The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-01-03

"Pshaw - said Annie, contemptuous.
ly. I" don't believe it. It's too 70,
mantle by halt"
"We!I' Of course, don't know how
much truth there is in it, said Maria,
rather obviously. "Anyhow, he wants
TO remain unknown. He's lodging
across the way at Mr.. Beach's."
well, SEQ that he pays you in ad.
vance. | should Judge from your
account that he is as likely AZ not to be
II swindler, a regular lodging-house thief
they ali tell some such stories"
a few days later Annie was sufficient
ly well to rho from her bed and walk
about the room, She was still quite
weak, but some Of her old spirits shone
in her eyes, and the loss of the money
was gradually fading from her daily
thought.
The young gentleman seemed to have
made himself quite agreeable, for Maria
became rather shy and silent when he
was the subject OF conversation. And
Annie often wondered where Maria went
after t,c mornings wCrk was done.
When however, she was spoken to about
il, Maria laughed and said she was out
marketing; bat Annie strongly suspected
that Maria was out prOmenading with
the new lodgcr,
One morning Annie thought she was
strong enough to go down 10 the break
fast table. So, dressing herself neatly,
and giving au added puil 10 her hair, in
view Of the fact that she was then to sec
the Iodger for the first time, Annie was
led downstairs by Jane.
She could hear the heavy, cultural
tones OF old Mr., Zimmerman, who was
in a violent contab with his wife, and
the laughing voice OF one whom she took
to be the new gentleman lodgcr. Enter
ing the dining room, Annie WAS taking
her seat when her eyes fell on the young
gentleman directly opposite. lie was
looking at her stupidly.
Co., o." cried Annie, ON meeting his
glance, and she stopped short, unable to
artlculate another word.
"Ah, q, a--a--cXcuse me, ladier,
multered the young man, backing out
toward the door; and, getting The han
die, he opened the door and bounded
down the stairs into the street.
Annie recovered herself in Il moment.
Dtshng to the window, she threw it up
and shouted as loudly Us she could:
"Stop thief. stop thief, o, stop him,
stop him
Fortunately a policeman was loung-
ing nearly opposite, who, oI seeing Annie
wildly screaming Stop thief" and the
young man fleeing ~ for dear life, started
pursuit. The odgcr ran fast, but the
policeman ran faster and the former was
soon in his grasp.
90, Annie,' cried Maria, how you
frightened me, Who il hep
"Why, he is the thief who stole our
money -aid Annie " knew him the
very moment set eyes on him.
4 lIcf!' cried old Mr.. Zimmerman,
turning to Annie; "vy, he tolt me he
vas nopIeman, he did Mine gracious!
He hash got sixty pounds from me. o!
mine vrau, vat shall do?"
Here he j., ma am, said tho police.
man, hauling the thi' into the room ~
know him, ma'am. He's Slippery Bill,
one Of the smartcst rogues, ma am. We
had my eye on him. What's he been up
to now ?'
Jane told him of The loss OF the money.
Just like him ma'am,' exclaimed
the officer, on hearing the account;
just like him. lie is one OF the shrCwd-
est rascaIs ever saw. Well he is nabb2d
now, thank Heaven
The lodgcr otherwise Slippery Bill, of
uncnviah!c notriety, stood carel,s3ly
with his back to the open crate FIRE, and
smiling dubiously on the throng. The
policeman took the precaulion to slip Il
pair Of handouts over his wrists.
" For you never know, you Sec" he
said when these kind of fellows will
give You the Slip
"Cltt ne back mine sixty pounds"
cried the German, shaking his fist in the
prisoners face. "CiitliL me back, you
bad one, YOU gir it me, say"
Bmt the pseudo gentleman only smiled
at his simplicity in 80 easily parting with
his hard-eaned money to Il complete
stranger, and whistled softly to himself.
The prisoner WAS taken to the police
station. On seaching his room, the
money stolen 50 adroitly from ANNE
was discovered concealed therein.
Great WAS tho joy Of the sisters on re-
ceivng it. They are now living in the
cozy little house purchased with tile re.
covered money, and are AZ happy as the
day is long while the author of their
misfortune is lodging in the fine house
hn al ,
and retired a4 he could possibly wish to
be. Annie is careful to whom she intrusts
valuabes, even for moment; and Maria
has an aversion to dodgers, and particu-
larly new and strange gentlemen dodgers,
20 the notice Furnished Apartments"
has never been displayed at their win
dows.
AFTER he had talked half an hour, one
of the listeners who had kept track OF the