Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-09-19
HOW FoTTRIDGE sPOILT HIS LUCK.

hUW IOTTRlDGE SP0ILT HIS LUCK.
Mr.. Thomas Pottridge, of Small
borough, had been renowned in his ma
tive town for his constant run of luck,
so that at the age of forty he was reck-
oned the warmest" 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 bachelor. One
or two things more only were wanted
to complete his happiness-namelv, n
good wife, nice little estate in the
country and the honor of knighthood.
Mr.. Pottridge wished to become Sir
Thomas Pottridge, Having long cher
lshed this idea, and resolved, indeed,
that he would not propose for The hand
% pretty Miss Lucy Dott, the banker s
daughter, until he could make her a
ladyship, MIR. Pottridge ended by think
ing that he could best secure his object
10y causing himself to be reelected
Mayor and arranging if possible that
Ii. r. II. the Prince of Wales should
pay a visit to Smallborough during the
term of his ofiie. Intent upon this
scheme, Mr.. Pottridge came up to town
to call upon Lord Beaconsfeid. Lord
Beaconsfield hearkened kindly to the
grocer's prayer. Scarborough was
about to inaugurate some public baths,
The first establishment of the kind ever
seen in the town, and nothing could
be more suitable than that the heir of
Thorne should preside over the cere-
monial. Truly" said the Premier
politely when he had heard the Alder
man speak. "the cleanliness of the
people must always be matter of in
terestlng concern to those who are
Brought into relations with them.
shall be happy to take Her Majesty's s
commands on he-ahem!-public-
spirited proposal which you have laid
before me-"
II you can manage it, my Lord,
should be glad il the visit could take
place some time after the 9th of Novem-
Der next, fer l shall be Mayor then and
able to see that the reception given is a
prorer one."
"Ah, quite sor' answered Lord Bea-
consfield, dropping his eye-glass, for he
had studied Mr.. Pottridge through it
and knew the man by heart
Leaving Whitehall, Mr.. Pottridge
sauntered toward Regent street, and as
he walked along life seemed rosy to
him because of Miss Dott. He began
to stare into the shop windows, admir-
Ing 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 Law,
when suddenly he beheld through the
window acurious sight. An elegantly
dressed lady was seated at the counter
examining pieces of Brussels lace. The
shopman averted his head for an in
slant, and she deity whipped up a
yard of the costly texture and trans
ferred it to her pocket. The shopman
spread over the counter number of
square, flat boxes containing handker-
chiefs, and once more turned away.
Again the lady's deft hand went to
work, and a couple of handkerchiefs
found their way underher cloak. ''Now
that woman must have capacious pock-
cts" soliloquized the astonished MIR.
Pottridge. "She's cunning thief,
anyhow, and I'll just step in and warn
tho drm.''
He hesitated moment, and while he
lowered about the doorway the lady
came out escorted by an obsequious
commissionaire with medals on his
breast. A footman, one of row bask-
ing on a bench like oysters, rose and
signaled to the coachman of hand
somely appointed brougham, who at
once drove forward. Evidently this
lady was not an ordinary thief. She
was tall, dark person of about thirty,
superbly dressed and very handsome.
Perceiving Mr.. Pottridge and seeing his
glance fixed on her as she waited for
her carriage she eyed him with aristo-
cratic superciliousness and thereby set
tied her fate, for Smallborough's alder
man, who could not brook the disdain
of a shoplifter, hurried into the mer-
GERS and explained what had hap
pened, speaking in so excited voice
that number of customers heard him.
Great commotion was caused by his
announcement, and the shopman who
had served her was quickly fired by the
idea that he had let himself be out
witted. Darling out of the shop he ac-
costed the thief as she was stepping
into her carriage: "Will you come
back, If you pleaseP There is some
mistake"
"What mistaken" asked she, turn
ing round with flash in her eyes. But
she grew ashy pale.
"Come back, please" repeated the
shopman, apushing 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 10 enter the
shop she slapped her hand into her
pocket and let a piece of lace fall onto
the pavement. "No, ma'am, thai
won't do" cried Mr.. Pottridge, seizing
the thiefs wrist. You're going tC
pretend those things fell by acciden
into the folds of your dress; we know
that trick" And officiously acting a!
searcher, he plunged his hand into tn,
pocket despite the lady's struggles anC
drew out second piece of lace. thre,
cambria handkerchiefs, two pairs O
new gloves, one pair of silk stocking
and lady's silk cravat. "Well,
neVerP exclaimed the pushing shop
man, and there was a murmur among
the bystanders, including the lady'i
own tootman, who looked like pow
dered figure of CONSERVATION.
" How dare your screamed the lady
purple with rage and modification a,
she glared at Mr.. Pottridge; "Pl
prosecute you for assault. / told tn,
shopman here that meant TO buy thes,
things. Let the bill be sent 10 my ad
dressi I'm Mrs. Pounceforth- Keane."
All, dessay," responded the shop
man, A" but I'm just going TO give yol
INTO custody" and running TO the door
he beckoned TO blue-coated membe
Of the force.
One OF the partners of the firm,
gray, clyil-spoken man, who had beer
summoned from his study, now cam,
forward and he was at first dispose,
to rebuke the haste Of his shopNan, bu
1t was too ,ate. The policeman had al
ready entered, and all the shopmen an,
shop-girls, the customers and the desul