Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-10-25


''On the contrary said, you in
terest me extremely"
"T like to- get listener can trust.
It's sort of blow-of, you know, and
feel lighter after it. When | am among
my brethren dare hardly think of
what has gone before. Now, I'll tell
you about another job was in. To
this day, cannot think about it with
out laughing"
lit another cigar. and composed my
self to listen.
SIT was when was a youngster,"
said he. There was big city man in
those days who was known to have a
very valuable gold watch. followed
him about for several days before
could get chance; but when did get
one, you may be sure did not throw it
away. He found, to his disgust, when
he got home that day, that there was
nothing in his fob. / hurried off with
my prize, and got it. slowed away in
safety, intending to have it melted
down next day. Now; 1t happened
that this watch possessed special
value In the owners eyes because it
was a sort of ancestral possession-pre-
sented by his father on coming of age,
or something of that sort. remember
there was long inscription on the
back. He was determined not to lose
It if he could help it, and accordingly
he put an advertisement in an evening
paper Offering thirty pounds reward
for his return, and promising that no
questions should be asked. He gave
the address of his house, 81 Caroline
square, a. the end of the advertisement.
The thing sounded good enough, so
set off for Caroline square, leaving the
watch in parcel at a public house
which passed on the way. When
got there, the gentleman was at dinner;
but he came out quick enough when he
heard that a young man wanted to see
him. suppose he guessed who the
young man would prove to be. He was
a genial-looking old fellow, and he led
me away with him into his study.
"'Well, my lad, said he, what is it?'
"I've come about that watch of
yours, said |. I think can lay my
hands on it,
"'Oh, it was you that took it, said
he.
NO answered.; I know nothing
whatever about how you lost it. have
been sent by another party to see you
about it. Even if you have me arrest
ed, you will not find out anything
WELL he said, 4 don't want to be
hard on you. Hand it over, and here is
my cheque for the amount
Cheques won't do said I; I must
have it in gold
at would an hour or so to coll
lect in gold, said he.
.t'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 L. 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.
"sHere is your money he said, and
pushed it over.
Here is your watch, said |.
HE 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 a grunt
of satisfaction.
"'Now, my lad he said, I know it
was you that took the watch. Tell me
how you did it, and don't mind giving
you an extra fve-pound note
'''I wouldn't tell you in any case
said L; 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 u.s." said he,
good humoredly. Well, you have got
your money, and that's an end of it.
I'll take precious good care you don't
get hold Of my watch again in hurry
good night-no; not that door, he
added as ] marched towards a 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, but
in passing him at the door, managed
to pick his pocket for the second time,
and next morning the family heirloom
was in the melting pot after all. That
wasn't bad, was it?'"
The old war-horse had evidently for
gotten all about his conversion now.
There was tone of triumph in the
conclusion of his anecdote which
showed that his pride in his smartness
far surpassed his repentance of his mis-
deeds. He seemed pleased at the
establishment and amusement ex-
pressed at his adroitness.
YES" he continued with laugh,
''it was a 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 it got into print at the
time"
Pray let me hear it. said |.
We'll, it is hard lines telling stories
against ones self, but this was how it