Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1880-12-22

The gatemen was in the act OF
closing the passage and the last
bell was ringing rs / hurried
through and Jumped aboard, with
views Of human nature considera.
bly, elevated BY the trusting con6.
dence shown by the Rev. Spec dwell
Sprue-though l doubted whether
it wonld do to sell white goods on
the same credit system.
From Mr.. Sprue and his childlike
faith my thoughts gradually turued
to Polly Patcbin, and l had already
laid the ground plans Of several
fairy cottages, in which, with love
and Polly to lend their charm, l
could have laughed at the proudes,
prince in bis palace.
"Dickerville!" sang out tile con
ductor, rs the whistle blew and the
train slowed up at the first stopping
place.
Two men with latterns--it was q
night train-came bustling through
the car, scanning the passengers
closely.
"Hai this looks like him." said
one of them, holding his lantern to
my face.
Fills the bill exactly!r cried the
other, Rlancing from me at paper
in his hand.
"Come, sir" lie continued, placing
hand roughly on my shoulder.
"If attn not mistaken, it was you
who bought the last ticket for this
train.'
at was" I answered, looking up
astonished.
"And paid for il with a $40 BILL"
he added, "recciving the change"
acknowledged the fact, but with
no abatement of surprise.
THAT bill," he proceeded, "was n
counterfeit, aud we've been tele.
graphed to arrest you"
endeavored to expostulate, and
explained AZ well as my confusion
would permit, the circumstances
under which l got the note.
"A likely story" was the snecr.
ing comment; "there's so many
good Mr.. Sprues you see going
about lending money to total stran.
gers. What did you do with the
change, now!'
"Hande,l it back to Mr.. Sprue,"
! answered.
"a clever dodge" said one of
the men, rs tho two exchanged
winks.
"Come along!" they commanded,
and without further ceremony Was
hustled from the train, dragged to
neighboriug calaboose and locked
up.
Next morning was taken before
jolly looking magistrate whose
face was guarantee that |
should mt least have u fair bearing.
"Well, young gentleman, what
have you to say to thiS!' he began.
was proceeding with my story
earnestly, when, to my great JOY,
who should enter, but ny kind
friend, the Rev. Speedwell Sprue,
in company with stranger of a
very different appearance.
"Oh, Mr.. Sprue, how glad l am
to see your | exclaimed. "a word
from you will clear up this Uufortu.
nate affair."
To my great chagriu, Mr.. Sprue,
instead Of promptly answering my
appeal, turned aside and quite ig.
nored ny presence. But his com.
panion promptly stepped forward.
"DO yOu recognize tbis'" he ask.
ed, placing in my hand ali article
taken from his pocket.
81 do" cried; "it's my own peck.
ct book
"Of which you were robbed by
that person." he replied, pointing
to the Reverend Sprue, "whOse real
name is Ahab Dawks, a noted thief
and forger, whom I've been for
some time looking for. witnessed
his performance at the depot last
night, and saw how, after stealing
your pocket book, he made you the
instrument of putting of a bad
note, that he might pocket the
change. Though I'm a detective, l
didn't interfere, wishing to follow
Dawks to the den in which he
works aud keeps bis tools, and
knowing the worst that could hap.
pen wonld lie your temporary de.
tention. This morning I hurried
on, with the double purpose of se.
curing your release aud your iden.
tihcation of Mr.. Dawks."
was too late to zee the turkey
10 his glory, bot Polly, bless her!
bad saved me up = nice piec<, and
the story of my adventure was the
event Of that Thanksgiving night.