Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-14

today large bundle of faulty verses,
many of them containing good sentiments,
but the versifcation is too faulty for pub
licati,n."
How Pottridge Spoiled His Luck.
Mr.. Thomas Pottridge, of Smallbor-
ough, had been renowned for his con-
slant run of luck, so that at the age of
forty he was reckoned the 'swarmest'
man there-an alderman who had been
twice mayor of his city, a church.warden
and very popular character among the
fair sex by reason of his being bach.
elor. One or two things more only were
wanted to complete his happiness name
ly, good wife, nice little estate in the
country, and the-honor of knighthood. !,
Mr.. Pottridge wished to become Sir
Thomas Pottridge. Having long cher
ished this idea. and resolved, indeed, that
he would not propose for the hand Of
pretty Miss Lucy Dott, the bankers
daughter, until he could make her LADY,
ship, Mr.. Pottr1dge ended by
thinking that he could best Sc.
cure his object by causing him
self to be reelected mayor, and arran-
ing if possible that H. r. H. the Prince
of Wales should pay visit to Small
borough during the term of his Office.
Intent upon this scheme, Mr.. Pottridge
came up to town to call upon Lord Bea-
consield. Lord BeaconsEeld hearkened
kindly to the grocer's prayer. Small
borough was about to inaugurate some
public baths, the first establishment of
the kind ever seen IN the town, and moth
ing could be more suitable than that the
heir to the Throne should preside over
the ceremonial. "Truly," said the Pre-
mier politely, when he had heard the
Alderman speak, ''the cleanliness of the
people must always be matter of inter-
esting concern to those who are brought
into relations with them. I shall be
happy to take her majesty's commands
on the-ahem !-public-spirited proposal
which you have laid before me.'
"1f you can manage it my lord, T
should be glad if the visit could take
place sometime after the 9th of Noyem-
Der next, for shall be mayor then and
able to see that the reception given is a
proper one"
"Ah, quite so!' answered Lord Bea-
constield, dropping his eyeglass. for. he
had studied Mr.. Pottridge through, and
knew the man by heart
Leaving Whitehall, MI. Pottridge
sauntered towards Regent street, and as
he walked along life seemed rosy to him
because of Miss Dott. He began to stare
into the shop windows, admiring pretty
things which he was tempted to buy for
his love. he was turning over this fancy
and fumbling wistfully at the pocket
where his check-book lay when suddenly
he beheld through the window a curious
sight: An elegantly dressed lady was
seated at the counter examining pieces of
Brussels lace. The shopman averted his
head tor an instant and she deity whipp-
ed up yard of the costly texture and
transferred it to her pocket. The shop
man spread number of square fiat box
es containing cambria handkerchiets and
once more turned away. Again the
lady's deft hand went to work and a
couple Of handkerchiefs found their way
under her cloak.
"Now that woman must have ..capa
cious pockets" soliloquized the aston.
ished Mr.. Pottridge. ashes cunning
thief, anyhow, and I'll step in and warn
the firm"
He hesitated moment, and whilst he
lowered about the doorway, the lady
came out escorted by an obsequious com
missionalre with medals on his breast.
A footman, one of row basking on a
bench like oysters, rose and signalled to
the coachman of a handsomely appointed
brougham, who at once drove forward.
Evidently this lady was not an ordinary
thief. She was tall, dark person about
thirty, superbly dressed and very hand
some. Perceiving Mr.. Pottridge and see
ing his glance fixed on her as She waited
tor her carriage, she eyed him with aris-
tocratic supercilliousness and thereby
settled her fate, for Smallborough's, alder
man, who could not brook the disdain of
shoplitter, hurried into the MERGERS
and explained what had happened, speak
ing in so excited a. voice that number
OF customers heard him.
Great commotion was caused by his
announcement, and the shopman who
had served her was quickly fred by the
idea that he had let himself be outwitted.
Darling out of the shop he accosted the
thief as she was stepping into her carriage
and said: evil you come back if YOU
please? There is some mistake"
"What mistaken; asked she, turning
round with flash in her eyes, But she
grew ashly pile. 81
"Come back, please" repeated the shop
man, pushing young man, whose voice
broke from emotion.
A small crowd had already collected
and the lady was obliged to retrace her
steps; but as she was about to enter the
shop she slipped her hand into her poe k
ct and let piece of lace fall on the pave
mcnt. "No, ma'am, that wont do" cried
Mr.. Pottridge, selling the thief's wrist.
"You're going to pretend those things
fell by accident into the folds of your
dress; we know that trick. And officious-
ly acting as searcher he plunged his hand
into the pocket despite the lady's strug-
giles and threw out a second piece Of lace,
three cambria handkerchiefs, two pairs
of new gloves, one pair of silk stockings
and lady's silk cravat. swell, never!''
exclaimed the pushing shopman, and
there was murmur among the bystand-
ers, including the lady's own footman,
who looked like powdered figure Of
CONSERVATION.
"How dare you!' screamed the lady,
purple with rage and modification as she
glared at Mr.. Pottridge; "Ill prosecute
you for assault. l told the shopman here
that meant to buy these things. Let
the bill be sent to my address; I'm Mrs.
Pounceforth- Keane."
"Ah, I dessay,' respon ded the shopman,
''but I'm just going to give you into Gus