Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-10-31

naro on you. iiano II over, ana herens
my cheque for the amount
"'Cheques won't do said l. 1 must
have it in gold
at would an hour or so to col.
lect in gold,' said he.
"'That will just suit, | answered,
for have not got the watch with me,
I'll go back and fetch it, while YOU
raise the money
81 started off, and got the watch
where | had left it, When came
back, the old gentleman was sitting be-
hind his study table, with the little
heap Of gold in front Of him.
"'lIere is your money he said, and
pushed it over.
"'llere is your watch, said |.
"lIe was evidently delighted to get
it back; and after examining it care
fully. and assuring himself that it was
none the worse, he put it into the
watch pocket Of his coat with grunt
of satisfaction.
"'Now, my lad he said, 4 know it
was you that took the watch. Tell me
how you did it, and don't mind giving
you an extra hve-pound note.
~ wouldn't tell you in any case
said /; but especially | wouldn't tell
you when you have a witness hid be-
hind that curtain. You see, had all
my wits about me, and it didn't escape
me that the curtain was drawn tighter
than it had been before
"'You are too sharp for us said he,
good humoredly. We'll, you have got
your money, and that's an end of it.
III take precious good care you don't
get hold of my watch again in hurry
good nighttime; not that door, he
added as marched towards n cup
board, This is the door, and he
stood up and opened it. brushed
past him, opened the hall door, and
was round the corner of the square in
no time. don't know how long the
old gentleman took to find it out br'
in passing him at the door uon.rod
to pick his pocket . - ,he sosond Tina
a.. w. morning the family heirloom
"as in the melting pot after all That
wasn't bad, was tip"
The old war-horse had evidently for
gotten all about his conversion now.
There was tone Of triumph in the
conclusion OF his nnecdote which
showed that his pride in his smartness
fur surpassed his repentance Of his mis-
deeds. lie seemed pleased at the
establishment and amusement | cx-
pressed at his adroitness.
Yes he continued with laugh,
"it was Il capital joke. But sometimes
the fun lies all the other way. Even
the sharpest of us come to grief at
times. There was one rather curious
incident which occurred In my career,
You may possibly have seen the
anecdote, for 1t got into print at the
time"
pray let me hear it, said |.
well, 1t Is hard lines telling stories
against ones self, but this was how II
happened: had made rather good
haul, and invested some of the swag in
buying n very fine diamond ring |
thought it would be something to full
back upon when all the ready was gone
and times were hard, | had just pur-
chased it, and was going back to my
lodgings In the omnibus, when,
as luck would have 1t, very
stylishly-dressed young lady came
In and took her seat beside
me. didn't pay much attention to
her Mt first; but after time something
hard in her dress knocked up against
my hand, which my experienced touch
soon made out to be purse. 1t struck
me that | could not pass the time more
proftably or agreeably than by max
ing this purse my own | had to do 1t
very carefully; but managed at last
to wriggle my hand into her rather
light pocket, ind thought the job was
over. Just at this moment she rose
abruptly to leave the bus, and | had
| hnr11,, ti,no IN NAT NV hand with the