Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-09-27
THE PUBLIC HOUSE.

Watson, the humorist.
Yes" replied, looking at the
building we We're approaching, "but a
strange position-away from the high
road, and surrounded by villas.''
ga very strange position. We will
rest in the public house, and will tell
you how it came to be built in such a
very strange position. -
smiled and followed him into the
saloon bar. We sat at one of the tables
and were silent for time, he thinking
and watching him.
The story begins, - he said present
ly, "with burglary committed by u
certain Bill Jones one night long ago.
Bill was a young member of his
profession. Hitherto he had not at
tempted anything very big, but contin-
ued success in small things had made
him bold. On this night he broke into
the country house of a well known ac-
tress, in the hope of carrying off her
jewels.
''He succeeded in getting the jewels
and was leaving with them when he
found that the slight noise he had made
had attracted attention. A servant girl
met him at turn of the stairway and
began to shrek He rushed by her and
to the window through which he had
entered. As he passed through it again
he heard doors being opened and knew
that the house was fully aroused. -
81 understand, - said ''Bill escap-
ed. The actress employed detective.
Tho detective built this public house in
an out of the way place, hoping that
Bill, as an out of the way young man,
would call in one day for a drink. Curl
ously enough, Bill did. -
Blanco Watson frowned.
This is an intellectual story" he
said. "It does not depend on coinci-
dences.
ST will continue. Bill avoided the
first pursuit by long run across coun-
try, and then walked toward his home,
not daring to use the railway. He kept
to the byroads as much as possible, and
at the close of the next day had reached
the neighborhood of London.
GA spade lying inside a field gate
suggested to him the advisability of
hiding the jewels until he had arranged
for their sale. After making sure that
he was not observed he entered the field
and picked up the spade. A tree of pc
Su411l E51OMIA JucB DG9 OLl4 h411l
In the manner Of fiction, he counted 90
steps due north from the tree and then
dug deep hole, placed the jewels in it
and filled it up again.
"He arrived home safely that night,
but was arrested in the morning. The
servant girl had given an accurate de-
scription of him to the police, and they
had recognized it.
F'In due course he was tried. The evil
dence against him was very strong. The
servant girl swore that he was the man,
she met on the stairs. Some of the vii
layers swore that they had seen him
near the house previous to the bur-
glary. He was found guilty and SEN
fenced to seven years penal servitude.
"Bill behaved very well in prison
and at the end of five years was released
on ticket of leave. He decided to wait
until the ticket had expired and then
to get the jewels and leave the country.
But day or two after his release he
walked out to look at the field.
ttThere was no field. During the five
years he had been in prison the estate
of which the field was part had been
built upon. He wandered about the
houses in despair. But as he turned
corner he saw something which suggest
ed hope. Behind some ratings was
tree of curious growth.
''It was the tree 20 steps due north of
which he had buried the jewels. He
recognized it Immediately and ran to-
ward it. Again he was in despair. A
yard or two north of the tree was a
chapel, and the jewels were under the
chapel. He leaned against the ratings,
covering his face with his hands.
1t happened presently that the head
deacon of the chapel, kindly old man,
came down the road. He saw Bill stand
ing like one IN trouble and stopped ard
asked what was the matter and whether
he could help.
For a few moments Bill did not
know what TO reply, but then be spoke
well. He said that once he had been a
burglar, but Shat he had learned in
prison that burglary is wrong; that now
he was trying to live an honest life, but
that as he had no friends it was not
easy.
The old man was touched. He had
found Bill leaning against the chapel
railings, and Bill had said that he had
no friends. Was it not his duty as head
deacon of the chapel to be a friend to
Bill? Clearly it was.
'fHe took Bill home with him. He
was a bachelor, and there was no one to
restrain his benevolence. They had sup
per and talked together. The deacon
found Bill intelligent and fairly we'll
educated and offered him employment.