Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-05-18
MY AUNT'S EARRINGS.

do when crime has been committed, as
I often said to Uncle Poffkins, is to sus-
pect the most unlikely man as being the
criminal.
That was the course adopted when
Aunt Poffkins' earrings were stolen. 1t
was in the morning when the theft was
discovered. Aunt came down late and
ran into the room where Uncle Poffkins,
Dora and I were breakfasting. My aunt
bore traces Of strong agitation, and she
had forgotten her cap.
'sMy earringsw she cried. '.They are
gone-they are stolenw
"God bless my soulr' exclaimed Uncle
Poffkins, dropping his teacup as if he had
been shot and leaping up with yell Of
pain. He said the yell was attributed to
the heat of the tea, which was trickling
down his legs.
Ny aunt explained. The earrings were
kept wrapped in cotton wool in jewel
box on her dressing table. The box was
never locked, and the housemaid had ac-
cess to the room. The girl had only
been in the house week and was known
to have beau. My aunt and cousin at
once concluded she was the thief and sent
for policeman, who searched her trunk
and found nothing, of course. 1 could
have told them that.
Meanwhile kept my eye on Uncle
Poffkins. He was the one person who
could have no motive whatever in steal
ing the earrings. He was very rich,
most respectable and extremely slow
and noisy in his movements. Moreover,
my aunt would have given him the ear
rings at any moment if he had asked for
them. Evidently he was the last man to
attract suspicion. Accordingly watched
Uncle Pofzins closely.
We passed week Of excitement. The
police were running out and in. Dora
cross examined the housemaid incessant-
ly. Aunt Poffkins went abroad weeping
and reminding every one she met that
the earrings were present from Uncle
Poffkins on the occasion Of their engage
ment.
My uncle himself affected to make
light of the matter and went SO far as
loudly and ostentatiously to curse the
earrings He was wrong if he Thought
he could put me off the scent by that
clumsy maneuver. never left him
alone. I tracked him to the city, hung
about all the morning, shadowed him
when he went to lunch, when he re
turned, when he crossed over to the ex-
change.
Unknown to him ! was on his bus
inside if he rode on the top, and on toy
| when it rained and he slowed himself
away inside. He never escaped .lne ex
| cept when he was in his Office. AT last
after 10 days weary chasing, was re
warded. I need not say that the police
had discovered nothing. The house was
still topsy turvy and my aunt subject tc
intermittent Mysteries.
That wronged creature, the house
maid, did her work with mop in one
hand and in the other handkerchief
wet with innocent tears. But to return
to Uncle Poffkins. The tenth day aftel
the earrings had disappeared, as he wa!
brushing his hat before leaving tn,
house and looking at my aunt's teal
bedewed yisage, his conscience smot,
him, andshe SO far forgot himself as tc
exclaim audibly:
"Im blamed if l can stand this any
longerp The folly Of the man was in
credible. had him nowl In an instan
l was after him. He took bus, 1 tool
cab, and we started for the city. Nov
came the odd thing-Uncle Poffkinl
disappeared.
How it happened l do not know, bu
when the bus pulled up to the banl
Uncle Poffkins was not to be seen.
questioned the conductor. but he hat
evidently been bribed and told me very
rudely that he had something better tt
do than answer my riddles. He drovt
on, and I was left for the first time a
fault.
It was evening before / saw Uncl,
Poffkins. was going home in very
disconsolate state, when, about 200 yard
from our gate, I espied him ahead of me
Quickening my pace, stealthily ap
preached him. He opened the gate ant
passed in; noiselessly followed him.
A little farther on, sheltered by tn,
shrubbery, he stopped, and after ;
stealthy glance toward the house tool
from his coat pocket small morocco
case. Istood on tiptoe just behind, ant
with mingled horror and satisfaction a
/ looked over his shoulder I saw th,
earringsl was right. Uncle Poffkin
sighed.
''Shall give 'em to her.or notY' h,
said to himself. sIts rank waste. Still
it will keep her quiet" l watched th,
struggle between his good and his evi
angel. Clearly the good angel had til
umphed SO far as to bring the earring
within 80 yards of Aunt Poffkins, bu
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:
"It's all blamed nonsensei I'll tax,
'em back to Abraham tomorrow" Abra
ham no doubt was the receiver, for my
uncle went on in a satisfied tone:
"He'n make no trouble about taking
'em." He was putting the case into hi
pocket when my feeling overcame me
Respect for ones elderly relatives is
praiseworthy feeling, but it must not b
allowed to override higher duties.
flung myself on Uncle Pofkins, crying:
\ Surrender You cannot escape met
My uncle fell heavily on the gravel path
| fell heavily on the top of him and pin
ioned his arms to the ground.
"Tomp he exclaimed, "what the mis-
chief ARE you drunkr
/ 1T is useless, sir" began, ITO affec
ign I had reached this point when
was violently collared from behind, lift
ed bodily off my uncle's chest, where
had been sitting, and was deposited on
grass plat. while a deep voice said in m.
ears:
"Now, then, young man, turn it up
You're lively I'M, you are. Furst ye
aunt and now yer uncle The new
conner was policeman. From his pocke
he produced pair Of handouts and pu
them on my unresisting wrists. Then
found my voice.
'fWhat are you Handwriting me forg"
demanded. There's the thief
"GammonF' said he, grinning.
/ tfrVhxv wy, fool fhoro,c tho ,arano7rfxr