Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-12-23

would believe this story of robbery
Why, the police didn't believe in it, else
they'd have taken a different tone. No;
| should be looked upon as thief by all
the world.
Then my wife came down stairs, and
with a few touches restored little order
and sanity, both to outward matters and
my mind. She brought me some coffee
and an egg and some bread and butter,
and after had eaten and drank ! didn't
feel half so bad.
Jack" she said, you must 60 to
London at once and see the directors.
Have the first word and tell them all
about it-all the particulars 1t was
only a little bit of carelessness after all,
and perhaps they'll look over it.
"Yes, that's all very we'll said.
but how am to get there I've got no
money. This wretched party has cleared
us right out"
Borrow some of Cousins
"Re asked me to lend him sovereign
last night, and | couldn't
Now, you'll say, Here's man with
out resource. Why didn't he pawn his
watch" To tell the truth, that's what
did the week before, and the money
was all gone. Then under these cir
cumstances," you'll add, 1t was immoral
to give party" But you'll bear in
mind the invitations had been out for .
fortnight, and we were then in funds.
well, Jack" said my wife, you
must get the man-the p. B.-to give
YOU some more money on the watch. Sell
it to him right out. 1t must be worth
at least ten pounds, for it cost thirty, and
you've only had five upon it. Sell the
ticket"
Yes; but where was the ticket; Why,
in the little cash pocket of my brown
great-coat. Still, | had heard that if
you'd lost ticket YOU could make the
man give YOU another, and Brooks, the
pawnbroker, was respectable fellow,
who, perhaps, would help me out Of my
difficulty. went to him, anyhow, on
my way to the station. felt like a
ticket-of-leaye man as went into his
shop, but put a good face upon it.
Brooks, said. "that watch-you
know the ticket-its stolen.
Brooks gave most portentous wink.
He was a specched man, with red
face, and tremendous corporation.
Nay" he says, my lad, thou'rt
wrong there.
What do YOU mean" said, colorins
up furiously. Every one suspected me,
it seemed
Whoa. it might ha' been stolen once,
but it aren't ma; ave got it here. This
is how il were: \ cadging sort o chap
comes in, and he says, Master, whatll
YOU give me for this ticket Now, YOU
know the hact don't allow US to give
nought in that kind Of way, but | says
to the chap, lets have a look at it; and
then saw it was yours, and | SAID to
the man: My lad, YOU aren't come hon
est by this
"And YOU gave him into custody, he's
in prison: Old Brooks, what capital
fellow you are"'
Nay" he said; Il knowcd better
nor that. DO YOU think I'd hexPose
customer: know you gents don't care
about these little matters getting abroad;
and so | slaps my fist on the counter, and
says, Hook it, just ike that. And
away he went ike lamplighter.
sank down on the counter, oycrpow-
cred with emotion.
And what's more" went on Brooks,
"he never took up the money Id lent
him for the coat
What coat cried.
a very nice brown coat he put up
with me. About fit YOU, should think.
See, here it is. "
1t was my identical brown grcat-coat,
wrapped up in a bundle, and tied round
with my own handkerchief. | made
dart at it, opened it, plunged my hand
into the breast pocket-there was the roll
of money. there were the $4,000.
How did | go to the bank that morn
ing, on legs or wings: And how did |
get home, as soon as | had put the money
safe away: Mary knew by my face that
it was all right; and didn't we have a
dance of JOY all round the house:
Ny burglar had been only sort OF
sneak, after all, who had got in at an
open window, and bolted with the spoils
Of the hall, but if he had taken the pains
to look into the pockets of the coat, he d
have been a rich-though miserable and
insecure-man, and should have been
utterly and deservedly ruined.