The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-01-31

|
possible" he continued, that he has
a way of taking out and putting in the
stuffing after the skin has become SO!
and hard a thing worth Knowing
should think" :,
When we got to the house the Ola
man came to the door, closing it after
him. Being asked if he would allow
the gardener to see over his collection
of preserved animals, he at firstseemed
perplexed, and saying, "Pll ask my
son." he went in, leaving us outside
Shortly he returned, and said, " 1t is
not convenient to enter the room to-
night, as it is being cleaned and the
contents re-arranged; but if your friend
will come tomorrow night, and come
alone, he shall see over it.
We agreed, and came away. / was
at 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. l was all impa-
thence for his return. But when he
came back he seemed unwilling to re-
late the result of his adventure, simply
saying. "pm in no humor to talk to.
night; I'll relate what I've seen and
said tomorrow"
My friend had got on well with his
gardening. His potatoes and onions
his turnips and carrots, had been go;
in; and it was clear that if the next TIVE
days should prove fine he would finish
the job on the Saturday night.
On Friday night he came to me in
the kitchen, in corner of which I was
reading, and asked me to take short
walk with him. 1 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. Replying in the
affirmative, he said he had strong
suspicion that the old naturalist or his
son was no better than he should be;
that he was sure he or they knew more
about the late robberies than other
folks; and that he believed if he had a
few shillings which he could call his
own, he could come at the truth, and
concluded by asking me TO lend him a
sovereign for a few days. agreed, for
l had begun to feel an unaccountable
curiosity growing within me.
We had not walked far before we
met the naturalist's son, apparently by
appointment; for my companion told
him that l had promised him loan,
and that therefore he would be at his
fathers house the next day and make a
purchase. We parted and came home.
About the middle of Saturday after
noon he set off, and in less than an
hour he came back, bearing tolerably
sized parcel. Giving me signal as he
passed me, 1 joined him in the back
yard. He said: "Pm on the track of
the thieves, l believe. Last night but
one, on reaching the house, and while
looking over the museum, the old man
said that his son was rather short of
money, but having exchanged frame
of moths and a few birds for lot of
provisions, if would buy some of the
latter might sell them at a profit, or
they would keep me IN eatables for
while, and the sale would relieve his
son. l agreed to buy if l could raise
the money. Now 1 am not without
SO; hence L agreed to ask you for a
loan. Well, I've got lot of things to-
day dirt cheap, which l really believe
belong to one of the late robberies. l
90 hence tomorrow on the sly. but on
Monday you may look for my return"
Giving me playful dig in the side, he
left me. His absence during the night
and the day after surprised the land
lord, but said nothing.
l was all impotence until Monday
came. 1t came at last. was busy at
my carving, when heard well-known
voice hail me from below. On looking
down from my stage, whom should 1
see in the road beneath, smiling all the
face over, but my old friend the gar
dener in a policeman's uniform! The
truth flashed through me in moment
l went down. Grasping my hand, he
said, "The secrets out, you see! Come
along with me and see the upshot."
I was about TO witness a demouen,ent
1 had not looked for. Up the road
were couple of policemen. My old
companion was the chief, being a
sergeant of police. He led the way to
the museum, and was first to enter.
"Good-morning. old FRIEND" he
said, on encountering the naturalist.
1--we come to take away a few more
parcels of your cheap provisions"
saw that the old gardener was de-
tected in the speaker, and that the
game was seen to be up. The old man
son rushed to the door and scrambled
off, only, however, to fall into the
clutches of one of the officers who were
on the watch. The old man was utterly
helpless, and almost beside himself.
Sinking into his chair, he cried out,
"Pm not the thief; the thieves are
there" pointing to the door, and mean
ing, 1 could see, his son and his con-
federates, though they were not pres
emit.
We went into the museum. The
first thing the old gardeners 1 shall
still call him-did was to take hold Of
Bruce" while he desired one of his
comrades to lay hold of Wonder"
On moving them, a noise of loose
metal was heard. A moments examina-
ton sufficed to reveal the secret. In
the off side of each animal, in the soft
part, an orifce had been made by
cutting the skin in such a way