The Forrest City times., 1891-08-21
THE TRlCKSTER TRACKED.

On the banks of the beautiful Poto- mac river, near Baltimore, arose the majestic walls of Professor Melville H. Plunkervile's Academy for young gen tlemen" as the advertisement read
 The aforesaid professor was gen ial, whole-souled man whose chief de- sire was to found college for the youth of the land, and to carry this out he had spared no pains or money to make it an institution to be proud of and now, three years after the school was founded, 1t not only was known as tirst-class academy, but had the finest corps of tutors in the country,
 The rich arist ocrat sent his son there, the struggling merchant also sent his son there; and, in fact, representa- tives oi all classes mingled together on terms of equality.
 On beautiful morning in May, as the birds were sending out stream alter stream of beautiful melody, caus- ing the balmy atmosphere to resound again and again with it's sweetness, ripple of excitement ran throughout the recitation room. All the pupils were seated, waiting in breathless an- ticipation something of importance the professor had to say.
 After the room had remained so silent that pin could have been heard to drop, the Professor slowly arose, wiped his spectacles and carefully placing them on the bridge of his nose, he began:
 Boys, wish to speak to you for some moments, in regard to some things occurring in this school.
 For several months past, 6 num- Der of pupils have had articles of vari Ous kinds taken from their rooms
 We have watched and watched for the thief, and so far we have heen un- successful in our efforts to find him.
 Now, as 1 do not want this acad emy to gain bad reputation, will offer the following reward:
 ITO any person, whether in or out of school, who shall bring to our knowledge the person who has been guilty of these thefts, we will give one years tuition, and $500 ad- ditional. This is all have to say on the subject. You will now please give attention to your tutors"
 As the Professor finished his re- marks momentary bubble of ex- citement went through the lecture room, but it was instantly quelled by the tutors.
 The tutors might as we'll have tried to teach an elephant to climb a tree, as to get the pupils attention after that.
 In vain they expostulated; in vain they gave pages, and hundreds of words to commit to memory. Try .as hard as they would to make them pay attention to their books, 1t was useless. Hardly had their eyes been fixed upon their book, before they would be dreamily gazing out at the window; no doubt thinking of the great reward. After an hour of this kind of attention, the tutors were forced to dismiss school as they saw the excitement had driven all thoughts of their lessons out of their pupils minds.
 One by one the boys left the room, and at last only one boy remained-a boy of IT who, though pbor, was at the head of his class. This was Josh- ua Semple, who lived with his widow ed mother and sister in 8 littlecottage, close by the school
 After all the rest of the scholars had gone, Joshua went up to his tutors desk and said: ''Professor Brown, thlnk I will have to leave the school"
 "Why so. Joshua?" said Professor Brown
 "Well," said Joshua, "my mother finds that she can no longer let me attend school, because the money which our Uncle John left us IS all gone, and at present there is not enough money in the house to last a month have decided, therefore, to leave school and try to get employ ment"
 ''I am very sorry to hear of 1t, said the warm hearted professor, "but couldn't you come to school just one month more2 I think that you can manage to graduate then"
 Although would like to come to school that long, yet don't think I will be able to do so. will come un- til get situation, however," an swered Joshua.
 The appetizing odor of roast beef and homemade bread came pouring out through the open door. Within was middle-aged lady engaged in dissectinga part of the anatomy of a COW, and then rolling these dissected parts in crushed crackers. She put them into the spider, and soon they were sizzing and sputtering at great rate.
 At the sink stood as pretty a speci- men of young American girldom as could be found. She was washing the dishes. Every little while she would look up to the clock, wondering why it was so slow getting round to 1 o'clock.
 Just as she had finished the last dish, the clock began to strike, and simultaneously the door was dashed open and in came Joshua, with a