The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-01-15


lost a fine ham, a large lot of tea,
deal of spices, few boxes of cigars,
and indeed portion of most of what
he dealt in. The excitement and alarm
occasioned by these robberies were great |
and widespread.
Two patches of detectives, one from
Lancaster and the other from Kendall,
came to our village to see what they
could find out. They were not short of
questions, mind; but they took care
what sort of questions they answered.
1t was easy to see that one of their aims
was to make it appear that they believed
the robbers came from distance, in or
der to put the thieves off their guard
for their own opinion was the opposite of
this.
No event, however serious, can keep
hold of peoples minds, beyond a GER
tain time; and these robberies were be-
ginning to give place to some other SUBJ
ject, when the next act in the drama
began to be played. 1t was on Fri
day afternoon, about month after the
robberies. The day was wet and wild;
and as my work was the outdoor cary
ing of stones, which had been placed in
position in the rough, I was unable to
go on with it, and SO had to return to
my quarters. had got my dinner, and
had just called for pint of ale with my
pipe, when an elderly addressed man
came in, and sitting down On bench
beside me, said in broad Lancashire
accent, "I'll sup wi tina lad, if tina
doesn't care;" on which he lifted my
mug to his lips, and drank freely. l
had not got over my surprise when he,
wiping his mouth with his hand, gave
me history of the past day or two.
The account was this: he had been a
gentleman's gardener, near Lancaster,
over twenty years; had a capital place,
but had not had sense enough to keep
it, for he had gone on the loose for a
fortnight, which was more than his mas
ter could put up with; so he was dis
charged. g This wor day after yester-
day." he said; san I've drank for vary
vexation ever sim, trampin' as 1 drank /;
an SO here I am, Wi dry math an
wi'out a 'openny i my pocket. Doesta
Think he concluded, saw con rise a
penny or tippence amang tn CON-
panyp''
gave him. trife; others did the
same SO having thus &C raised the wind, -
he called for bread, cheese, and ale, land
made good meal.
During the time the gardener had
been talking to me, the landlord had
been within hearing. So accosting the
old man while he was eating his dinner,
he said, You are gardener, under
stand?''
81 am, was the reply.
"Well," said the landlord, GIVE a
garden that needs fettling. l have not
time to attend to it myself; and as it is
time the seed was-in, I'll employ you il
you are willing. I'll find you plenty to
eat and drink; you can have bed as
well and if you please me, I'll not see
you leave without a few shillings in
your pocket. What say youp"
81 say agreed replied the garden.
er, rising to his feet and grasping the
landlords hand. "I'll not begin to-
morn, howiver; but I'll look rand, an
get riddy for Monday morn.''
This proposal was satisfactory, where
fore the gardener was made happy.
Shortly afterward we had an addition
to our company by the incoming of the
old bird-stuffer whom l shall hence
forth call the naturalist, as this designa
ton was the one which pleased him, hi
son the butterfly breeder, and two othe
men whom / had not yet seen. Thes.
the strangers-first looked hard a
the company; but the naturalist, giving
them significant nod, which seemed t.
say, Calls right" they settled down
and called for a glass of rum apiece.
BY this time the gardener had finished
his dinner, when, putting his arms OIL
the table and his head on his arms, h,
fell, or seemed to fall, asleep. The rain
which continued to come down, com
PEELED me still to abide under cover; so
placing my chair in corner, and put
ting my head against the wall, / triet
to get nap also. The naturalist ant
his companions were now the only per
sons in the room besides the gardene
and me.
/ can not tell half nor quarter of wha
was said by first one and then anothe
of the four persons; nor did understand
some of the phrases which they used
"Bruce :" and Wonder" 6 fla" ant
| StuHlIiS, were WOTuS OILou employed
by them. l recollected that s'Bruce
was the name of the dog, and "Won
der - that of the lamb, in the museum
before spoken of; and the other terms
| judged, referred to the materials witt
which they were stuffed; but / coult
not see why they should speak in SO Low
a tone as they did when they spoke O
them. Once or twice they referred to
bird by some slang phrase. But after
events made this clear enough.
By-and-by the weather took up, whel
the men, draining their glasses, got u,
and went away. The moment they wer,
gone the gardener reused up, took .
memorandum-book out of his pocket
and began to write therein. He ther
| asked me if / knew who the men were
and what was there occupation, and if
understood any of the words they hat
uttered in the lower tone of voice.
gave him what information / could
But" I said, "both they and be
lieved you were asleep
at is well to 60 into dream-land a
times" he said; and then added: ssDif