Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-08-22

steps: but AS she was about 10 enter
the shop she slipped her hand into her
pocket and let piece of lace fall on the
pavement mo, ma am, that won't do"
cried Mr.. Pottridge, seizing the thiefs
wrist. "Ioa're going to pretend these
things fell by accident into the folds
of your dress; We know that trick" And
officiously acting as searcher. he plung.
ed his hand into the pocket despite the
lady's struggles, and drew out a second
piece of lace, three cambria handker-
chiefs two pairs of new gloves, one pair
Of silk stockings and lady'S silk cravat.
well never" exclaimed the pushing
shopman; and there was II murmur
among the bystanders. including the
lady's own footman, who looked Ikea
powdered figure Of Transformation.
How dare your screamed the lady,
purple with rage and morn6cstion as
she glared ut Mr.. Pottridge; "lll prose-
cute you for assault. told the shop
man here that meant 10 buy these
things Let the bill he sent to my adj
dress; I'm Mrs. Pounceforth. keaue."
All, dessay. responded the shop
man, but I'm just going to give YOU
into custody" and running to the door,
he beckoned 10 hlue-coated member
of the force.
One of the partners OF the firm, a
gray, civil-spoken man, who had been
summoned from his study, now came
forward; and he was ut first disposed to
rehuke the haste Of his shopman, but it
was too late. The policeman had al
ready entered, and all the shopmen
and shop-girls, the customers and the
desultory people crowding around the
door were instant in choruSing that the
thief should be made an example of.
Mrs. Observation-Disclosures, seeing public
opinion so dead against her, uttered
howl and fell swooning to tine floor.
Never mind that, Well soon rouse
her" said the policeman facetionsly,
for he did not yet know that he had to
deal with y lady who kept hroucham.
The magistrate is sitting now at Mari
borough street; we'll Just go there at
once and have her charged"
This arrangement was acceded to,
and III few minutes the lady and the
policeman (who had got abashed Ivy
this time from finding himself seated
on the silk cushions of carriage) We're
riding to the Police Court III Mrs.
Poanceforth- keane's own vehicle, while
Mr.. pottridge, the shopman, and the
mercer followed on foot to give evil
dence.
\
One would think that i'll case where
the oflense was fragrant, and the testi-
mony so clear, the magistrate might
have sentenced the defendant straight
oil to six months imprisonment; and,
indeed, had the thiefbeen u person of
the lower orders, it would probably have
been her fate to be convicted summari-
". But it turned out that Pounce-
forth keane was the real name of the
elegant shupliiter, whose husband Was
person moving, as the reporters say,
" in the best ranks of soc ety." Mr..
Pouneeforth- keane was sent for, and
arrived breathless i'll II hanson from
one of the best clubs III Pail Mall. AT
the sight of him his wife, who had been
locked up for IN hour in police cell,
wept profusely, and Mr., p. X. was him
self much agitated. He asked for re-
mand, and rendered bail, saying he
should produce medical evidence TO the
effect that his wife had lately suffered
severely in health The magistrate--a
timid man, who had grown-up daught-
tiers to marry, and was terribly afraid OF
society, -stammered ont something like
IN apology, and READILY acceded to the
application for bail. So very soon Mrs.
Pounceiorth-K eane tottered out Of
court, weeping like II victim, ON her
husbands arm; ana Mr.. Pottridge walk
ed away with the shopmaE and the civil
spoken mercer. All three We're crest
fallen, as if they had committed blum
der. This will be very bad affair for
me, grumbled the mercer. ~ would
have lost hundred yards of lace sooner
than appear in court against a lady
like this"
"Well, but she's thief" cried Mr..
Pottridge, rousing himself and speak
ing with spirit. What harm can she
or her friends do your
"Are you quite sure you saw her
steal the things?" asked the mercer,
gloomily. Besides, supposing she did
pu. them IN her pocket, she says that
she told my shopman 10 send her the
bill. !"
Pm hanged if she did" calculated
the shopman Indignantly.
"Slencc, sir" answered the mercer
with a stern frown. "If this be really
case of theft, you are sell-condemned,
for you ought to have kept your eyes
about you. For some time past have
noticed that you have been very negll-
gent in business"
The shopman collapsed; as Tor Mr..
Pottridge. he trudged back to his hotel,
feeling half inclined to so and ask
Lord Beaconsfeld what he ought to do.
The case had been adjourned for a
week, so he travelled back to Small
borough in the evening, and by the
time he reached his native town he had
worked himself up into state of con
tempt for the mercer and the metropo-