Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-10-06
Ned sprucington's Umbrella.

'sName ?"
"Charles Blank"
Occupation Z"
"Civil Enuiuoer."
address ?"
1901 Great George street, Westm1nls-
ter, and Verbena Villas, Hammersmith,
slowly repeated the police sergeant, as he
entered the foregoing particulars IN a big
book "Well, you know the CHARGE
stealing this gentleman's umbrella. Have
YOU anything to cay in addition to what
you have already stated ~
Nothing whatever" answered
can only repeat, that it was entirely a
mistake upon my part"
Just So" was the grim reply. you'll
have an opportunity of proving that in
the morning. You are by no means the
first person we have had to deaf with here
who has mistaken other peoples property
for his own. Take him to the cells" And
then | was marched off.
The circumstances which had brought
me into this scrape was as follows Myself
and my friend Sprucington were in the
employment of IA railway contractor,
whose offices were situated in the locality
already mentioned. The duties of our
department were shared by some half
dozen other gentlemen of our own age,
who, like us, were qualifying themselves
for the survey of ground and construction
of lines in any part of the world which
their genius should call them to. But
plans and specifications are not particul-
arly exhilarating in themselves, apart
from their professional interest so it is
not to wondered at that among several
young fellows full of animal spirits lit
tie practical joking should have been at
times indulged in.
Ned Sprucington and were old Car.
thuslans When we met, therefore, after
some years separation, at the office in
George street, we had only to renew our
friendship. The great dandy of our
room, nay, of the entire house, was Ned.
| honestly believe, too, that he was one
of the most guileless, Supplemented fell
lows alive. He had, however, one con-
spicuous weAkuess,-that was, to be taken
for man of fashion. He dressed admit,
unexceptionably and to aid him in pro-
ducing the impression which he desired
upon beholders, he carried about with
him, in ali weathers, beautiful silk UNI
berlla, scarcely bulkier than a lady's
parasol, though, of course, considerably
AohSOL' OuuSAbS 4iOul Lh0 Cub ObyA
handle, mounted in gold, it must have
cost him mint of money.
Well, this umbrella of Ned's we tried
all we could think of to get hold of. But
he was too wary for Us it was always ia
some safe place. If we had succeeded in
gaining possession of it., it would at once
have taken conspicuous position in
society, such "a covering the old apple
woman at the corner; but it was unap-
proachable. At last we became so des-
perate that l accepted a heavy wager from
one of the other fellows that [ would pre-
sent myself at the office the next morning
at all hazards, the proud possessor of Ned
SpruGington's umbrella.
On that particular day, work being
slack, every one was enabled to leave I'M
usually early so that by four o'clock in
the afternoon the house was cleared of all
save myself, my brother conspirator, and
the old soldier who lived with his wife on
the premises. Ny friend Ned, as was his
custom at such times, had announced his
intention of promenading the Ladies
Mile, there to air himself, his aristocracy, |
and-his umbrella. l decided upon fol |
lowing him thither. AS there were yet
two hours of daylight however, L thought
l could not do better than to fortify my
self for the enterprise by taking some sub
stantial refreshment before commencing
operations. After which [ would trust
to the chapter of accidents.
With this object in view, was repair
ing towards my favorite place of rejection
in the Strand, when who should l see
looking in at the topographer's shop by
North mberlard House but Ned Spru-
oington! He ought by rights to have
been nearly two miles away at Hyde
Park Corner; yet here he was at Charing
Cross, calmly studying some map of a
"seat of war"
He was so wedged in among other
gazers, that | could not get at him to
speak, or even to have a clear view OF his
face. But knew him by his height, by
the neatly braided coat, the delicately
tinted trousers, the we'll poised hat, and,
last but not least, the umbrella. he was
holding his hands behind his back, and
in one of them the precious article was
firmly clasped. Yes, there it was, onyx
handle, gold mounting, and all. As L
looked, sudden idea took possession OF
me,-a foolish idea, | admit, as 1T could
hardly lead to practical result. But L
thought if / could only get the umbrella
out of his hand in some way, and run or
with it, that he, seeing it in the possession
of a friend, would give up the chase,
knowing that he would recover his pro-
perty the next day. At the worst, the
result would only be day or two's cool
ness between NJ, on account of my freak.
No sooner Thought than done. On the
pavement I espied piece of clean straw,
we'll adopted for the purpose had IN
view. Picking it up, proceeded to tickle
with it Sprucington's right elr. The ex-
pertinent answered admirably. Thinking
it, l suppose, to be troublesome fly, he
raised hi, hand to brush Oft the assalIant.
Bat to do this ho was compelled to shift
the umbrella from his right hand to the
left. The moment of the transference
was enough for nae. Before the fingers
of his lett hand could close | bad seized
the umbrella, aud the next moment was
dashing madly across Trafalgar Square in
the direction Of tho HAymarket.
There was sudden commotion behint
me.-a commot}un which soon swellec
into an uproar I hee-led it no furthcl
than To turn has round, in order To lc
Sprucington see who I was, and TO -four
ish in the air nay umhrells,I mean hi
umbrella. Bat the nprott did not relax
On the contrary, it began to shape itSel
into words. Hoarse shouts Of "StoI
their followed me as flew up the step
at the further end of the square. The
cries stiIl ringing in my ears, l dashed
helter.skelter past the College of Physi
clans and Colnaghi's print shop till l camt
to the corner of Suffolk street. Here
was brought up "all standing" by an iror
grip from behind. Turning around
found myself in the custody of police
man.
In the usual brief space of time, the in
evitahle London crowd assembled abou
US. l was regarded with curiosity, load
ed with reproaches, and favored with wi
of an extremely personal nature, all a
the same moment. This bore with pa
thence, if not with good humor, convinced
that on the arrival of Sprucingtou -.
should get clear of my tormentors. Pres
emily lane was made for the approach o
ba nmuay &c tho stnlap y,raDnrty- Undo