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

and sudden that 1t had benumbed my
faculties. My chief desire was to craw
into bed and fall asleep, hoping never to
wake. But morning would come surely
enough-morning and its attendant mis-
cries.
Then the thought came to me:
Should 60 to bed and say nothing at
all about it No one knew of my having
received that money, not a soul but Black,
the man who had deposited it. | had
given him no receipt for it, no acknowl-
edgment Black had gone to America
hundred things might hapPen-he
might never return; at all events there
was respite, immediate relief. ! could
go to the bank next morning, hang up
my hat as usual, everything would 90 on
as before. If Black returned, my word
was as good as his. The notes and
checks would never be traced home. But
don't think | retained this thought
long. Did YOU ever consider how much
resolution and force of will It takes 10
initiate course of crime and deception
Id neither the one nor the other. |
should have broken down at once. |
couldn't have that fellows eye on me and
tell him had never had his money.
/ woke my wife; she'd slept through
all the trouble. Mary | said, I'VE re
ruined; there's been robbery
a robbery" she cried, clasping her
hands; land are the men gone
"Ies," said.
"Oh, thank heaven she said, "then
were safe. Never mind the rest, Jack,
as long as our lives are safe. But there $
my waterproof, Jack-oh do run and see
if they've taken that"
Then told her the story of the
f22 900. She wouldn't believe me at
first; but when she heard the whole story,
she was frightened enough. Yet she had
wits about her more than had.
"You must run off to the town hall,
Jack" she said, land set the police to
work. They must telegraph to all the
stations-to London and everywhere.
Oh, do 90 at once, Jack-this very mo-
mcnt' Every second lost may be ruin to
Us.
Away went to the town hall.
This was a big classic cditce, with
an immense portico and huge flight OF
steps; but YOU didn't 60 into the portico
to get into the police Office, but to the side
which wasn't classical at all, but Of the
rudimentary style Of architecture, and
YOU went along a number Of ccholng
stone passages before you reached the su-
pcrintendent's Office.
When | told the superintendent the
story-"Ah," he said, II think | know
who did that job"
"Oh," said |, "how thankful | am .
Then you can put your hands on him and
get the money want the money back
Mr.. Superintendent-neycr mind him. |
wouldn't mind, indeed, rewarding him for
his trouble, if | could only get the money
back"
"Sir," said the superintendent, severe
", 1.-THE police amt sent into the world
to get peoples money back-nothing OF
the sort: we aren't going to encourage
composition of felony; and for putting
our hand, on Flashy Joe-for he did the
JOB. mark you-well, what do you think
the liberty of the subject is for: Where 5
your evidence
| was obliged to confess | hadn't any,
whcreat the superintendent looked at me
contemptuously.
Now, lets see into the matter, said
he after he'd made some notes on blt
of paper. "How came they to know
you'd got the money in your coat
said didn't know.
"Ah, but know" said the superln-
tendent. You went to get glass of ale
after YOU left the bank, young man
was obliged to confess | had done 50.
That's how property gets stolen,
said he, looking at me severely. And
what's more, you had glass with a
friend. All. l knew you had. And per
haps YOU got to talking to this friend Of
yours ::
"Yes indeed, had. =.
Very well; and YOU mentioned about
the money you'd just took: :
Very likely
Then this Joe, depend upon it, was
in the crib at the time and he heard you,
and he followed YOU back to the bank !;
and YOU haven't got blinds but a wire
netting over the window, and anybody
outside can see you counting out the gold
and silver
That's true" l said.
"Yes. | see it all" said the superin-
tendent; ''just as Joe saw it. He fol-
lows you up here to yonder, and he sees
YOU put your money in your coat pocket,
and then he follows you home, and when
all is quiet he cracks the crib. Oh, it's
all in nutshell, and that's how property
goes. And then you come to the police.
but if you know it's Joe, why don't
YOU send after him and catch him.:
"Oh, we know our own business sir
YOU leave it all to us; we shall have Joe
tight enough, if not for this job, anyhow
for the next. Wen give him a bit OF
rope, like.
| couldn't put any fire into the man,
do what | could; he was civil, that is fol
Yorkshire man; impassive; he'd dc
what was right. Id give the informa-
ton; very well; all the rest was his
business.
So | came home miserable, despairing.
L. - L.. ln,.l;nht hr His time and ns