San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-06-17

hand and in the other a handkerchief,
wet with innocent tears. But to return
to Uncle Poffkins. The tenth day after
the earrings had disappeared, as he was
brushing his hat before leaving the
house and looking at my aunt's tear
believed visage, his conscience smote
him, and he so far forgot himself as to
exclaim audibly:
I'm blamed if can stand this any
longerT' The folly of the man was in
credible. had him now! In an instant
l was after him. He took bus, took
a cab, and we started for the city. Now
came the odd thing-Uncle Poffkins
disappeared.
How it happened do not know, but
when the bus pulled up to the bank
Uncle Poffkins was not to be seen.
questioned the conductor, but he had
evidently been bribed and told me very
rudely that he had something better to
do than answer my riddles. He drove
on, and l was left for the first time at
fault.
1t was evening before 1 saw Uncle
Pofkins. l was going home in a very
disconsolate state, when, about 200 yards
from our gate, espied him ahead of me-
Quickening my pace, l stealthily ap-
preached him. He opened the gate and
passed in; noiselessly followed him.
A little farther on, sheltered by the
shrubbery, he stopped, and after a
stealthy glance toward the house took
from his coat pocket a small morocco
case. Istood on tiptoe just behind, and
with mingled horror and satisfaction as
l looked over his shoulder l saw the
earrings! was right. Uncle Poffkins
sighed.
Shall I give 'em to her or not?" he
said to himself. "It's rank waste. Still
it will keep her quiet" l watched the
struggle between his good and his evil
angel. Clearly the good angel had tri-
umphed so far as to bring the earrings
within so yards of Aunt Poffkins, but
now came the tug of war. 1t was severe,
and it ended in the victory of evil.
Uncle Poffkins, shutting the case with
snap, exclaimed:
Its all blamed nonsense! I'll take
'em back to Abraham tomorrow" Abra-
ham no doubt was the receiver, for my
uncle went on in satisfied tone:
Hell make no trouble about taking
'em." He was putting the case into his
pocket when my feeling overcame me.
Respect for ones elderly relatives is a
praiseworthy feeling, but it must not h
allowed to override higher duties.
flung myself on Uncle Poffkins, crying:
Surrender! You cannot escape me!
My uncle fell heavily on the gravel path.
fell heavily on the top of him and pin
ioned his arms to the ground.
Toni he exclaimed, what the mis-
:hief-are you drunk"
''It is useless, SIR" began, "to affect
ign l had reached this point when /
was violently collared from behind, lift
ed bodily off my uncle's chest, where l
had been sitting, and was deposited on
grass plat, while deep voice said in my
ears:
Nov, then, young man, turn it up.
You're a lively un, you are. Furst yer
aunt and now yer uncle" The new
conner was policeman. From his pocket
he produced pair of handouts and put
them on my unresisting wrists. Then |
found my voice,
what are you Handwriting me for?' |
demanded. There's the thief"
"Gammonr' said he, grinning.
why, you fool, there's the property"
said |. He looked and saw the earrings
lying on the ground by Uncle POfkins
An expression of bewilderment over
spread the officers face as cropping again
in his pockets he brought forth pair Of
earrings. Then gazing at the pair in his
hand to the other pair on the ground he
calculated softly, and to my ears at least
mysteriOusly;
These earrings in my and was found
in your drawer, young man, wrapped i'll
cotton wool. 'Ow do you account for
that"
Those ON the ground" retorted,
were found in Mr.. Poffkins' pocket.
How do you account for that?" He shook
his head sadly. Then he suddenly bright
ened up. He had an idea. He produced
another pair'of handouts, clapped them
o. my uncle's hands and cried cheer
fully:
I'VE can't be wrong now, can we?
March, So Uncle Poffkins and
marched, the policeman between US,
with hold ON each of our collars, and
in this predicament we were presented
to Aunt Poffkins, to Dora and to the
housemaid. The housemaid giggled con-
sumedly, for which, under the circum-
stances, one could hardly blame her.
Aunt Poffkins experienced a relapse,
and Dora alone was equal to the situa-
ton. She made us sit down and gave
us each glass of sherry. Then the re-
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