Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1899-05-18
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Maj. Kelby's Courtship )
By J. c. Hissinb otham
sA&A.0A.8 A9 MG AU ia.0M,

with James Simbell, who has, in middle
age, settled down to a life of quietude
and responsibility afuera career full Of
dangers and excitement; for Mr.. Sim
bell has been one of those whose profess
sion consists in breaking the eighth
commandment. " %,.. ~ o.
Mr.. Simbell is something of a philos-
opher, and when you have won his con-
fdence does not mind speaking frank
ly about his past business
I'm the long run, it don't pay, sir,
and that's the truth of it; and when
that ere parson you knows of, as is so
good to folks like was, got hold of me
and promised to find me work, if I'd
turn respectable, I jumped at the
chance.
''IIe found me work with coal mer-
chant, decent sort of a gentleman who
knew what I'd been, and I got on so
well that now I am coal merchant on
my own account, and doing well, too.
Yes, it pays better than night work, I
assure you, sir.
81 drifted into it, for as youngster
I never had a chance. Father left
mother and went abroad, and she took
to the drink and left me to do as liked.
Consequence was, I got into the hands
of a gang, and was trained pretty young
how to sneak purses and what-not. I
was quick learner and soon went
into business with older chaps
Mr.. Si1nbcll's knowledge of her maj
esty's prisons is extensive and peculiar,
though he congratulates himself that
only twice was he sent to enjoy the sea
breezes at Portland.
''lt was Portland, sir, as couldn't
stand. The first time got there ses
to myself: "No more of this crib for
me- and yet I was fool enough to get
back again in less than year."
How was that?" I asked.
'It was a woman as made a fool of
me-" he said, CURLY, after some hest
1atiou. 4
Mr.. Simbell, like most people, greatly
dislikes being laughed at; and it need
ed all my powers of persuasion to in
duce him to tell me the story of how
woman betrayed him.
"Women," he said, vehemently, ''you
can never trust in that line of biz OF
any other line, for the matter of that.
She was one of them innocent-looking
lady-like sort, nothing flash; and you'd
have thought, same as did, as only a
little soft soap was wanted. But,
crickey! She was as deep as"
Mr.. Simbell's passions were rapidly
rising, so I soothed him down and got
him to proceed with his story. ..f
"You see, it was this way. I'd been
doing 'fiver' down in Portland, and I
was out under supervision. I was very
nearly starving for week or two, for
though went down to old Lesby, the
fence used to do biz with, the mean
old thief only to give me a miserable So.
I threatened to round on him, but it
was no good, and if it hadn't been for a
pal I met 1 should have been on my
beam ends. n# T. 49, u.sE%
81 went down then to Southampton
to see pal of mine who pretended to
have turned respectable. It hadn't paid
very we'll, l could see, and it was DO
trouble to persuade him to join me in
one or two little operations. We cracked
three cribs round Southampton and
managed to keep out of the coppers'
hands, but it was poor doings, and cash
was very scarce. Why, sir, we were
glad to take a job as laborers for bit
to Keep US from real starvation.
"After a month or two we had another
try at diapers shop few miles out
of the town, and did lot better. We
cracked the safe, and I'd nearly $500
for my share. I left Bill and went
down TO Bournemouth to play the swell
a bit. Why, in my check suit-I'd gone
to a good tailor-I looked real swell,
I can tell you, and lot of nice girls
looked my way when Maj. Kelby, as
called myself, strolled about the pier.
II put up at one of the best hotels
and spent freely, and the cash began
ness again. I looks round and Ispotted
a fine house near the West cliff-two
old maids, as rich as Rothschihs, I
was told. They'd got fine lot of jew
elry, I got to know, but they'd never
wore it.; they lived as plain as if they'd
only $500 year. They kept one man,
who was gardener and coachman, and
two girls. The cook was about so, I
should say, a big Scotchwoman; but the
housemaid, Lizzy Leeds, was young and
pretty and iAnocent-looking. You'll do
for me- ses to myself, and one even
ing when she went out 1 goes up to her
an raises my hat as polite as a duke.
Excuse me- says, but am speaking
to Miss Mordell, believe?'
"'No,' she says, but I could see at
once she was taken with my grand
ways. I turned on the sentimental tap,
you bet, sir. Well, she swallowed it all
like jam, and told me she went to the
post Office nearly every evening.
''The next evening was waiting for
her with a fine bolzey, and got on
first rate. She stopped five minutes at
the gate while told her how pretty
she was, and I kissed her hand on part
ing. Before the end of the week I'd
kissed her in the proper place and given
her bracelet. pumped her all could,
and she answered as inocently as a