Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-01-04
DISCOVERING THE THIEF.

Nick Bowers was member Of the
original Christy's Minstrels, and as the
veteran performer, I. A. Hermon, re-
Gently remarked to the writer, Nick was
the greatest middle-man" and inter
rogator" ever known in the whole pro-
fession. Nick's nobleness of heart, and
ever generous readiness to serve needy
friend, were proverbial and, although
man of giant stature and Hurculean
power, he, in disposition, was as gentle
and harmless as a lamb.
Nick used to tell, with great merri-
ment, an incident of his boyhood. To
preserve the flavor of his relation, we
will record it in Nick's own words, and
only regret that we cannot accompany
it with his inimitable gesticulation.
"My Oldham" said Nick, "as gen.
eral thing, was pretty steady old
gent ; but once in while he would get
oblivious, and water was not the cause
Of it. l recollect certain holiday was
approaching, and I had been shining
around to get little money 10 have a
time with on that day but the fates
and purse were against me. Two days
prior to the anticipated holiday dawn,
l hadn't nary red. Remember this,
boys, when l add that upon this same
afternoon came into the house, when
10 there upon the floor, overcame by
his imbibitions, lay my respected daddy,
and beside him six shining half-dollars
which had rolled from his pocket. Boys,
I've been an honest man all my life
but once, when boy, I committed a
theft. I hooked one of those half dol.
lars. Thinks to myself, the cid mans
been on a jamboree-won't know how
much he spent, and will never miss it
But, mark you, the next morning land
my two brothers were summoned into
our fathers presence. The old mans
face lowered. 1 thought of that half.
dollar, and knew storm was brewing.
"Boys," said he, last night came
home with six half-dollars. One of ems
gone. Your mother didn't take it
There's been no one else in the house
Which one of you took it?"
We all protested our innocence.
Boys" said the old man, "that
half-lollar never walked away, and I'm
going to find out which one of you three
boys took it.
Turning round he took down fl ON
the wall an cd flint lock Queen Anne
blunderbuss. This he deliberately load
ed with powder and buckshot in on,
presence; then, fastening it upon the
table, he cooked it, tied a string to the
trigger, took Il seat behind it, holding
the string in his hand, and in solemn
tones addressed us thus:
Boys, I'm going to discover the
thief, and punish him at the same time.
You must each blow in the muzzle. OF
that gun. When the guilty one blows,
off goes his head. Now, then, you
have chance. Will you own up OF
blow"
Not word did either of us speak.
Ben," said the old man to my eld.
est brother, "have you got that miss.
ing half-dollar
No, sir"
"Blow in that muzzle."
Ben did so, and the gun didn't &c
off.
Jack" to my next brother, "have
you got that half-dollar9"
"No, sir"
"Take blow"
" Nick'-eh, boys, I tell you, the
chills began to crawl down my buck
"got half-dollar," said the old man
No, sir" said I, with defiant air.
I" Blow in that gun
walked up bravely, gave blow and
-dodged.
" Nick, said the old man, in a voice
of thunder" where's that half-dollar ?"
He had me. The truth lodged out o1
me. Said I, "out in the barn, pop"