Connecticut western news., 1873-03-28
Britzer His Own Detective.


 store in Bucksport. We say the village store, because it was the largest, and, in fact, the only store of any conse- quence in the place. Like all country store-keepers, Jacob kept for sale dry and moist goods of every description, and both village and suburban gossips made his place their centre and tilting- ground. To tbis the trader did not ob- feet, because he was himself of a social turn, and because these hangers-on were all customers. Occasionally Jacob missed certain articles from his shelves and counters which he knew had not been sold, and he could only imagine that they had been stolen. This thing continued for more than Q year, and was unable to detect the thief. There were several whom he deemed capable of the deed, but he could not fix the crime upon either of them.
 At length, one Monday morning, Ja- removing the heavy wooden shutters from the front windows he discovered that the large glass-top showcase, near the main entrance, had been robbed of nearly all it's contents. At least three hundred dollars worth of fancy goods had been stolen-a large amount for the country store-keeper to lose. Jacob had locked up his store on Saturday night. and had not visited it since until now, nor had the keys been out of his keeping. For a brief space he was thunder r-struck-then, for another brief space, he collected his thoughts, and reflected. His course of action was re- Aro T aI ment was to lock the door by which he the windows. Next he replenished the showcase from fresh stock which he chanced to have on hand, making it look so nearly as it looked on Saturday evening that not even his clerk was likely to detect any change. Thus the matter, so far as he and his store were concerned, was locked in his own breast, and so he meant to keep it. Having as- certained that the thief had gained en- trance by Q rear cellar window, and having so covered the tracks of the guilty one that his clerk would not ob- serve them, he opened his store, and prepared for business. Half an hour later the clerk came, and detected noth- ing out of the way. (This clerk, we AQdy ToludThS WdS OdCOD 5 OWA SOu
 The day passed-customers came and went as usual-the gossips chatted over their beer and cheese, while old Jacob was attentive and affable, never betray- ing by word or sign that anything had happened amiss. In the evening Peter Hawks came in. This Peter Hawks was farmer, owning quite place near the outskirts of the village, who had of late been leading life rather aimless and thriftless. It had been Peters custom to spend a good part of the day in the store, but on this Monday he had not put in an appearance until after tea :; and even when he did come he failed to talk with his usual volubility, but re- mained for the most part silent. watch ing what others had to say.
 At length the hour grew late, and one by one the gossips dropped away until Peter was left alone with Jacob and his son. The solitary customer arose from his chair, and after little nervous hes itation he approached the storekeeper with,-
 "Ah, Jacob, that was quite loss you met wit. Have ye any idee who did it ?"
 "Who did what p asked Jacob, drop p1nS Cno piece or ClOIQ WHICH ne was folding, and looking up.
 "Who robbed yer showcase last night ?" .
 "Yes," answered Jacob, with stern promptness-"I know exactly who did 1t ?"
 "Eh, who 2"
 ' You did it p
 "Me r gasped Peter, quiveringly.
 "Aye-you did it. l k',o,O you did it and thus far the secret is entirely between you and me. You are the only other living man besides myself who knows that I have been robbed at all P
 And then Jacob went on to explain to his customer how he had managed to detect the theft. Peter Hawks was forced to own up and in consideration of his returning the goods last stolen, and paying for those stolen on previous occasions, and also promising to steal no more, he was let off. But he did not remain much longer in Bucksport. Having settled with Jacob Britzer, he made all haste to sell his farm and re- move to parts where the story of his shortcomings was not known.