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

for his return. But when he came back
he seemed unwilling to relate the result
OF his adventure, simply saying, "Pm in
no humnr to talk to night; I'll relate
what I've seen and said to morrow"
My friend had got on we'll with his
gardening. His potatoes and onions,
his turnips and carrots had been got in ;
and 1t WAS clear that if the next two
days should prove fine he would finish
the JOB on the Saturday night.
On Friday night he came to me in the
kitchen, in corner of which / was
reading, and asked me to take short
walk with him. got up and went.
The night was fine, but dark. We
walked in the direction of the museum
He asked me if | could keep a secret for
a day or two. Replying in the afiirma-
tive, he said he had a strong suspicion
that the old naturalist or his son was no
better than he should be; that he was
sure he or they knew more about the
late robberies than other folks, and that
he believed if he had few shillings
which he could call his own, he could
come at the truth, and concluded by
asking me to lend him q sovereign for a
few days. agreed, for l had begun to
feel an unaccountable curiosity growing
within me.
We had not walked far before we met
the naturalist's son, apparently by ap-
pointment; for my companion told him
that | had promised him a loan, and
that, therefore, he would be at his
fathers house next day and make a pur
chase. We parted and came home.
About the middle of Saturday after
noon he set off, and in less than an hour
came back, bearing a tolerably sig ID
parcel. Giving me signal IS he passed
me, joined him in the back yard. He
said: Pm on the track of the thieves,
believe. Last night, but one, on reach
ing the house, and on looking over the
museum, the old man said that his son
was rather short of money; but having
exchanged frame of moths and few
birds for lot of provisions, if | would
buy some of the latter, light sell them
at profit, or they would keep me in
estables for while, and the sale would
relieve his son. agreed to buy If
could raise the money. Now, am not
without cash, but it would not have done
to say 30; hence / agreed to ask you fer
loan. Well, I've got lot of things
dirt cheap, which really think belong.
en- to one of the late robberies. | go
hence to morrow on the sly; but on Mon
day you may look for my return" Civ
ing me playful dig in the left side, he
left me. His absence during the night
and the day after surprised the landlord,
but said nothing.
l was all Impotence until Monday
came. 1t come at last. | was busy at
my carving, when l heard a well-known
voice hail me from below. On looking
down from my stage whom should | see
in the road beneath, smiling all the face
over, but my old friend, the gardener, in
pOliceman's uniform! The truth fash
ed through me in an instant. | went
down. Grasping my hand, he said:
The secrets out, you see! Come along
with me to see the upshot."
l was about to witness q denouenaent |
had not looked for. Up the road were
couple of policemen. My old compan-
ion was the chief being a sergeant-of-
police. He led the way to the museum,
and WAS first to enter.
GOOD morning, old friend" he said,
OA SuC udkuIdlISb, i
come to take away few more parcels of
your cheap provisions"
l saw that the old gardener was detect
ed in the speaker, and that the game
was seen to be up. The old mans son
rushed to the door and scrambled off,
only, however, to fall into the clutches
of one of the officers who were on the
watch. The old man was utterly help
less and almost beside himself. Sinking
into his chair he cried out: 81 am not
the the thief: the thieves are there"
pointing to the door, and meaning |
could see his son and his confederates,
though they were not present.
We went into the museum. The first
thing the old gardener-as | shall still
call him-did was to take hold of
" Bruce" while he desired one of his
comrades to 10y hold of Wonder" On
moving them, noise of loose metal was
heard.
A moments examination suflced to
reveal the secret. In the off side of each
animal, in the soft part, an orifce had
been made by cutting the skin in such a
manner as would enable the or orator to
replace it with little care. A part of
the stuffing had been removed, leaving a
vacancy just like throstle's nest. This
was filled with watches, guards,
ear rings and finger rings. A further
examination of the museum revealed
other and as singular hiding places; for
example, game-cock WAS found put out
of sight; on taking hold of it, noise of
clinking metal was heard. On lifting
up the feathers over the crop, q small
hole was Set n, out of which rolled, when
the bird was shaken, number of trink-
cts.
Nearly all the proceeds of the two rob.
berries of the jewelry were recovered, one
watch and a few guards only being
absent. And some of the property Of
the provision-dealer were found slowed
in the breeding box, though much of it
had been used or sold. scarcely need
say that the parcel sold to "the gar
dener" was q part of it, and had to do
with the detection. My friend, the ser.
geant, informed me that he had been in
duced to assume the character, which he
had so well enacted, entirely on specula,
ton. While making a survey of the
neighborhood, q few days before he began
to play his art, he had observed the
backward state OF the landlords garden;
and believing that he would readily
catch at a chance of getting it finished
off in cheap way, and being a good
hand st gardening, he had hit upon the
scheme which had answered 80 well. He
had believed that the robbers were not
far from the locality of the public house,
and might come there now and again,
and 30 could he lodge there without
being known or suspected he might come