The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-11-13

caught my eye.
"a little in tho wildgoose-chase way
thought !, as neared them-"going tc
catch feathers from plucked bird"
Notwithstanding proceeded, aud just
ms / got within their eye-shot-my owl
was discharged farther down-one of the
two made oil'up Pitt Street, but not be!orC
discovered he was no other than one o
! my suspected at Stockbridge. The coat
less one skunk in, and, leaving him salt
enough, made of after the fugitive.
traced him to the turn of lleriot Row, ant
saw him running west ut full speed. II
was Sabbath morning, and 1t was not :ol
D decent person like me to be pursuing
thieves on the Lords day, though | was
sure they were not running to church
So turned my steps hack to the tailor's
shop, where my wbite-sleeyed gentleman
was now likely completing his toilet, to
appear as gay as possible in presence Of his
Sunday-out housemaid who would be ready
for him hs usual, about the time when her
mistress would be thinking her devout
Jenny would be walking churchward to
the sound of the Sabbath.bells.
On getting down stairs knocked at a
door, and straightway there appeared before
me my coatlcss customer, still uncoated,
and holding in his hand Dig knife, The
appar,tion startled me little, but did not
drive away my wits. must get the knife
out of his hand. He looked fierce, but
that was no reason why should not look
the very opposite.
"Put on your coat,n said |, and come
out and speak to mG"-a process he could
not very well have gone through with the
gully in his hand.
Obedience to soft request is natural,
and my man, laying down the knife, with
which, alter all, he had perhaps been cut
ting his breakfast loaf, donned his coat
and came ont to me, leaving the knife
behind.
"Who was the lad you were speaking
to littlo while ago at the doorr inquired
].
"I was speaking to nobody" replied be-:
with n very determined air-a denial which
resolved me at once. How much more
often have drawn out denial, where the
denied fact was clear, than ever did out
Of m affirmation, though clcuched with an
oath
"Now,n said ], in pursuance Of resolu-
tion which may appear unauthorized, II
not fOol-bartly, but which l took my risk
Of-ior with me it has always been no
risk, no rcward"-"y you take your hat,
whlc keep hold of you," remembering
the knife, "and then | will take you where
you may get some help to your memory"
And having kept hold of him Till he was
covered, took him up the outside stair
aud committed him to ono of my brethren,
who quietly led him to the office,
Having dispatched this worthy, kept
watch at the door until the officer returned,
then betook myself to examine the nest
from which | had taken my bird. At the
loot OF the stairs | met an old man, the
master of the youth, and, as l afterwards
learned, his uncle. Though he had not
formerly appeared, be had heard enough to
satisfy him of what had been doing, and
was clearly prepared for me.
"Though you have not often customers
on Sunday morning." said I, II have
commission for three topcoats, and want
them upon the instant"
al sell nothing on the Lords day"
replied my devout gentleman; "neithcr
do work on that day."
"But you are not forbidden to answer n
plain question on that day." rejoined;
''and | ask you IL you have about you
three topcoats; and as you don't traffic
to-day, | shall take them from YOU for
nothing, to relieve your conscience
I" have nothing Of the kind" (sulkily);
"do you take me for thiefp
"Not just yet" said | "but wait there
little, and perhaps may do You that
favor when come up stairs"
And without waiting for an answer,
shot down very tempting inner stair,
leading to an underground kitchen at the
bottom, and below the back Of which,
where there was recess, | found the very
things I was in search o.. In all which
proceedings, though there was a dash Of
haphazard, there were not wanting proba-
bilitles, where were at least sufficient to
me, and in the following Of which was
thus rewarded.
al will take you for thief now,n said
|, as | came up tie stair with the three
coats over my arm. "'rhough you could
not sell clothes on the Lords day to
man, you could sell yourself to the devil
by telling me lie. These are the coats"
40, they must be my nephew's, John
Anderson he cried.
"No matter; they have been found in
your house, and you go with me-"
And the deyout little old man was so
FIR cured Of his devotion, that be neither
preached nor prayed, probably because he
had not a willing audience, and hypocrisy
loses its cant before Justice. llG went
quietly to where his snephew was; and now
Il was necessary to catch the other birds,
who suspected were those who brought
the prey home. There was no difficulty
about them; William Ferguson had seen
in the morning. talking to Anderson we
got him on the same night at the house OF
his father. But there was another spoken
by John Anderson, as having been
actively engaged in the robbery - the
brother of William Ferguson, called John.
had always such n desire to see my
friends together, that it vcxcd me when
any one was absent from meeting, where
the sympathy was generally so complete,
that no one contradictcd another but all
were bound together in the bonds of friend
ship, rendered tighter by cause Of com
mon interest. II | had got none of the
others, would probably have been less
solicitous about John; but John | must
get, or my peace was not Of that kind
which consists In duty done. There was
difficulty about this John. I had never
seen him, neither had nny Of my detective