Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1880-01-15

should think
When we got to the house the old
man came to the door, closing it af-
ter him. Being asked if he would
allow the gardener to see over his
collection of preserved animals, he at
first seemed perplsxed, and saying,
''Pll ask my son." he went in, leav-
ing us outside. Shortly he returned,
and said. ''It is not convenient to
enter the room tonight, as it is being
cleaned and the contents re-arranged;
but if your friend will come tomorrow
night, aEi come alone, he shall see
over it. -
We agreed, and came away. 1 was
at a loss to account for the condition
imposed; but my companion was set
up with the arrangement.
Next night came, and the gardener
set Off on his errand was all i'm
patience for his return. But when
he came back he seemed unwilling 70
reIas. the 1esdScaH his adventu, {,
simply saying: I'm in no humor for
talk tonight; II relate what I've
seen and said tomorrow"
My friend had got on we'll with
his gardening. His potatoes and
onions, his turnips and carrots, had
been got in; and it was clear that if
the next two days should prove fine,
he would finish the job ON Saturday
night.
/ On Friday night he came to me in
the kitchen, in corner of which l
was reading, and asked me to take a
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 l could
keep secret for a day or two. Re-
plying in the affirmative, 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
that he or they knew more about the
late robberies than other folks; and
that he believed if lie had a few shll-
lings which he could call his own, he
ftoult tJtilC dt tilC u utiis .aiit& ScilIiuNt'
ed 10y asking me to lend him sover-
elgn for a few days. 1 agreed, fol
| had begun to feel an unaccounta.
bile curiosity growing within me.
We had not walked far before VT
met the naturalist's son, apparently by
appointment; for my companion
told him that had promised hlm ;
loan, and that therefore he would b,
at his fathers house next day an(
make purchase. We parted ano
, came home.
About the middle Of Saturday af
ternoon he set Oft, and IN less than al
hour he came back, bearing tolera
, bly, sized parcel. Giving me sig
nal as he passed ne, l joined him il
, the back yard. He said: "I'm Of
| the track of the thieves, l believe
/ Last night but one, on reaching til
, house, and while looking over tn
, museum, the old man said that hi
son was rather short of money, bu
having exchanged frame Of moth
and Il few birds for lot OF provi
sions, if l would buy some of the la'
= ter | might sell them at IL profit. Q
= they would keep me in ,atables for
I while, and the sale would relieve hi
i, son. agreed to buy if | could rails
the money Now, am not withou
cash, but it would not have done t
:. say SO; hence agreed to ask yo
for loan. Well, I've got lot c
things to-day, dirt cheap, which
r really believe belong to one of th
/ late robbcrics. go hence to mo-
: row on the sly, but ou Monday yo
4 may look for my RETURN Givin
me n playful dig in the side, he lie
:, me. His absence during the nigl
+ and the day after, surprised the lane
O lord, but | said nothing.
+ was all impatience until Monda
came. 1t came at last. was bus
4 at my carving, when heard we
known voice hail me from below. Q
= looking down from my stage, who,
9 should | see in the road beneath
i smiling all the face over, but my ol
| friend the gardener in policeman
- uniform! The truth flashed throus
n me in moment. / went dow
y Grasping my hand, he said: ''Tl
y secrets out, you see! Come alor
;, : with me aud see the up-shot.'
!. l was about to witness denou
= ment | had not looked for. Up ii
,r road were couple of policemen. N
old companion WAS the chief, being
# sergeant of police. He led the W:
~ to the museum, and was first to entc
Il "Good-morning, old friend,'
,s said, on cncountcring the naturalis
a I've come to take away few mo
" parcels of your cheap provisions"
n. saw that the old gardener was d
Il tectcd in the speaker, and that t
l. game was seen TO be up. The o
mans son rushed to the door al
n scrambled off, only, however, to Fl
e Z into the clutches of one of the office
-, who were on the watch. The o
"a man was utterly helpless, and almC
or beside himself. Sinking into /
n Cltlf, ue CTlCu OUT, III HOb L
~ thief; the thieves are there" poir
.ir ing to the door, and meaning, l cou
~ see, his son and his confederate
no though they were not present.
Of We went into the museum. I
ii first thing the old gardener-as
70 shall still call him-did was to ia
hold of 'Bruce,' while he desir
Of one of his comrades to lay hold
!. "Wonder.' On moving them,
NO noise of loose metal was heard.
10 moments examination sufficed to !
," veal the secret. In the off side
or each animal, in the soft part,
,h orifice had beer made by cutting
Mt skin in such way as to enable I
h. operator to replace it with lit
q. care. A part of the stufiing Ii
ot been removed, leaving a vacancy j,
,;s like a throstle's nest. This was fl
h. ed with jewelry-watches, guart
earrings, and finger-rings. A Fl
40 ther examination of the museum
n vealed other and as singular hidil
,is places; for example, a game-co
ad was found put out of sight; on TAXI
X hold oft, noise of clinking me
s: was heard on lifting up the feath'