Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-22
Z" And this sleeper"

"And this sleeper" ,
:, 81 had with thine me was not aware that there
"How did you come by it,"
Every honestly. had it made"
MADE? Hump! Very strange! What for??"
Il can hardly think the law requires ma 70
answer that question. However, as an evidence
OF my very great regard for you I'll not refuse.
want it for paper weight for my desk"
"Sir-r-r-rw screamed Clemens in rage, ''yol
try my patience beyond measure
NAY" replied the student coolly," 1 think it
"For several nights back repeated thefts have
been committed on pile OF railway Sleeper5 In
Cathedral Square and"
"And Pm taken for the thief?' interrupted
Pilchen, laughing loudly. pardon my merr-
ment in this serious situation, but tnlt's to-
mot so funny as you seem to think, Baron
If you cannot prove how you came in possession
I'm do that with the greatest of pleasure, )"
and he drew paper from his pocket and handed
1t to the commissioner, his eyes flashing mis-
chievOuSly. The paper read:
"Baron Won Pilchen bought OF Charles Beck,
carpenter, one oaken railway sleeper, finished ac
corling to order. Observation-Disclosures. 3 IS
Received payment, CHARLES BECK"
"Received payment repeated Pilchen. sYou
see, sir, came by it honestly. did not steal it.
III you will be pleased to look you will see Master
Beck's name stamped In at one end. That, per
haps, VIII settle the doubt you still seem to suf
fer from.''
The commissioner was nearly beside himself
to be thus made the plaything OF a students
joke, but 1t would not do to let IL be seen how he
felt He could do nothing.
1.-THE gentleman is acquitted" said he, with
concealed wrath: to the policeman. - You have
experience. You'll do better, after this, to leave
your very remarkable paper weight at home
when you walk. Good night"
"The same to you'll" grfnned Pilchen, with
peculiar emphasis, shouldered his sleeper, and
started off.
Clemens mounted to the next story and went
to bed. But he could not sleep for a long time
His rage at the students trick, his impotence
with his stupid men, the interrupted game, all
sorts OF plans for revenge, chased wildly through
his brain, until when at last he did sleep he saw
Pitchers sardonic smile, Mucks copper redvis-
age bent over him, and a railway sleeper lay on
his breast, oh so heavy-So heavy! just as he WAS
almost choking strong pull at the door bell
aWOke him. He hurried to the window and
opened it.
You ordered us to waken you, commits
sioner," cried sergeant from below. s. We have
the sleeper thief!''
''At last!" muttered Clemens. The honor
and standing Of his police force would be pre-
served. ShiVering with the cold, he seized upon
few necessary garments and hurried down in
to his Office, just as all the tower clocks struck
one. He thought the very earth was falling
away from under him, though, when he enetred
the room and saw, guarded by two policeme
from another ward, Baron Won Pilchen, grlnling
with the same sardonic smile he had seen in his
dl cam.
"YOu see," began the student. to the speech
less magistl ate before him, they are deter
mined to make thief out Of me tonight
was taking little walk to recover from the
nervous fright the first arrest threw me in when
they seized me again. l must compliment you
on the WatchfulneSs or your men; really they
are very efficient. You see, gentlemen, you
Lave made mistake, as your chief, my patron,
will uI ubtleSS INFORM YOU"
The "patlon's" head fairly swan; he could
hardly see for rage. Such designed insult to his
position. Andyet-what was TO be done?
"Slr-r-r-r," he roared, "you are up to some
wicked trIck-but I'll catch you, sir! I'll catch
s.As you see," observed Pllchen, with his in
now as / wish to be-"
"Go-go,-and be assured I'll make you suffer
for my annoyance
Your annoyance? That's COOL think I've
annoyed"
every well; We'll see to that You are dis
missed" The whole party left the roOm
"A most dreadful fellow ~ groaned the COM
missioner as he stumbled up to bed.
am sorry, for the sake OF my more tender
hearted readers, to have to record that at two
O'Clock the bell rang again. The commissioner
who by this time was about half crazy CROPPED
his way to the window to hear Yochem's harsh,
rasping voice calling out. Il have him, sir! He
who gave the Serenade last night"
GO 10 the ID, both OF you" roared Glenn
ems. but wait, Schackwiz. Go with that
gentleman wherever he goes, and look out that
he and his confounded sleeper are not arrested
again. Do you hear, Schackwitz? Now heed
or you'll lose your place !"
The window snapped to with bang. and the
two moved on. Yochem was thunderstruck at
his new commission. He had arrested a good
many in his time, but he had never before
shielded anyone from being arrested. 1t was
new experience. The next day the Whole town
was full of the jolly students trick. and Pilchen
had the laugh all on his side. Clemens man
aged to see the joke in 1T, too, when the real
sleeper thief was caught-not by Yochem, how
ever.
A few weeks later the police commissioner
celebrated his fortteth birthday. Among the
presents sent In was bronze paper weight. In
the form Of a railway sleeper. l. NJ. f.
A Bohemian Lunch at Payytucket.
"Ahi this is lovely" murmured pale-faced,
black-clad man, as he seated himself at the
table Of restaurant. "Once more, when
contemplate those calm, rigid, marble-white
napkins, do roam amid the unblemished stat
uary Of ancient Greece, and, as 1 survey your
table cloths, l see that am to be favored with
frequent gllmpses of modern Greece 1 love to
look upon your little plates Of butter. They
should have an emblem on them though-not a
COW, breast deep In the lusty clover, but Her.
cules with his club, Samson with his jaw bone
trying to pound tough beefsteak tender; any
such symbol Of strength will suf1ice-and here,
cor &c T A,;,o