Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-06-27

/ was indignant at his treaohery, anC
resolved would have the bird carefully
examined; and should my suspicious
prove correct, would make Bob suffe1
for it. Unluckily, as l mentioned, tn,
cage had been cleaned and the food ant
water renewed; so l could not get tina
analysed; but next morning I placed
the dead cockatoo in the hands of &
competent person for investigation.
then, as in duty bound, went and In
formed the lawyer of my loss. He
sympathized with me, but of course
could only proceed to carry out my
aunt's behests and divide the money be-
tween Bob Steele and myself.
Meanwhile l waited somewhat Inn
patiently for the result of Cookies post
norton. In a few days l received the
report. Distinct traces of arsenic were
found in the bird stomach, and seemed
to have been adm Mustered in the form
Of poisoned wheat, favorite species OF
vermin-killer.
had a note the next day from the
analyst asking what | wished done with
the dead bird and inquiring If he would
send it to a bird -stuffer. | answered at
once that he could pitch it out. How
ever valuable the bird was to me alive,
it was no use dead, and | never wished
10 cast my eyes on the creature again.
As for spending any money on stutling
tt-no, thank you! Master Cookie"
had been nuisance to me all my life,
and now he was gone and | was not
going to cry over him, however much l
might mourn my lost annuity. The de-
funct birds cage was at once removed
from my sight, and | made up my mind
to make the best of bad job.
A post or two afterwards received a
small packet On opening it found it
contained the birds silver collar, which
had forgotten all about There was
also note from the analyst saying he
had, as desired, put away the dead
bird, but thought it right to send me
the collar, which, being silver, was of
some little value, and might be inter-
esting as a memento of an old pet! Pet,
indeed! Poor mani he little knew my
feelings toward 1.-The deceased" How
sver, the ring was silver and would
realize a few shillings; SO l replied,
thanking him for it. AS for the collar
itself, | scarcely looked at it; indeed,
never took it out of the tissue paper in
which it was wrapped, but uncere-
moniously pitched it into drawer in
my desk amongst some other odds and
ends
Some months afterwards, whilst look
ing through my desk for something or
other, | came across the packet. At first
did not remember what it was, and it
was only when | opened it out discov-
cred the cockatoo's silver collar. l did
not replace it, however, thinking might
Us we'll get quit of an article which
ealled up no remembrances of pleasing
nature. That evening, as | was sitting
II meditative mood over the fire, I,
without thinking, took up the ring and
began turning it round in my fingers.
The first thing that caught my eye was
NY aunt's name and address engraved
'ound the outside. Then, just as I was
IN the point of laying it aside, OBJ
served something scratched on the in
side. This at once interested me; and
IN a closer and more careful examina-
Jon, | made out the following words:
TO Z. Il, These were my initials.
Apply to North British Bank.-M. b.
These latter were my aunts initials.
Here was mystery. The words were
coughly scra tched with some sharp in
strument, and evidently by my aunt
herself Apply to North British Bank"
Certainly l would. The message was
without doubt intended for me; but
what the result of it would be | had no
tdea.
Next forenoon found me in the pri-
yate room of the manager of the Lon
Ion branch of the North British Bank
| told my story. He at once turned to
The bank ledger and, much to my amaze
mcnt. informed me that there was a
sum of five thousand pounds standing to
my credit! On further inquiry | found
this sum had been paid in by my aunt
some two years previously, with instruc-
lions that it should lie until applied for
by me personally.
Her seeming unfair treatment of me
was now explained. She knew that SO
long as the cockatoo lived ] would be
pretty comfortable with my annual al
loWance, while the fear of losing it
made me pay due regard to the comfort
and well-beiug of her fayorite. At the
same time, when the bird did die she
made certain would be none the worse.
Dear old lady! l do not believe | ever
thought so well of her as | did at that
moment. AS for Bob Steele, all my an
mostly was fled, Instead of Furnishing
him for killing tho cockatoo-which |
still believe he did-why, blessed him
for the deed. Goodness knows how
long the wretched bird might have
lived, and now, instead of losing by its
untimely decease, | would benefit to a
considerable degree. 1t was only an
other proof OF the old saying. that bless
ings often come in disguise. Certainly, ]
did not in my widest moments ever con-
lecture it possible could benefit in the
smallest degree by the death of that
Dane OF my existence, My aunt's cocka-
too. '--Chamb Journal.
In all things throughout the world
the men who look for the crooked win