Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1898-04-01

that he had good income. Il was about
i've years ago, when / was q member Of
the house committee. that my attention
was first called to Blank. A member Of
the club came to me M day and said:
"'see hero. I've got q disagreeable
duty to perform. You know that re.
treatments arc served at every regular
meeting Of the club, and I have noticed
for several months back that John Blank
has slowed awaya lot Of things in his
pockets ON every such occasion
"'Why, that is absurd,'I replied,
and I suspect that no has been drinking
too much. You know that these MONTH
y lunches ore free to the memberaL'
"'That was the view that I took OF
1t the first time that I noticed it, he
replied, but I watched this man at the
last meeting very closely. He was not
intoxicated. He ate his lunch, and then
I saw him wrap up . piece Of chicken.
some lobster salad and . brick Of ice
cream in separate packages, put them
under his overcoat and leave the club.
It's ON amazing proceeding, and I think
that 1t is high time that something was
done about tt
"This mans complaint interested me,
and I investigated It. Some Of the club
walters told me that Blank had occa-
sionally taken articles Of small value
from the club, and that he always car.
ried away PACKAGE after q free supper.
There seemed to be no reasonable az
PLANTATION for his little steals. He was
and is lawyer in good practice, and,
- you know, no lives very comfortably.
I consulted with some Of the other
house committeeman, and we decided
TO look out for Blank at the next sup.
pen. He turned up promptly, and, sure
enough, We saw him stealthily make up
. package from the lunch table and
walk out with it. There was nothing
left for us to do but to ask for an OK
PLANTATION.
Charges were preferred against him
and . formal notification was sent to
him. Blank paid no attention to it. We
thought that he might not have receiv-
ed it and we sent him another notiflca-
ton and made sure that 1t reached him.
Blank ignored it. and then we dropped
him for conduct unbecoming q gentle
man. Blank never came near the club
house after his first notification. and so
iar as l know he has never given an in
dication Of resenting our action in drop
ping him. Now what do you suppose
was tho explanation Of his thefts? I
never have been able to find one that
vas satisfactory. 1t has been asserted
that despite his large income he 10 nat
ufally . very miserly fellow, but that 10
merely gossip. I meet him occasionally.
n ne 10 always ahable. 1t was Q disa-
cable affair, and to this day an In.
explicable one."
A man who had listened attentively
to the brokers' story said:
II a equal that with an experience
IN my W club. The man IN question
has recently died and it is only charita-
Ole 20 say that ne was probably insane
for several years before he died. He was
Arthur Notwithstanding o histor-
ioal name. about three years ago this
man began to wear very shabby clothes.
He had always been very careful in his
dress, and this change wa surprising.
He came to tho club and sat around,
looking like Q tramp. His linen was
ragged, and sven the walters looked
aakance at his clothes. knew that he
had money, but It was not Q pleasant
task to suggest to him that he should
get some new clothes. BE was an old
bachelor. and he had rooms in an ex.