The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-12-31


business. and everything proceeded
as usual till noon; but still Mr.. Al
berts did not make his appearance,
and began to feel rather surprised.
1t was about noon, when two men,
stout and stalwart, and wrapped in
huge great coats. knocked at the
basement door, and before any one
had time to open it, stepped into the
entry.
beg your pardon. ma'am," said
the first man-''beg your pardon,
but is there any gentleman by the
name of Scraggin boarding here p"
me, sir" replied
"Nor any one named Phillips 2"
inquir+ d the man.
mo, sir"
perhaps his name is Alberts, !"
said the other, stepping forward.
There Is gentleman named AL
l'berts 1t pfesent III the HOUSE, n Z
replied.
"Ah !then will you be kind enough
to ask him to step down minute ?''
SAID the first speaker.
"Certainly-if you will walk into
the parlor l will call him." said.
Accordingly, the two men pro.
ceeded to the floor above, while
sent Biddy to summon Mr.. AIberts.
After a great deal of knocking, she
returned with the information that
she could not make him hear.
"And what is more, mum" she
continued, "the window out onto the
roof of the shed is open, and the
curtains blown out of it and it seems
as though there was no one in at all :"
Take my word for it that the
room is empty-the bird has f1own,"
said the first man.
1--WE must unlock the door and
make sure, however," said the sec.
ond.
l stood there in perfect astonish-
ment AS they pronounced these words
and placed, at the same time, two
i stars upon the bOsOms of their Goals.
what could it all mean ?" thought.
"Y0u look surprised, ma'am," said
the first policeman. II suppose that
Mr.. Alberts came the good, inter-
iect0ral kind of body over you, didn't
he ?-said his prayers, like good
boy and all that, eh 2"
He certainly seemed to be very
good person." l replied. sin fact, l
see no reason to belieye him other
wise"
"No?" replied the man. "Jest
look around and see if you miss any
thing. 1t is curious if you don't"
"Miss anything?"
"Yes, ma'am. Have you counted
your silver. or seen your jeWelry this
morning"" said the man.
Oh l.! what start the words gave
me! flew into the back parlor. for,
be it known. that in certain drawers
of the book case 1 kept my silver
forcks. my surplus money, and sever
al articles of jewelry. The drawers
were closed. | tried them. The
locks were broken and the contents
gone and Mr.. Alberts-the amiable,
yirtuous, pious Mr.. Alberts was the
thief!
1t was his particular forte-so the
policeman told me-to impose him
self upon persons who advertised for
boarders, as a conscientious young
man, and after insinuating himself
as deeply as possible into their con-
fidence, to take French leaye in COM
pany with their valuables. / dis,
covered afterward that during Bid
dy's absence for the purpose of buying
candy, Fanny had innocently re-
vealed to him the contents Of the
book case drawers, So that his task
was rendered comparatively easy.
Oh how felt how provoked was
with myself! But, between you and
me, il was great consolation to know
that we were all in the same box
although John, who expressed such
an exalted opinion of the amiable
Mr.. Alberts, declared that he had not
been deceived for one moment.
1t was a still greater consolation to
get our forks back again, however,
and to receive the news that Mr.. AL
berts was a resident of Sing Sing.
which we did in less than fortnight.
p. ST. have come to the unalter
able resolution never again to adver.
tise for single gentleman to board.
Seven years ago all the female con-
viets in the Indiana penitentiary
We're placed in charge ofSarah Smith,
philanthropic Quaker, for the pur.