Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-07-18
Have you had good


sportW
"Its all here, guv'nor," replied Bill, re-
leasing with crestfallen air his hold upon
the sack which contained the i'll gotten
spoil.
"Ahl I'm afraid | must ask you to leave
it. cannot very well permit you to carry
it off under my very eyes, can II" inquired
the host, as though he were asking the
most natural question in the world.
"I'll leave it. amt took nothnS else,
shelp mel" asseverated Bill promptly
81 suppose my duty TO the community is
TO hand you over to the police would
very much rather not" said the elderly
gentleman, gazing pensively at the sack.
81 amt done you no harm, guv 'nor,"
whned Bill with humility.
"No, but that is not the point, my friend.
You have broken the law, and as a house
holder and taxpayer, am on the side of
law and orde - said the host in a paternal
voice. "On the other hand, ] think am
entitled to consider my own convenience n
little. If | gave you in charge it would
entail great loss of time and consider
able expense l should probably have to
spend several days in the central criminal
court"
"You don't want to be hard on a pore
mindful that an attendance at the central
criminal court would materially interfere
with his own engagements.
81 think, considering what sad bungle
you have made of this very simple bust
ness, that need not regard you as a very
formidable offender said the elderly gen.
tleman, with cheerful benevolence.
'1've had all my trouble for nothink;
that is true enough" replied Bill, more
chagrned by his failure than he cared to
show.
Eyes; you have no cause to feel elated,
and as you justly remarked just now, you
have done me no harm. / suppose | may
take it that everything is there" said the
host delcately, as he glanced at the sack
"If you would like to satisfy yourself,
guy nor"-began Bill in rather an ag-
grieved tone
II should" interposed his host briskly,
eff should not be giving you too much
trouble"
+ Without more ado Bill adroitly unfast-
ened the mouth of the sack and shook the
green baize bags out upon the carpet, the
elderly gentleman gazing through his
spectacles with an expression of mild in
terest.
Dear mep' he said, pleasantly, "you
made a pretty good haul, didn't you?
What is that" he added pointing with his
foot to one of the parcels.
81 expect that is the silver teapot, guv-
nor" said Bill with a touch of profess
sional pride
He opened the green baize bag at the
same moment and drew forth-a fatiron
For single instant Bill sat motionless,
;ransfixed with establishment, staring
blankly at the unexpected object which he
/ held in his hand; then with heightening
color he abruptly seized one bag and then
another, rapidly emptyng their contents
on the carpet. In a short time the room
was strewn with a remarkable variety of
! homogeneous understandable, broken
| pieces of metal, u few pewter and plated
! spoons and forks, and even, browning hui
initiation, half a brick bat! The elderly
! gentleman seemed scarcely less indignant
than his companion, and he broke the EN-
barrassing silence by saying sharply:
"This won't do, my friend 1t is clever
but it won't do. Oblige me by touching
the bell at your elbow"
Its plantr' cried Bill, with violence
which left no doubt of his sincerity.
"a plant!' repeated his host, eying him
severely. "Do you mean to say that you
a professional burglar, seriously believed
that these things represented the contents
of my plate chest?"
Il was took in, guy nor; regular rotted
and no kid" said Bill, with abject frank
ness.
"Really! Is it possibler exclaimed his
host, in tone of mingled surprise and
contempt which fairly made Bill's blood
boil. "What do you mean?" he added,
after moments pause.
-b,,
has got your silver plate, guy nor" said
Bill energetically.
THE party! What partyi'
GLOW do know" returned Bill whose
temper was thoroughly reused. II didn't
put them there"
81 have had my suspicious for a long
time that my butler, jenkins, is dishonest"
said the elderly gentleman abruptly.
"Now, frankly, what do you Think"
at do look queer, don't it, guv'nor'"
said Bill, who felt quite virtuously indig-
nant
Come, my friend, it strikes me that
we are fellow sufferers at the hands of
Jenkins so | ask your unbiased opinion.
Doesn't it look to you rs though Jenkins,
having appropriated my plate, designed to
conceal the robbery and escape scot free
by-ahem!-a little ruse?" insnuated the
elderly gentleman, knowingly.
HE wouldn't dare. He would know
I'd wiring his neck" cried Bill fiercely.
Il was surprised to learn from my house
keeper that he had gone into the country.
Possibly he anticipated some little un-
pleasantness," said the host, smiling.
Curse him! I'll follow him wherever
he's gone" exclaimed Bill, rendered fu-
rious by the conviction that he had been
imposed upon.
Perhaps You might assist me to get my
property back" suggested the elderly gen
tleman hopefully.
"We'll see about that, guv'nor. Wait
till come up that's ALL" muttered Bill
between his teeth, rising unsteadily.
'Shall inform the policeS" inquired his
host.
mo, guv'nor, leave it to me-" said Bill
with an oath. you've treated me like a
gentleman, and I'll act on the square by
you. If | can't get your property I'll let
you know"
1t is to be feared that our friend did not