt OF find
ing cane and dog at the same spot, after
hours had gone by. would not have ad-
vised any body to touch him then. If his
master wanted to go to church OF to the
theatre, or in fact anywhere, where he did
not want the dog to accompany him, all he
had to do was to look at him and say, "Op-
pas GO homer and Oppas turned round,
although mortified, and wentstralght home
without either looking right or left.
Mynheer Van Beeren had taken his dog
along to-day, as usual, and had rather
lengthy conversation with his friend the
banker, WnOu nc dlSU
he wanted the new florins
To day was the silver wedding day of one
of his old servants; named Claus, who had
been in the service of his father, and been
true to them both for many years. AS the
man was not very well otf, for he hadagreat
many children to provide for, he wanted to
give him a surprise with these fifty forms.
He received them tightly done up ina roll
but the silver was rather heavy and Myn-
heer Van Beeren rather lazy. He could
not put it in his pocket he did not like to
carry it in his hand, and, therefore, as soon
as he had regained the street he gave it to
his dog, who proudly put it in his mouth
and marched solemnly along with his mas
ter, until they reached the house of the for
mer servant Mynheer Van Beeren didnot
even now take the money from the dog, but
wanted to have the fun of seeing the dog
himself deliver it.
He did this elegantly, for when his mas
tet said to him "Oppas, now give up your
present" and pointing to the surprised ser
want, he went up to him wagging his tail,
and allowed him quietly to take the money
out his mouth.
The old servant was greatly moved; he
thanked his master with tears in his eyes,
at the same time carressing the dog who
seemed to be well pleased Moreover, when
Mynheer Van Beeren left, Clausl begged
leave to retain the dog, around whom the
children had gathered, for while longer,
that he might reward him for bringing so
rich present The children joined in his
entreates until the merchant said pleasant
ly, ''Well, for mypart, you may have him as
guest, but don't over feed him; and after
ward, Just open the Goor, for him and say:
Now go home, Oppas, then you need not
bother about him any more; he knows his
way"
''But will he stay here. when you 60 off
Certainly he does anything / tell him
"Oppas, you stay here" he said to the New
foundland dog, who looked at him with his
sagacious eyes, and then sat quietly down,
as if to await what would happen. When
his master went off Immediately after, he
never stirred; and DOW the children began
to coax and caress him while the woman
prepared good repast for him, which he
enioyed hugely unGil the time came when
they had to send him off again. When
Claus then opened the door for him and
said, as he had been told, "Now, Oppas,
you gohome + he wagged his tail once more,
and returned straight home.
A few months had gone by, and Mynheer
Van Beeren had to do business again one
afternoon with the same banker The dog
went along as usual, and also lifted him
self when he arrived at the counting table
and offered his paw to the cashier He
however, would not notice him to-day and
all seemed to be somewhat excited, the |
cause of which was Immediately explained
by the banker himself, who just came out
of his private Office.
The thing was this: There had been
committed a theft that morning, with such |
agility and dexterity that the matter was
wholly inexplicable. One of the clerks had
made rolls of FORMS and had placed ten of
these, which were intended for the private
expenses of the family, on his employers
desk The latter had counted them him
self twice over. so there could have been no
mistake; and yet one of the rolls
had disappeared in moment, whilehe had
been handling a few letters to be copied in
to the mail office A theft seemed hardly
possible, unless it wac executed with great
boldness, through the window which hap
pened to be open, in which case it must
have been done in an incredible shortspace
of time. How could thief dare TO climb
into window in open daylight in O busy
street; and if he did why had he taken only
one roll !. when there were ten Of them lying
right near.
Mr.. Van Groten such was the bankers
name, had in the meantime sent to the po-
lice Office TO make known the facts, and one
of the force had come up to take look at
place He shook his head when they show
ed him the window and the desk. The lat |
Ter stood at least six feet from the window, |
so that person who might have jumped up |
to the winkow board could not from there |
have got at the money but was obliged TO |
enter the Office, while Mynheer Van Groten |
asserted that he had not left it for half IA |
minute. Besides, the little room had no |
separate entrance or exit, but only through |
the main office could a person get into it. |
The affair remained shrouded in darkness, |
and the roll of so forms, of course, was |
gone, Mynheer Won Groten had become |
so afraid that heshut the window every time |
he left the room, and as no further theft |
was committed, the loss was at last forgot
ten; at least nothing more was said about |
it. Two or three weeks slmight have gone
by, and Mynheer Van Beeren was just sip |
ping his afternoon coffee in his ''study" |
when old Claus sent his name in wishing |
to thank his old employers.
"Thank me r ssid Mynheer Van Boeren;
''for what? for ny last PRESENT. He has
thanked me for that long ago, and since
then have not aeen him, but let the old
man come in"
The door opened Immediately after, and
Claus, hat in hand, appeared upon the
but he looked very miserable.
''Hallo Claus, what is the matter with you,
man2 You have grown pale, and 10 lean
that should hardly have known you.
Have you been sickp Inever heard q word
bout it r
20, Ny savior, the poor man sighed:
L have been very sick 80 sick that did
Tot think should set up again. dare
lot do anything yet: the doctor has given
Itrict orders not TO work. He only allows
ne TO walk out in the air. to regain some
fran nth -