The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-07-29
WESTMINSTER, MD, THURSDAY MORNING. JULY 29 1862

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my head and walked back into the shop.
| did not see him again that night, but
long after everything had been taken
in, | heard II tramp, tramp, upon the
pavement, and knew it was the police
man, and thnt he was looking ut the
hooks whero the hams had hung, as
well as though / had seen him.
On the third evening he was there
again; that you may say was no won
der, for it was his duty to be upon the
beat and no other; but it was curious
that he should keep on staring at those
hams, with those bright wolfish eyes of
his. | didn't like it, though | could
not have told why. A vessel had been
wrecked at sea about that time, and an
extra with the latest news of the disas.
ter came out that evening. | bought a
paper aud sat down behind the coun-
ter to read il. 1t was a stormy night
and but fOw customers came, and these
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 my shutters.
Just as was about to do SO Gin fact
had already put my hand upon the
first piece Of the shutter,) my door
opened aud au old woman came in. -
She was u scottish, miserable creature,
known about the place as Irish Kate,
and with her red nose and bleared eyes,
was as ugly a figure as any one ever
cast eyes on. "Another dram, | sup
pose" | said to myself, going round TO
the bar at once, for | wanted TO get rid
of her as soon as possible But she to
my surprise, came closer to me and put
her great rcd paw upon my arm.
"I've made diskivery, master" she
said, "you have not been keeping as
bright lookout as you should; thare's
been thafe at work widout, this blessed
night"
"What theft" asked.
"More than l can tell you," sho an
swered, "but | think it's policeman,
no less, the blackguard. It's too dark
to see his face" she said; "but caught
the shine of star on the coat he has
on, and whoever il was, he took ham
from the pegs aud hid it in the ash. box
beyond the corner You'll find it there
if you look; and sure you'll not refuse
drop of whiskey for the information 2"
gave the old lady what she wanted,
hurried her out of the shop and put up
the shutters, growing angrier every mo.
ment.
"lf ii is the policeman, I'll make him
pay dearly for it" so crept along the
sidewalk to the corner, keeping in the
shadow all the way, aud when | stood
beside the box aud saw, by the light Of
the lamp close by, that the ham was
there, wrapped in something that locke
like handkerchief, l bit my lips with
rage. Had it been common thief
should not have minded so much; but
a policeman it was more than l could
stand. So | crouched myself in door,
way aud waited. The watch was re
lieved at twelve O'Clock; l knew that
and knew that this also would be the
time that my policeman would come tc
take the ham from lis hiding place
And sure enough when the time came
| heard him challenge the man who was
to take his place and come marching
down toward the corner. / let hin
get the ham well under his arm before
| was satisfied, and then Ipounced upor
him like a tiger.
"Pve got you," I cried. hA pretty
sort Of policeman you are, indeed
but you shall suffer for it, can tel
you"
"He struggled with me for moment
like a wild thing, and then, oil Of 1
sudden, he dropped the ham and fel
down in helpless sort of heap upon tn,
ground.
"I'm ruined man! There's no hop,
for me now. 0, my Godl my wife =
my poor little wife" and he burst ou
crying like woman.
The sight softened me, but I was an
| cry still,
"Yop should have thought of that be
fore you became thief" / said. al
the guardian Of q mans property is moi
to be trusted, what is to become Of him
and you look like gentleman--yor
do not seem like scoundrel; how hay,
you stopped to do SO disgraceful a thiul
as this2"
He was standing beside me now, ant
the lamplight shoue full upon his face
Ii was as white as any corpse's, and bis
eyes glittered terribly.
"Policemen's families do not offer
starve." l said with a sneer.
"My God can't you believe me-
won't you believe me3" painted the man
~ have only been appointed three days
| have not received cent Of salary yet
/ have been i'll a long while and haG
neither money nor credit. Last night
we went to bed supperless; to-day there
has not been a crust Of bread in the
house, aud those hams tempted me so
You can never know how awfully they
tempted me, and | meant to pay you
alterward."
He covered his face with his hands
aud could see the great tears dropping
through his fingers, and before | knew
it my checks were moist, and SO we
stood silent, with the ham lying be.
tween us on the ground
At last he turned toward me and said
"Do what you like with me. The last
hope is gone"