Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-06-03
4niarellan GUS.
A Matter Of Fact Story

Ia Shrewsbury. England. in 1854.
lived Mr.. John Ntott, head Of the con-
stahulary. 50 astute a thicf-catcher.
that his friends thought it pity Lc
should throw his wits away upon pro
'incial vagahonds. and not give them
broad and noble scope =, 4 Bow Street
runner. HIS enemies. the local scoun-
drcls. thought the same but conieniei
themselves with observing darkly that
he was 50 sharp that he would one
day probably cut himself. or that
''he was too clever 10 live. In spite
Of these intellectual advantages. or in
consequence of them. Mr.. Stott was
as vain as a peacock, and made the
not uncommon mistake of imagining
himself even a clevercr fellow than he
really was He kept the little town
tf"t ia yssrs: .lta' goc So -complimented
thcreupon by the bench of magistrates,
that he could not conceive that any
misdemeanour could h. committed
which his sagacity should be unable 10
ferret out. or should fail 10 bring 1t
home 10 the true culprli. II don't
pretend for to say. was one OF his
faynurite remarks, las | was never
puzzled in my profession, hut tins |
will say. as no man ever took me In
twice I" and then he would resume his
pipe with the air of . man who has
moiestly confes sci Ia a weakness.
which no other person would have
dreamed Of at,ributing 10 him. Even
his wife believed in Mr. John SOFT,
and so doubtless would his cdiet de
chan,bre, If he had happened 70 have
kept one.
burglary nj sir Robert Airs last
night. " said he sententiously. a. he
"a, smoking aner supper in his snug
little parlour. one summer evening,
while his wife mixed his gin-punch af-
ter his own particular receipt
/ You have got the wretches. OF
course, observed Mrs. Stott. pairing
his lemon-peel so that you could see
through It. cor else il would not be
nv John.
We'll. no. returned the man. rightly
appropriating the last observation rs n
compliment rather than an expression
1 Of doub, as 10 his personal identity.
The fact is. it's very queer but |
/ have not got the wretches. shall
have them tomorrow. but a, present
they are absolutely at large.
.I.or. John | can scarcely believe
YOU when YOU tell me. Why. how on
earth could they have got away from
you: They could not have been ordi-
nary burglars.
You are right. ma am. returned
the chief-constable, with gratified
look YOU have hit the nail exactly on
the head They were not ordinary
men they were acrohats.
"Acrobats /" answered Mrs. Stott
softly: dear me
She hal no very accurate idea what
'.acrobats were they might be re-
/ hgious sect. or they might be savage
| tribe, or possibly even both. But she
had long passed for woman of sense
| and sagacity. through maintaining a
/ discreet silence, except when her hus-
! bands talents seemed TO demand hei
eulogies. and she was not going TO risk
that reputation now. She had good
share of the curiosity Of her sex, but
she had more than their ordinary pa
tience. She waited to be informed
upon the subject in question without
hazarding the remark which occurred
to her, that acrobats had white hair and
pink eyes, and therefore could at least
be easily recognised by the constabu
lary and she had not to wait long.
"Yes. it must have been them Tum
blers, mused Mr.. Stott, slipping his
punch out of the teaspoon and less
than three and the boy could neyel
have done it. 1t was her Ladyship''
dressing-room window, as looks out OIL
the back. as they broke in at. and NJ
ladder could have been put there be
cause of the flower-stand.' 1t mus
have been the little devil in the tight
and spangles at top Of the three others
have measured the height from tn
ground. and it just tallies. That
what comes Of allowing them itlnerant
to be in the place at all. The idea o
the mayor Of letting them have tn
Town-hall to show their tricks in! II
put stop to everything Of that sort
| if had my way; and will do 1t toe
in future.