River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-08-13

y
siderable distance, and there was scarcely
any hiding place here; the Druid on his
pedestal had no doubt ieckoned on these
facts having great weight with the mar
auder. Several nights had gone by and
no discovery made, yet Ned Lowcliffe
crept silently to his selected station, and,
assuming his disguise as the shrouded
statne, patiently watched through the
darkness; so patiently that no one not
close enough TO touch him could have inn
agincd that he differed from the efhgies
around
1t was yet comparatively early in his
watch, on a certain night, and young
moon threw just sufficient light here and
there TO make everything more uncertain
than usual, when Lowclife, finding him
self little cramped from standing so
long in one position, prepared to make
one Of the guarded shifts he was forced
to indulge in during the evening; but
just as he commenced carefully to draw
one leg behind the other, he stopped,
rolled his eyes ea2arly round, and then
remained so motionless he scarcely
breathed.
With step almost noiseess-but not
quite so for such a listeners ears man
glided round the angle Of counter close
by, and, standing close by Lowcliffe,
paused, stopped, looked along the floor in
every direction, then sat upon an ada
cent pedestal, and, leaning against the
legs of a Hercules, listened. If the pro-
cess Of perspiration were not wholly
silent one, Lowcliffe would have been be.
trayed, for the cold beads came upon his
forehead as he saw how near he was to
discovery.
The man was sitting upon the very
next PEDESTAL, a block which almost
touched his own. There he waited quiet
ly for awhile, not very long, but long
enough to insure himself that no patrol
was coming that way then he rose, and
in few steps was at the nearest counter
and had tried a key in the lock; ole or
two attempts failed, but at last door
opened, and his head and shoulders were
lost to sight; he re-appeared with a
small box, which he placed on the ground
before him, and then tried one or two
keys. Again the box yielded, the lid was
thrown back, and few articles were rap.
idly transferred to the mans pocket.
Some object, however, seemed un.
known to him, and he held it up against
the dim light, endeavoring TO make out
what it was. To his horror one of the
statutes sprang from its pedestal toward
him. 1t was instantaneous, but the flash
was enough; the figure all in white
moved, and leaped upon him then, with
a fearful yell, which rang from end to
end of the building, the thief fell in a fit
upon the floor.
Alarmed by the scream, two or three
officers were speedily at the spot, and turn
ing on their lanterns, we're nearly as much
astonished in their turn to see white
sheeted figure standing by the side of a
man in commissions.
When their momentary surprise had
ceased upon their discovering who the
sheeted figure was, they proceeded to un-
lasten the PROSTATE mans scarf and collar,
sprinkled him with water, and lifted him
from the ground; his struggles ceased,
and few long breaths announced that he
was coming to"
81 don't know him. said one Of the
constables,
Il do, though y exclaimed Lowcliffe.
"Well Of all parties as ] could have sup
posed, never could have supposed him.
| Why, it's that blessed Glisser, from the
stall next to old Baselton; fellow that
looks like if butter wouldn' melt in his
mouth"
"Where am l--who are you ?" said
the miserable convict.
"Oh, we're particular friends Of yours"
returned the officer.
"But saw--I saw one of those things
move," replied the man, looking timidly
around with dreadful shudder.
Lowcliile had stripped off his white
raiment by this time, and so did not
shock the wretched Glisser's eyes.
"We'll tell you all about that in the
morning." said the constable. "What
you have got to do is to come along with
u.s."
1t was so-he had TO "come along"
and directly the exhibitors and the staff
mustered in the building, the intelligence
flew like wid-flre that Mr.. Glisser was in
custody for breaking into stalls at night
1t was a shock to a large circle of his
acquaintance and admirers. who could
hardly believe it, and when. on his lodg-
ings being searched, the bulk of the ar
ticles missing from the counters was found
the thing seemed more incredible still.
Mr.. Baselton was especially astounded
because he had made quite a confident of
the young man, and had the modification
Of remembering how he himself had re-
vealed TO Mr.. Glsser the various plans for
detecting the thief: and that, if it had
not been for Lowcllifie insisting OH the ruse
of attributing the pilfering to the after.
noon instead Of the night, he probably
would have put the young man on his
guard against the scheme which had prov.
ed successful. He recovered his watch
and other articles, paid his fl00 pounds
checrfully, and gained reputation with
the "force" for the extreme readiness
with which he put his name down to their
subscriptions for deserving objects.
Mr.. Glisser's proved very bad case,
and he was lost to sight for many years
after the date ofthe exhibition Of 1867
Chambers Journal.
Why is a solar eclipse like woman
whipping her boyl Because it is the
hiding Of the sun.
What pupil gets the most punishment?
The pupil OF the eye, for it is continually