The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-04-22
His Own Detective.

fact the only store of any consequence in
Jacob kept for sale dry and moist goods of
every description, and both village and |
suburban gossips made his place their CEN
tire and fitting ground. To this the trader
did not object, 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 year, and Britzer with all his
watching, was unable to detect the thief.
There were several whom he deemed
capable of the decd, but he could not fix
the crime upon either of them.
At length, on Monday morning, Jacob
Britzer entered his store and upon remov-
ing the heavy wooden shutters from the
windows he discovered that the large glass
top show case, 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 brief space he was
thunder struck-then, for an other brief
space, he collected his thoughts, and re-
nected. His course of action was resolved
upon. His first decided movement was to
lock the door by which he had entered and
draw the curtains over the windows Next
he replenshed the showcase from fresh
stock he Glanced to have on hand, making
it look as neatly 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 ascer-
tanned that the thief had gained entrance
by rear cellar window, and having so
covered the tracks of the guilty one that
his clerk would not observe them, he open
ed his store, and prepared for business.
Half an hour later the clerk came, and de-
tected nothing out of the way. This
clerk we may remark was Jacobs own
SOM.
The day passed-customer came and
went as usual-the goSsips chatted over
their beer and cheese, while old Jacob was
attentive and affable, never betraying by
words or sign that anything had happened
amiss In the evening Peter Hawks came
in. This Peter Hawks was a farmer, own
ing quite place near the outskirts of the
village, who had of late been leading life
rather aimless and thriftless. 1t had been
Peters custom to spend good part of the
day in the store, but on 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 remained fol
the most part silent, watching what others
had to say.
At length the hour grew late, and one by
one the gossips dropped away until Petel
was left alone by Jacob and his son. The
solitary customer arose from his chair ant
after little nervous hesitation he ap
preached the storekeeper with,-
"Ah, Jacob, that was quite loss yo,
met with. Have you any idea who did it?'
"Who did what asked Jacob, dropping
, the piece of cloth which he was folding ant
a looking up.
"Who robbed your showcase last night?'
D eyes" answered Jacob, with sterr
promptness-"I know exactly who did itP'
"Eh, who?
! "You did it?
+ "Me ~ gasped Peter quiveringly.
\ "Aye--yOu did ID. IknOw you did it
7 and thus far the secret is entirely between
4 you and me. You are the only other livinI
man besides myself who knows that hav
!, been robbed at all
9 And then Jacob went on to explain
v his customer how he had managed to de
Q tect the thief. Peter Hawks was forced +
|, own up and in consideration of his return
It ing the goods last stolen, and paying 70
d those stolen on previous occasions, an
also promising to steal no more, he was le
~ off. But he did not remain much longe
=, in Bucksport Having settled with Jaco
f Britzer, he made all haste to sell his farr
and remove to parts where his shorI
- comings were not known.
:. G8- A Green Bay (Mich.) clerk, VIII
had mind for logic applied it to farme
with advantage, thus: Farmer" Got an
COW bells?" Clerk" Yes; step this way.