, 1874-09-27
THE CR{NKLETON MYSTERY.
Er1tu tisJt{rs ,EgCd-ir<


die and spout. THO gentle nssociations-tho
days labor done. :he drawing in round the fire,
the family circle. With tho cheering and not in-
ebratins resu.s~scem rho]iy Incompatible with
the use Of such Al article; ard tho spectacle OF
the anniable fluid poured from such vessel BY
gentle hands, almost Z painful one. But would
not part with it for any money; it is held in af~
fection like cherished heirloom iet it is dam
age1-indcel, from the network OF lines and
cracks which covers it. eyea en unprotcsaional
could see that it had been *smasned" " into
hupdsed pieces at least. So it has. Ona day it
got q fa1l-~was dropped-aad lay on the
foor, 6hlyerel into 6 heap Of fragments.
The restoration, deemed impossible at first, was
undertaken for Large sum Of lnouey, which
Was paid with delight, for that fall brought
about 'shat you are nor going to hear.
l well recollcct tho day that my dear father
eecuted it, and when he said it MAS "a unique"
We could see no beauty in it, although VIC tried
hard to do so; and. as to its unllueuess, We
rather thought that WAS an advantage for the
world ard for tho spread OF saste- ue was con-
s;dcred general enthusiast. this Mr.. Cfinkle-
ton, and, as once overheard brother amateur
whisper "a his Gicad, sEke particular saucer
--nll cracked and mended," and, though should
not say it, etill the conviction began to fonce
itself On me OF late years that; from over~devo-
ton 10 this pursuit, he had grown . little odd.
Not that lo vaa ono Of the reckless, vastefu1
amateurs, with whom collecting is passion rs
impossible to be resisted ~ drinking, and who
deYour sud swallow everything with. a reckless
craving. He had the mosr surprising taste and
Judgment, and it was admitted that the choicest
and moaa valuable portion OF his collection bad
been gathered very cEeaply, when lie was poor
man. But can SEQ hare been assuming Il
good MANY things as known, which there has not
been time to tell.
1. who have now the srosesque teapot in my
haad, and an relating zhaa story. Has his 500, -
a son that worshlpcd him, and sympathized
with what friends called his hobby; though l
frankly own never cou!d understand how this
plate rms precious, or th.t jug was rare, or this
''bit" OF faiissy worth more than the number
of soyereisns that would cover its surface. I
confess, indeed had feeling. but it WAS one
OF rcpulslon. for those brown lizards which Kept
Crawling over the green plates
However he understood these things, and l
did not, though he often offered to teach. OF
to Till with these treasures. Corner she;Fes aE1
cupboards appeared, and we're crowded. Cab
inets became choke full and the fame OF tho
'.Crinklcton Collection began to spread:
As is usual in such cases, public opinion
was divided, one portion Of the community
i1<b4
was wasting his orn AMI the family cub
stance in lot Of crockery and gallipots !;
the other looking knowing. aud saying that
little old Crin!leton knew we'll what be MES
about. and would, by-and-br, sell the collection
for ten times the amount It cost him. It did.
indeed. seem lkely-tor what ne had bought
far few ehilliugs be was now offered pounds.
I ras ali this time what is called - little
thing pet, dividing the sncctton Of my
father with his other treasures. That constitut-
r rnfr &tetHo
every day, in the shape of china dogs, Chelsea
shepherds, Dresden beauties. and Toby jugs.
Oh. the Eattersea enamel snuf-bo1es and wine
labels! tha tea urna OF rara Dcdlin but
must leave this subject, or shall never get on.
One dav however, there came ! surprise, not
kleton, AZ the neighbors and friends uou1d call
him, had brought some new treasures and cnrios-
itlea. A}as! atep-morher aud ler daughter.
They wero very designing people. and, believe,
frightened him into it. He was shrinking and
timorous ho would nover hare had courage to
carry ouch 4 achcmo into execution Thence
forth began new aud. for me. terrible life.
They brought no mouey with them, though he
WAS persuaded that lo YVES doing what is called
"a good thing" .., ,.
Two more rapaclous spoi,a,s could not be con-
ceiyed. Every 11oment in tho day they were
making an inventory OF ''the property" about
them With a questioning eye. An order "af
sterny Set forh that all buyins VAS to be given
up, and that good money" vas 40 longer to be
el icalously orer every article OF the property,
counting them. aud taking good care
to aacer:ain their value. All our life
in that house was Of sudden changed;
Our poor dear father seemel to shrink and
cover away under this dcspotlsm. As for me-. I
felt that all happiness 'sas gone, and tha: Was
living in prison under tue charge Of jaile1s-
Many were the little fu1tiye wallis he took With
mel being no older than or 10 years-when
lane or street, to gaze At cu1lositaes which lie
dared not purchase. It was miserable TOR me,
whose hand WAS in his, to note his wistfui 1oolat
and even moro miserable to see that this was
but part OF hiB' hu1eripEs under this slavery,
which grew more aud moro Calling every day.
T It was On one Of the.o occseions tia. wo spiea
the grotesque teapot. The night brought the
color to his checks, for he had nothing Of that
pattern in the cplection- It WAS exposed IN z
moor, mean little den-uot q curiosity shop At a.!
"a kind Of huekster's place. Here the teapot
ras offered With view Of tiudln. some pur-
chaser who would use it for the purpose Of max,
ing tea lie as enraptured with II lie could
It least asx the price. four-aud -si1pence-,
worth. ho said, 5 guiueas, and would be worth
double by-aud~by. Az We went out it was Of
{ered for tbree-and-slx. 1t "aa very tempting.
but he resisted it then.
The next day be took mo out will Lin Tor 4
walk, but this was for second inspection. Ie
delayed long before he could mako up bus mlnd,
Lut st last tho purchase MAS made. Then Il VAS
to 10 brought hotne, and then came tho difficulty.
Where was it to be placod ?-for their Argns
eyes would detect tho ejighteat change. But
thev had an instinct that something was wrong,
The Daughter was in the parior window, looking
I'M aud down tue greet, while she-[ always
thought Of her IS though she were unique, Lac
tho teapot--opened tho door and gave police
man-Iike look At his figure Tho grotesque Was
hidden away under his coat. but great
protuberanee revealed its place OF coneealment.
We we're both arrested, the trembling VICTIM
as,ai1ed By both women, nnd tho grotesqae
confscated on tho spot. as indeed all hia
treasures had been already. saw them later
inspecting it curious}y and With eager eTes, Tor
they bad suspicion Of its Talue, and after all
trusted to his Judgment !.
Indeed. latterlv | noticed that this pair "aa
inspecting the cabinets; and moro than once I
had eurcrised them with their heads bent down
over GONE little cup or figure.
One day, too heard them talking carneHtly
about some one they called "Dimb!eTs man,
and what he had said. This did not make much
impression, hut in . day or tTo aEaan heard =
remark about Dimbley's man to tho effect THAI
ho r.s coming TOMORROW. In our ne1t little
walk, grown curious about the mother, asked
nv father:
WHO is Dinb1cy'l man, fashcr?"
lie sta5ted
.Vhr?" he said; *t:'nhat about him7 wh.: do
u... 1..,.- ;,<,,,+ hi WIN wants hfm2"