Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-09-14

palable Congratulate thyself, thou man
OF gold and silver and precious stones I;
and, furthermore, congratulate mo on my
aptitude for scenting Slippery Dick !
Then, letting fall his voice, he added
moro seriously You've had narrow
escape, sir. I've no doubt now that our
reverend friend hsre has contrivsd to leo
sen your stock Of goods pretty con.idera-
bly-has been pretended (mark that y
purchaser to very tidy tune y
at you mean, sir, whoever you may
be, that this gentleman has paid good
deal of money to me,' | returned, some
what Indignantly, you are rightin your
conjecture. But, may ask, pray, who
are you, that you enter my shop in this
manner and insult myself and customer
by asking ch-well, such impertinent
questions ? Who are you p
again asked, feeling that should be com.
PEELED to call my shopman TO turn him
neck and crop into the street.
"'You'll very soon know who am,
he returned, cooly. Suffice itat present
that am fully justified in what , ask and
do ~ Bear-kindly bear with me
little. / have stern duty to perform.
The man is not what he pretends to be.
He is "a blackleg, canting humbug, a
swindler; in word, MS dangerous and
troublesome customer as you have to
deal with =
Il looked at my customer. His face
was terrible to look upon could scarce
believe my eyes-the passion concentrated
in his features was absolutely demoniac
in its intensity; the ebullltion Of rage
which held possession of him from head
to foot.
1.-THE bostsrous stranger laid his head
heavily on the clergyman's shoulder,
grasped i. roughly and whispered some
thing in his ear, at which his passion left
as quickly and suddenly as u fash Of
lightning. He became, in fact, as pale as
death, and finally eliminated in tremb
ling violently, while his face assumed
klnd OF DICK aust nue..
81 did not put this down as guilt, no
! | laid it rather TO the just indignation that
would be naturally felt by a high soulsd
minister of the Gospel accused Of such
enormities.
"Tho rough and ready intruder regard
ed the reverend gentleman with unteigned
( L. 81. - 1
He folded his arms across his broad chest
and stood regarding him for few
moments. Then he looked at me and
winkcd knowingly.
"'Christian friend is clever, Ohio ! He
| is doing the worl; Of certain evil per-
sonage who shall be nameless, very nd
mirabiy, aha J! he calculated, revertlng
again to his boisterous manner. But we
old bird. are not to be- caught we are
accustomed to this Kind Of thing. o dear
/ YES, I-your very obedient servant, Mr..
Filby, belong to the fancy iron trade, and
do my utmost to get MS much OF my
stock ON other peoples hands as posi-
bly, can. Saying which, he unbuttoned
and throw open his shaggy overcoat, and
laid bare to my gaze the uniform of an
Inspector Of Police. Then, as quick as
thought, he drew forth and fastened on
the clergyman's wrists a pair Of hand
cuffs
"'This is shocking really horriSle,' l
couldn't help saying.
"'No sentiment please returned the
/ inspector angrly. Leave me TO do my
work, and take care you do yours
"'My good man. the man of the white
neckcloih exclaimed in whining tones,
I you are utterly mistaken. liks-I in
/ fine have naught but admiration for your
zeal but am not the man yeu suppose
me to be If you will remove
these lhings-they hurt my wrists-I will
GO
"'No you won't
al mean will go into the details of
our transsction. = The hotes are
good, genuine, sr.'
Perfectly so,' responded 4 would
stake my life on Their soundne..'
"'Then, sir, permit me public SER
want to tell you that you will lose your
! life. Kindly let me look at those sound
and genuine Bank Of England notes.
"What could do but hand them to
him
"Ah as I thoughtv he then ex-
claimed. Very skilful, very clever de-
cidediy SO Pity our pious friend here
doesn't contrive to turn his thoughts in
another direction sad that he disdains
to use his talents more honorably. Give
such consummate clevsrness, he might
have surmounted almost anything by
honest means. These, sir, are
rascally forgeries splendidly worked
out, III admit, but forgsries for all thatp
he declared emphatically, laying the
notes down on my counter and placing
his el bow on them. Now, l shouldn't
wonder he resumed, If our reverend
specimen of humanity hero did not per-
suads you that be desired to make his
daughter-liis daughter wedding pres
ent? ?
~ said that such was really the fact.
"'Ah, just so ! The old, old game :
tho old story. l wonder, Dick
(Slippery Dick is the name by which he
i. known among us and his companions)
4 wonder, Dick, you don't alter your
msdus operandi-it's so stupidity stale you
know
"'Dick' looked daggers, looked as
though he would have very much liked
to ann;hlate the. inspector on the spot,
and retorted in language not at all beht-