Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-04-02

didn't you know he were at your houseg" resc

have broken down at once. Icouldn'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," l said, "we'rc ruined ;
there's been robbery"
"a robbery p she cried, clasping her hands,
"are the men gomez
EYES," said.
"Oh, thank heaven !" she said, "then we're
safe. Never mind the rest, Jack, as long as
our lives are safe But there's my water
proof, Jack-oh, do run and see if they have
taken thatp
Then | told her the story of the E22 900.
She wouldn't believe me at first but when
she heard the whole story, she was fright
ened enough. Yet, she had her wits about
her more than had
"You must run off to the town-hal, Jack"
she said, "and set the police to work. They
must telegraph to all the stations-to Lon
don and everywhere Oh, do go at once,
JacS-ths very moment Every second
lost may be ruin to u.s."
Away went to the town hall. This was
II big classic edifice, with an immense por-
tco and huge flight Of steps; but you
didn't go into the portico to get into the
poice-oflice, but on the side which wasn't
classical at all, but of tho rudimentary style
Of architecture; and you went along mum
Der of echoing stone passages before you
reached the superintendent office.
When told the superintendent the story,
"Ah," he said, 81 think | know who did
that job"
ooh" said |, chow thankful / am. Then
you can put your hands ON him and get
back the money. | want the money back,
Mr.. upcrintendent; never mind him. |
wouldn't mind, indeed, rewarding him for
his troubles, if | could only get the money
back"
"Sir," said the superintendent severely,
"the police amt sent into the world to get
peoples money back-nothing of this sort
we aren't going TO encourage the compost
ton of felony; and for putting our hands
on Flashy Joe-for he did the job, mark
you--welI, what do you think the liberty
of the subject is for? Where's your evi.
dcnce 7"
was obliged to confess / hadn't any
whcrcat tho superintendent looked ut me
contemptuously.
"Now, let's see into the matter" said he
after he'd made some notes on "A bit Of paper
allow came they to know you had got the
money in your coatY
! said didn't know,
"Ah, but | know" said the superintend
ent. "You went to get II glass Of ale after
you left the bank, young man ?"
was obliged to confess had done SO.
"Thats how property gets stolen" said he
looking At me severely. "And, what's more
you had glass with friend and perhaps
you got to talking to this friend of yours p
Eyes, indeed, had"
every likely; and you mentioned the
money you had just tookS"
Every likely"
"Ihcn this Joe, depend upon it, was in the
crib at the time, and he heard you, and ht
followed you back to the bank and you
haven't got blinds, but wire netting over
the window, and anybody outside can sex
you counting out the gold and silver"
"Ihats true" said.
ayes, see it ALL" said the superintcnd
ent; Gust as Joe saw it. He follows you
up here TO yonder and sees you put you
money in your coat pocket, and then hi
follows you home, and when all's quiet IL
cracks the crib. Oh, it's all in II nutshell
and that's how property goes. And thel
you come to the police"
"But if you know it was Joe, why don
you send after him and catch him."
ooh, we know our own business, sir; you
leave 1t all to US; we shall have Joe tigh
enough, if not for this job, anyhow for TIN
next. Wen give him bit Of rope, likeY
couldn't put any fire into the man, dc
what could lie was civil that is, for I
Yorkshire man impassive; he'd do wha
was right. I'd give the information very
well; all the rest was his business
So came home miserable, dcspairlng. l
was just daylight by this time, and AS
opened the shutters the debris Of our feast
was revealed the lees Of the lobster salad
the picked bones Of the chickens, the melteC
residum Of the jellies while about every
thing hung the faint oder Of sour wine.
sat down amidst all this wretchedness, anC
leaned my head on my arms in dull msera
bic lethargy. Then | sprang up, aud as
did 50 caught sight Of myself in the look
ing-glass Good heavens Was this wretch
cd, hang dog looking fellow myself Did
few hours misery change II man like this
Why, I was very felon in appearance, and
so should be thought TO be. Who woulC
believe this story Of robbery? Why, the
police did not believe in it, else they'd have
taken a different tone No; ! should b'
looked upon as thief by all the world.
Then my wife came down stairs, and with
a few touches restored a little order and
sanity, both 10 outward matters aud my
mind. She brought me some coffee and an
egg and some bread and butter, and after
had eaten aud drank, | didn't feel quite -
bad.
"Jack," she said, 'you must % 10 London
at once and zee the directors Have the irs
word, and tell them all about it--all the par
ticuars. II was only little bit Of careless
ness after all, perhaps they will overlook IT,
"Tbat's all very we'll, said "I3ut, how
am 10 get thercY I've got no money Thb
wretchcd party has cleared as right out"
"Borrow some Of Cousins"
"lIc asked me 10 lend him sovereign las
night, and couldn't"
Now, youll say, "IIeres a man without
resource Why didn't he pawn his watch
To tell the truth, that's what did the week
before, aud the money was all gone "fhcr
under these circumstances you'll add, 81
was immoral 10 give a party" But, you'll
bear in mind the invitations had been on
for fortnight, and we were then Ia funds