The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1875-11-18

1 must own, l should not like to be on duty
here all night. However, have brought
some little refreshments with me, SO let us
make ourselves comfortable. In silence
they ate and drank, and in silence, save for
the Ginning of the clock, or the occasional
tread of policeman, the hours crept on.
The policeman passed within couple of
yards of the watchers repeatedly, but
whether he knew of their presence or not,
Baselton could not judge. The length and
WEAKNESS of the hours grew at last intol-
erable to him, and seeing that the sergeant
was as cool and wide awake as when they
first entered their lair, he whispered: 81
feel terribly drowsy, sergeant, 1 always do
about this time. Five minutes nap will
make me as fresh as daisy. Rouse
me UP, if you hear anything before that
time"
His companion smiled, and in the same
subdued tone, gave the promise.
Nothing did happen requiring Mr.. Basel
toms presence either before or after the ex-
piration of five minutes, although the officer
stealthily looked out u hundred times dur
ing the night. At last the darkness thin
ned away, and then, after short gray twi-
light, dawn came; and the sergeant shook
Baselton by the shoulder.
Eyes, yes, I'm ready" stammered the
exhibitor, then opened his eyes very wide
indeed. "Why, it's daylight! must have
slept"
Eyes, of course you have" interrupted
the other; "but let US go out quietly.
don't mind our men seeing us, Of course /;
but others need know nothing of our
watch"
81 think the less your men or anybody
else know about the way we kept our watch
the BETTER" said Mr. Baselton, as they left
the counter; sin fact | shall re- gard it as a
friendly thing if you say nothing about it. :"
The sergeant smiled, but kept his own
COUNSEL and it may be limited that Basel
ton was very liberal fellow, although
somewhat hasty. 1t turned out that no
pilfering had taken place that night; nor
did any occur for two or three nights after,
a fact which Mr.. Glisser attributed to the
influence Of Mr.. Baselton's vigilance. He
took great interest in the exhibitors plans,
and paid him several compliments, which
the latter received with but Indifferent
grace, having reasons, that the other knew
not of, for thinking but modestly of this
same vigilance.
One morning a little while after the fruit
less watch, Mr.. B.lselton was in a very bad
temper, for be had sustained a fresh loss.
| Hewas leaning against pillar, short dis
! tance from his counter, thoughtfully biting
the end of his pencil case, when man
spoke to him. He looked around at the
sound and saw police constable, whom he
very much dishked for his apathy and un-
business-ike ways, Standing close by him,
he growled out some hardly civil words,
and turned from the man, but the latter
was not to be daunted.
81 am afraid you have had loss, sir, y
said the man, "and hope it not very seri-
GUS; but, at any rate, l should like word
or two with YOU
4 "What for % retorted Baselton. 81
have lost gold watch, and, as 1 have not
breathed syllable to soul, don't see
how you could know anything of it, unless
some of your lively force have
"You are too severe, Baselton," said the
other, finding he had stopped; you are in
deed, sir" "Now, sir, have my opinion
about these robberies, and 1 think 1 have
found out the order the thief works in, and
can pretty well guess in what quarter he
will next try. l believe can catch him."
"You!" exclaimed Beselton, with an
emphasis which was anything but compi-
mentary to the officer.
!, Eyes, sir" replied the man firmly, 81
can. You have good deal of influence
with the authorities and if you will ask,
, shall be taken off regular duty, and de-
! tailed for special service; and can then
catch him.
"Well, tell me your plans said Basel
ton, and in return, 1 will tell you this
You know there are ESQ offered on the
quiet for the apprehension of the thief.
, Find him, and will make it elOO."
The constable smiled, and, lowering his
voice, spoke to the exhibitor in whispers
! When he had finished Baselton slapped his
/, hand on the counter with force that Jared
, every article around, and exclaimed:
"You are right. Are you on dutyP"
"No, sir" said the man.
"Then you shall be-
The application for the constable's change
of duty was doubtless made. for he disap.
, peared from his accustomed patrol.
During the next day or two, Baselton
became loquacious on the subject. and in
conversation with Mr.. Glisser, who took 9
very kindly interest in the matter, owned
. that he had changed his opinion about the
matter of the robberies. He was convinc.
ed, he said, that if the thief came by night
| he would have been caught long before
but that everybody was on the wrong scent
and that the thefts we're really committed
in the bustle of closing for the evening, and
then, not being found out till the morning
, it was naturally supposed that the tniei
| came in the night. Mr.. Glisser was much
struck by this view, which he commended
{ highly, and urg ged increased vigilance about
the time spoken Of.
While this was going on, there had beer
, no fresh depredations from the counters
and constable Lowclife had been absent
from duty, although no one seemed 10 nave
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