Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-12-03

Ludt d. gang VI pIdCtlCcO tuISNOS udu
done it. The prevailing question was,
"Do the robbers live among us, or have
they come from distances" The query
was still goiug from mouth to mouth
when we were startled, astounded, in.
deed, by the report of second robbery
of the same premises, and on the night
following, by the breaking into and
purloining of a provision warehouse in
our village. Were I writing fiction, I
would not have made the robbers pay so
soon second visit to the jewelers., as
such an act would have been deemed
preposterous; but am reiterating what
really occurred, and 80 am forced to say
what I have said.
The ieweler had been 80 taken up with
efforts to find out the thieves and regain
his first loss, that he had not placed adj
ditional guard over what was left; be-
sides, he was sure, he said, that thieves
would not think of revisiting him for a
long time. AS for the provision dealer,
he said in my hearing that he had no
fear Of his place being entered, as he
believed robbers would not care to touch
property so bulky and of such inferior
value as his.
But he had reckoned without his host,
for he had lost fine ham, large lot of
tea, deal of spices, few boxes of
cigars, and indeed q portion of most of
what he dealt in. The excitement and
alarm occasioned by these robberies
were great and widespread.
Two patches of detectives, one from
Lancaster and the other from Kendall,
came to our village to see what they
could find out. They were not short of
questions, l mind; but they took care
what sort ofquestions they answered. 1t
was easy to see that one of their aims
was to make it appear that they believed
the robbers came from distance, in
order to put the thieves off their guard
for their own opinion was the opposite to
this.
No event, however serious, can keep
hold Of peoples minds beyond certain
time and these robberies were begin
ming to give place to some other subject,
when the next act in the drama began
to be played. 1t was on s. Friday after
noon, about month after the robberies.
The day was wet and wild; and as my
work was the outdoor carving of stones
which had been placed in position in the
so had to return to my quarters. / had
got my dinner, and had just called Tor a
pint of ale, with my pipe, when an elder
ly, addressed man came in, and sitting
down on bench beside me, said in
broad Lancashire accent: "Pn sup
with the lsd, il tina doesn't care;" on
which he lifted my mug to his lips and
drank freely. l had not got over my
surprise when he, wiping his mouth with
his hand, gave me a history of the past
day or two. The account was this: he
had been gentleman's gardener near
Lancaster, over twenty years; had cap
ital place, but had not had sense enough
to keep it, which was more than his mas.
ter would put up with; 80 he was dis
charged.
"This wor day afore yesterday" he
said; " an I'ye drank for very vexation
ever sim, trampin' as l drank; an so
here am VII dry math an wi'out
'openny in my pocket. Doesta think"
he concluded, Jaw con raise penny or
tippence among the company"
gave him a trihe; others did the
same; so having thus "raised the wind"
he at once called for bread, cheese and
ale, and made good meal.
During the time the gardener had
been talking to me, the landlord had
been within hearing. So, accosting the
old man while he was eating his dinner,
he said, "You are gardener, under
standW
III am" was the reply.
WE'LL" said the landlord, "I've
garden which needs fettliDg. I have
not time to attend to it myself; and as
it is time the seed was in, I'll employ
you if you if you are willing. I'll find
you plenty to eat and drink; you can
have bed as well; and if you please
me, I'll not see you leave without few
shillings in your pocket. What say
your"
g cay agreed" replied the gardener,
rising to his feet and grasping the land
lords hand. "Pn not begin omorn,
howiver; but I'll look rand, an get
riddle for Monday morn"
This proposal was satisfactory, where
fore the gardener was made happy.
Shortly afterward We had an addition
to our company by the incoming OF the
old bird stufer, whom | shall henceforth
call the naturalist-as this designation
was the one which pleased him-his son,
the butterfly breeder, and two other
men whom had not yet seen. These
the strangers looked hard at the
company; but the naturalist, giving
them significant nod, which seemed to
say, Calls right" they settled down
and called for glass of rum apiece.
By this time the gardener had finished
his dinner, when putting his arms on
table and his head On his arms, he fell or
seemed to fall asleep. The rain which
continued to come down compelled me
to still abide under cover; so, placing
my chair in corner and putting my
head sc ainst the wall, / tried to get
nap also. The naturalist and his com.
panions were now the only persons in
the room besides the gardener and me.
l cannot tell half nor quarter of what
was said by first one and then another of