The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-12-06

N3 @ oooi VI spires, d lew BOXES OIL
cigars, and indeed portion of most oil
what ne dealt in. The excitement anc
alarm occasioned by these robberie,
were great aud 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 o.
questions, mind; but they took care
what sort ofquestions they answered. Il
was easy to see that one of their aim.
was to make it appear that they believed
the robbers came from a distance, in
order to put the thieves off their guard
for their own opinion was the opposite te
this.
No event, however serious, can keer
hold of peoples minds beyond q 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 Friday after.
noon, about a month after the robberies.
The day was wet and wild; and IS nv
work was the outdoor carving of stones
which had been placed in position in the
rough, was unable to go on with it, and
30 had to return to my quarters had
got my dinner, and had just called Tor a
plat OF ale, with my pipe, when an elder
~, addressed man came in, and sitting
down on a bench beside me, said in
broad Lancashire accent: "Pn SUP
with the lad, if tina doesn't care" on
which he lifted my mug to his lips and
drank freely. | had not got over my
surprise when he, wiping his mouth with
his hand, gave me history of the past
day or two. The account was this: he
had been gentleman's gardener near
Lancaster, over twenty years; had q cap
ital place, but had not had sense enough
to keep it, which was more than his mas
ter would put up with; go he was dis
charged.
"This wor day afore yesterday" he
said; an I've drank for very vexation
ever SIM, trampin' as | drank; an so
here | am wi dry math an wi'out q
'openny in my pocket. Doesta think"
he concluded, cav con raise penny or
tippence among the company"
| | gave him a trife; others did the
same; 80 having thus raised the wind"
be st 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
standT
81 am" was the reply.
WE'LL" said the landlord, "Ive 8
garden which needs fettlipg. 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, II not see you leave without few
shillings in your pocket. What say
your
81 say agreed" replied the gardener,
rising to his feet and grasping the land
lord baud. "I'll 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 stuffer, whom l shall henceforth
call the naturalist-ss this designation
was the one which pleased him-his son,
the butterfly breeder, and two other
ulcu uOH hdi uOt ySI sccu. 4uOSS-
the strangers-first looked hard at the
company; but the naturalist, giving
them significant nod, which seemed to
say, All 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, be 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 a corner and putting my
head against the wall, I tried to get 8
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
the four persons; nor did / understand
some of the phrases which they used.
Bruce" and Wonder" "fax" and
stuffing" were words often employed
by them. Irecollect that Bruce" was
the name of the dog, and Wonder"
that of the lamb in the museum before
spoken of, and other terms, l judged,
referred to the materials with which
they were stuffed; but | could not see
why they should speak in 80 low a tone
as they did when they spoke Of them.
Once or twice they referred to bird by
some slang phrase, But after events
made this clear enough.
By and by the weather took up, when
the men, draining their glasses, got up
and went away. The moment they
were gone the gardener reused up, took
memorandum book out of his pocket
and began to write therein. He then
4sked me if | knew who the men were,
and what was their occupation, and if
had understood any Of the words utter
ed by them in the lower tone of voice.
[ gave him what information | could.
But" said both they and believed
you were asleep"
"It is well to go into dreamland at
times" he said, and then added: did
you say that the old man keeps
museum Have you seen it, Do you
think | could get look atitT
The questions were put one after the
other in quick succession, as though he
were eager and anxious about some
thing, said eyes" to each; but was
surprised at the good English in
which he now spoke, and at the refine
mt Mt which marked his manners. Still
| could make nothing of it.
pass over the next few days, as they
brought forth no new incident. The
gardener had stuck to his contract with
the landlord, and had been enabled to
get on with my work. The four men
did not again visit us; but as ! went on
with my carving ] saw first one and then
e nd