The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1869-12-23

next door happened to be at foud but our
servant had heard from those on the other
side that all that Bobsby's servants could
say about the matter was that they had
good wages, paid punctually, and that
Bobsby was in business in the city. So
of course we kept the Bobsby's at arms
length, and my wife repelled some off-hand
advances, that Mrs. Bobsby threatened us
with, with chilling dignity that is all her
own.
1t was clear, then, that Bobsby was just
the man to embezzle his neighbors' tur-
key. What steps to take towards its re-
coyery was quite another thing, 1t was
a delicatematter to tax well-to-do house
holder with theft, and that too upon bare
suspicion. But, Oh the other hand, time
pressed. To say nothing of the impor-
tance to us of having the matter decided
early next day, if we hoped to meet our
bird at dinner, if a crime had really been
committed the piece de coMrictioa might
by that time have vanished altogether.
''Wait till morning, at all events" rec
commended his wife, after we had discuss
ed the matter and the chance of our dis
cussing the turkey in all its bearings
"wait till tomorrow. Mr.. QuiItor and
Frank Palette come down carly to have a
long afternoon at the Palace. We live
near Sydeuham, Quiltor knows the law,
aud will conduct the case for u.s."
O. II. i l. I : I
on the pillow, firmly pledged by this time
to a faith in the guilt of Bobsby. We had
a broken night, as might be expected. The
victims of foul crime could hardly sleep
peacefully under the same roof with the
perpetrators Of it. Next morning we rose
late, and seated ourselves at breakfast,
worn and anxious, with what appetites We
might. We had trifod with eggs and
toast, and sent them away, when our OIL
factory organs became conscious of mark
ed, and not unpleasant, although an un-
seasonable odor. We shifted and shifted :;
there was no mistaking it. As often on
previous occasions, it let us into the Sc
cret Of what was going on in our neigh
bors' kitchen. Early as it was turkey
was roasting there.
"Please, sir" just then exclaimed our
excited cook, needless of ceremony, and
plurging head foremost into the room
''please, sir, them Bobsbys is a cookin' of
our turkey, and I've been out, and look
ing in at them; and-and-and there's
another lying on the dresser" --
| rose, rather excited myself, I must
confess, but | expressed myself with de.
liberation and severity.
''In any other circumstances, Mrs.
Brown, should consider it beneath con-
tempt to play the spy upon a neighbor,
whatever may think of his general con-
duct. III doit now, it is only in discharge
of duty that owe to society and our
selves, in bringing him, if necessary, to
condign punishment. I believe could
swear anywhere to Westrepps turkey,
and shall proceed to satisfy myself at once
as to the question Of this Bobsby's guilt
or innocence"
eyes, yes, for goodness sake go at once"
exclaimed my wife; and putting on my
hat, [ saunterod out at the door, down the
little gravel walk, and then leisurely back
again; gazing the while steadfastly into
the kitchen next door. The turkey then
revolving on the spit was, for judicial cir
cumstances, beyond the reach of satisfac-
tory Identification, but the companion
bird, reposing on the dresser, illuminated
by the full blaze of a glowing fro-his
points, his shape, his plumpness-he was
a Westrepps fowl all over. 1 felt that [
could swear to him in thousand. "0h,
come; this is really too much of a good
thing. [ am to look on turkey-lcss, while
that splendid bird, almost member of
the family too, is handled familiarly by
strangersw
"a merry Christmas to you, and many
of them, Brown" said and repeated du-
EFT of friendly voices, and Quilter and
Palette came stalking into the little gar
den. | took Quilter and Palette into the
house, and had the satisfaction of pouring
my tale Of sorrow and anger into sympa-
thizing ears. AS l had foreseen, they
showed themselves at least as indignant as
ourselves. Palette gave forcible express
sion to his feelings, with the most elabor-
ately studied dramatic features to match.
After the first outburst, it was very diff
ferent with Quilter. Here was an open
ing for the display of his professional sa-
gacity. To bring the culprit to justice
and the turkey to table would be tri-
umph of his powers, and at the same time
give the bird zest that no sauce that ar
tiste had ever projected could come up to.
lie threw himself heart and soul into the
case. He put myself, my wife, and our
maids through the most searching cxami-
nation. He collected and arranged the
facts, and drew from them deductions
most fatal to the character of Bobsby.
But "The proofs-the proofs P' lie said,
impaticntly. "You profess yourselves
willing to swear to the turkey. l do not
see that you can do more than identify
the breed. You see you never knew the
individual personally. If we could man
age to trace him indeed. T'll just step
,Ioy,, - Al, So IT,, II 4.l., IL -: