Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-09-14
Selettco SfOrlJ.
NED SpRuclNaT0Ns UMBRELLA
"Name Z"
sCbarIes Blank. "
Occupation p
Civil engineer.

aud Vethena Vilas, Hammersmith,
slowly repeated the police sergeant, as h
entered the foregoing particulars in da
book i''Wyl you know the charge
stealing this gentIeinan's umbrella Flaw
you anything to say in addition to wba
you have already stated ?'
Nothing whatever" | answered: g
can only repeat that il was entirely mis-
take on nay part
''Just SO, was the grim reply. "Youl
have an opportunity OF proving that in th'
morning. You are by no means the frs
person We have had to deal with here wht
Z has mistaken other peoples property TO
his own. Take him to the cells. AND
then | was marched of.
Tho circumstances which had brough
me INTO this acrape are as follows. Mysel
and my friend Sprncington were ia the EN-
pl0yment OF railway contractor whose of
fees were situated IN the locality already
mentioned. The duties of cur department
We're shared by some half dozen othel
young gentlemen of o,u own age, who
like us, were qualifying themselves for the
survey of ground and construction of lines
III any part OF the world which their genius
should call them to. But plans and speci
iications are not particularly exhileratine
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 INDUCED in.
Ned Sprucington and | We're old Carthu-
sians. When We met therefore, after some
years separation, at the Office in George
street, We had only to renew our friend
ship. The great dandy of our room, nay,
of our entire house, was Ned. honestly
believe, too, that he was one of the most
guileless, simple-hearted fellows alive. He
had. however, one conspicuous weakness s.
which waS to be taken for O man of fash
ion. He dressed | admit, unexceptionav
bly,; and, to aid him in producing the I'M
preston which he desired upon beholders,
ne carried about with him. in all weathers,
a beautiful silk umbrella, scarcely bulkier
than lady's parasol, though, of course,
considerably longer. Judging from the
cut onyx handle. mounted i'll gold, it must
have cost him q mint of money.
Well this umbrella Of Neds 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 in
gaining possession of it, it would at once
have taken conspicuous position in soci-
ETY., such as covering an old apple-woman
at the corner, but 1t was unapproachable.
At last we became SO desperate that / ac.
eepted heavy wager from one OF the other
fellows that would present myself at the
office the next morning, at all hazards, the
proud possessor of Ned eprucington's urn
brelia.
On that particular day, work being slack
every one was enabled to leave unusually
early; so that by 4 O'clock in the afternoon
the house was cleared of all save myself,
my ybrother-conspirator, and the old sol
dier who lived with his wife on the premis-
es. My 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. ] decided upon following him
thither. As there were yet two hours OF
daylight, however, L thought / could not
do better than fortify myself for the enter
prise by taking some substantial refresh
ment before commencing operations. AT
ter which, 1 would trust TO the chapter OF
accidents.
With this object III view, | was repairing
toward my fayorte place of reflection in
the Strand, when who should / see look
ng in at the topographer's shop by North
umberland House but Ned Sprucington
He ought, by rights, to have been nearly
two miles away Mt 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, Oh
even to have "a clear view of his face.
But / knew him by his height, by thc
neatly braided coat, the delicately tinted
trousers, the well-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
oEannoI
onyx handle, gold mounting, and all. As
me-a foolish idea, [ admit, as it could
hardly lead to- practical result, But
thought if ] could only get the umbrella
out of his hand in some way, and run OF
with it, that he, seeing it IL the possession
of a friend, would give up the chase, know.
ing that he would recover his properly next
day. At the worst, the result would only
be day or two's GOODNESS between us, on
account of my freak.
No sooner thought than done. On the
pavement, | espieda piece OF clean straw,
well adapted tor the purpose / had il
view. Picking it up | proceeded to tickle
with il Sprucngton's right ear, The ex-
pertinent answered admirably. Thinking
1t, | suppose, to be troublesome fly, ht
raised his hand to brush off the assailant
But to do this he was compelled 10 shift
the umbrella from his right hand to his
left. The moment OF The transference was
enough for nae. Before the fingers of hii
left hand could close, / had seized the um
brella, and the next moment was dashins
madly across Trafalgar Square in the di
rection Of the Haymarket.
There was sudden commotion behint
me-a.e a.eommotion which soon swelled intC
an uproar; | needed it NO further than II
turn half round, III order TO let Spruolng
ton see who | was, and to flourish in tht
air my umbrella. But the uproar did no
. relax; an the contrary, 1t began TO shape
,tself into words. Hoarse shouts of 'sstol
thief r. followed me as | new up the step
NJ the further end CT the square. tn
cries still ringing in my ears, dasheI
heiterskelter passed the College Of Phy
sieians and Coln8ghi's print shop till
came to the corner of Suffolk street. Her
/ was broughtup call standing" by an irol
eripe upon the collar from behind. Turn
ing round l found myself III the custod
of a pohceman.
In the usual brief space of time the in
eviiable London crowd assembled abou
MS. was regarded with curiosity, loadet
with reproacEes, and favored with wit 0
an extremely personal nature, all at tn
san,e. moment This / bofo with patienc
Il net with good humor, convinced that O
The arrival Of Spruoiugton / should ge
eiear Of ny tormonters. Presently IAN
vas made lor the approach OF the o@he
OF the stolen property. Judge OF my ho'
.rog on perceiying that the painting ind
Yidual Who made his appearance was
otal stranger 10 mel
t Oh course ali my protestaIions o. lnnt
cenee were of 40 avail, ana Was ueateu l
the manner described ia the commenci
ment.
Chatter, CLASH, r1qnble, bang! The ce
door closed upon me, aud was q prisoner
The gloom was so great, that though
was daylight, / could at first distinguis
nothing. Gradually became aware thI
l was IN a narrow, yanlted room, as stfon
~ brick and iron could make ii. Hal
way up the walls was d wooden vainsco