The Republican journal., 1870-11-03
NED sPRUClNGTON'S UMBRELLA.

Charles Blank
Occupation ?"
Civil engineer"
address ?'
'501 Great George Street, Westminster
and Nerbena Villa, IIammersmith'
''Verbena Villa, Hammersmith,' slowly
repeated the police sergeant, rs he entered
the foregoing particulars i'll u big book.
'Well, you know the charge,-stealing this
gentleman's umbrella. Have you anythin
to say in addition to what you have already
stated ?n
Nothing whatever" | answered." can
only repeat that it was entirely mistake up
on 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 deal 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 were as follows: Myself and
my friend Sprucington were i'll the employ
ment of q railway contractor, whose office
was situated in the locality already mention
ed. The duties at our department were
shared by some half-doZen other young gen
tlemen OF our own age, who like us, were
qualifying themselves for the survey Of
grounds and construction of lines in any part
Of the world which their genius should call
them to. But plans and specifications are
not particularly exhilarating in themselves,
apart from their professional interest so it is
not to be wondered at, that among several
young fellows, full Of animal spirits, little
practical Joking should have been at times
indulgcd in.
Ned Sprucington and | We're old Carthu-
slams. 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 en-
tire house, was Ned. | honestly believe, too,
that he was one OF the most guileless, sim
ple-hcarted fellows alive. He had, however,
one conspicuous weakness-which was to be
taken for q man Of fashion. He dressed,
admit, uneXceptionably; and to aid him in
producing the impression he desired upon
beholders. he carried about with him in all
weathers q beautiful silk umbrella, scarcely
bulkier than Il lady's parasol, though of course,
considerably longer. Judging from the cut
onyx handle, mounted i'll gold, it must have
cost him Il 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 left in some
safe place. If we had succeeded i'll gaining
possession OF it, it would at once have taken
II conspicuous position in society, such as
covering the old apple-woman at the corner
but it was unapproachable. At last we be-
came so desperate that L accepted heavy
wager from one of the other fellows that
would present myself at the Office the next
morning, and, at all hazards, the proud pos
SCISSOR Of Ned Sprucington's umbrella.
On that particular day, work being slack,
{C laayra n "
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. My
friend Ned as was his custom at such times,
had announced his intention of promenadinS
the Ladies' Mile, there air HIMSELF his aris-
tocracv and-his umbrella. | decided upon
following him thither. AS there was yet two
hours of daylight though, | could not do
better than fortify myself for the enterprise
by taking some substantial refreshment be-
fore commencing operations. After which,
| would trust to the chapter of accidents
With this object in view, | was repairing
toward my favorite place of rejection in the
Strand, when who should see looking in at
q topographer's shop by Northumberland
House but Ned Sprucington He ought, by
rights, to have been nearly two miles away
by Hyde Park Corner; yet here he was at
Charing Cross, calmly studying some map of
4 ''seat of war; He was so wedged in
among other gazers, that | could not get to
speak or even have a clear view of his face.
But | knew him by his height, by the neatly
braided coat the dclicatey tinted trowsers,
the well poised hat, and last, but not least,
the umbrella. He was holding his hands be-
hind his back and in one of them lhe pre-
cious article was tirIlly claSped.
Yes, there it was, onyx handle, gold mount
ed and all AS | looked, a sudden idea took
possession of me-a foolish idea, l admit, as
it could hardly lead to Il practical result
But l thought, if | could only get the UNI
brella out of his hand in some way, and run
off with it, that he, seeing it in the possession
of a friend, would give up the chase, know
ING that he would recover his property the
next day. At the worst the result would
only be a day OF two's coolness between us,
on account of my freak.
No sooner thought than done. On the
pavement I espied q piece of straw, well
ING it up proceeded to tickle with it Spruc-
ington's right ear. The experiment answer
ed admirably. Thinking it to be q trouble
some fly, he raised his hand to brush off the
assailant. But TO do this, he was compelled
to shift the umbrella from his right hand to
his left. The moment of his transfer was
enough for me. Before the fingers of his
left could close, had siezed the umbrella
and the next moment was dashing madly
across Trafalgar Square in the direction OF
the Haymarket.
| There was sudden commotion behind me,
"A commotion which soon swelled into an
uproar; | needed it no further than to turn
half round, in order to let Sprucington see
who | was, and to flourish in the air my UNI
brella. But the uproar did not relax on the
contrary, it began to shape itself into words
Hoarsc shouts of ''Stop thief!' followed me
as flew up the steps at the further end OF
the square. The cries still ringing in my
ears, i dashed hiltcr-skilter past the College
of Physicians and Conaght's printshop till
came to the corner of Suffolk street. Here ]
was brought up ''all standing" by an iron
grip upon the collar from behind. Turning
round, | found myself in the custody of /:
policeman.
In the usual brief space of time, the inevi-
table London crowd assembled about us.
was regarded with curiosity, loaded with re-
proaches and favored with wit Of an extreme