Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-14

from finding himself seated on the silk
cushions of carriage) were riding to the
police court in Mrs. Pounceforth- Keanes
own vehicle, while Mr.. Pottridge, the
shopman, and the mercer followed on
foot to give evidence.
One would think that in case where
the offense was fragrant and the testi-
mony so clear, the magistrate might have
sentenced the defendant straight off to
SIX months Imprisonment, and, indeed,
had the thief been person of the lower
order, it would probably have been her
fate to be convicted summarlly. But it
turned out that Pounceforth- Keane was
the real name Of the elegant shopllfter,
whose husband was a person moving, as
reporters say, Gin the best ranks Of So
-cietY.'' Mr.. Pounceforth- Keane was. sent
for, and arrived breathless in han
som from one Of the best clubs in
Pail Mall. At the sight of him his wife.
who had been locked up for an hour
in police cell, wept profusely, and
Mr.. P. K. was himself, much agitated
He asked for remand, and rendered
bail, saying he should produce medical
evidence to the effect that his wife had
lately suffered severely in health. The
magistrate timid man, who had grown
up daughters to marry, and was terribly
afraid OF society stammered something
like an apology, and readily acceded to
the application for bail. So very soon
Mrs. Pounceforth- Keane tottered out of
court weeping like victim, on her hus-
bands arm; and Mr.. Pottridge walked
away with the shopman and civil-spoken
mercer. All three were crestfallen, as if
they had committed blunder. ssThis
will be very bad affair to me-" grum-
bled the mercer. ~ would have lost a
hundred yards of lace sooner than ap pear
in court against lady like this.''
''Well, but she is thief, cried Mr..
Pottridge, rising himself and speaking
with spirit. "What harm can she or her
friends do you?
care you quite sure you saw her steal
the things?" asked the merce gloomily
Besides, supposing she did put them
in her pocket, she says that she told my
shopman to send her the bill"
"1'm hanged If she did," calculated the
shopman Indignantly.
SILENCE, sir,' answered the mercer
with stern trown. eff this be really a
case of theft you are self-condemmed, fo1
you ought to have kept your eyes about
you. For some time past I have noticed
thar you have been very negligent in
business
The shopman collapsed; as for Mr.
Pott1idge he trudged back to his hotel
feeling half inclined to go and ask Lore
Beaconsfeld what he ought to do. The
case had been adjourned tor week, sc
he travelled back to Scarborough in the
evening, and by the time he reached his
native town he had worked himself u1
into state of contempt for the mercer
and the metropolitan stipendary, who
seemed to draw a distinction between
well-dressed and addressed plunderers
Meeting Mr.. Bungs, the brewer, near thu
railway station. he gave him an account
of what had happened, and was hardened
to with sympathy until he mentioned
the name OF Pounceforth- Keane; the1
Mr.. Bungs pursed up his lips. :sWhy
bless me, that's the cousin of Lord Keyn.
sole; brother-in-law of our Lord lieuten
ant!''
"What difference does that make?'
stammered Mr.. Pottridge, like man whe
feels sure of his ground.
"Oh, nothing, except that 1 don't see
why a lady Of that sort should commit
robberies,' responded Mr.. Bungs.
Further down the street, Mr.. Pottridge
who was rubbing his pate in rather vio.
lent perplexity, encountered Mr.. Dott
the banker, whose daughter Lucy he
loved. "Pounceforth- Keane!' - exclaimed
Mr.. Dot, as soon as he had heard thu
grocer's story. "Why, Lord Keynsole
his cousin, banks with u.s.
"Well, but come. Dott,'' retorted Mr.
Pottridge impatiently, sis that reason
why Mrs. Pounceforth-Kean shouldn't
be dishonest jade?'
"No, but I think the whole thing i'm.
probable" answered the banker, "and ]
confess l should be sorry if ANYTHING I'm.
pleasant happened to Lord Keynsole's
family" .#.. -. a
Mr.. Pottridge was not in very good
humor when he went to bed that night
A magistrate himself, he knew what
shifts are often made to withdraw we'll
connected offenders from justice, and sc
far as he was concerned he would have
cared little had an appeal been made tt
hlm, 0d mlsericordil,a, to acknowledge
that he had, perhaps been mistaken ir
fancylng that he saw Mrs. PIX. pocket
some lace and handkerchief. But Mr.
Pottridge could not bear to be pooh
phoed at or threatened with unpleasant
consequences if he did his duty. He was
an alderman, grocer with blameless
conscience, and he feared no man. Feel
ing that his character for veracity anC
common sense were at stake he resolved
to give his evidence against the wife Of
Lord Keynsole's cousin with no more hest
tation than if he were the commences
jail bird.
From that date, however, things be-
gan to 60 wrong somehow with MI. Pot.
fridge. It seemed as though his long
luck had forsaken him. On the morrow
OF his adventure in London, Mr.. Chuck.
leworth, who was Lord Keynsole's legal
adviser, passed him in the street with.
out nodding, and later in the day Mrs.
G. sent stiff note begging that Mr.
Pottridge would send in his bill, and in
timating that she would henceforth
purchase her groceries at another house.
Now the Chuckleworths had always been
excellent customers of Mr.. Pottridge.
This was bad enough, but worse was
to follow, Next day some inspectors OF