The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1899-07-21
FARMVILLE. VA. FRIDAY. JULY q. 1899.

mat was nasty, and IL made me
nasty, too. He seemed to have got out
OF .he wrong side of the bed that morn.
ing, or else he had something about him
he didn't wish me to see That aroused
my detective instincts at once, and |
resolved | would know why he was so
nervous, and what it was that he ex-
pccted in the sky.
80, nonchalantly whistling a tune,
leant my bike against the hedge and
pretended to examine the tires. but
kept a sharp eye on my man I'll the
time. Ny action appeared to make him
desperately anxious, and, taking his
bike into the road, he tried to mount. in
spite of the punctured tire; his sole OBJ
ject seeming TO be 10 get away from the
spot as quickly as possible, as though
he had just started an Internal machine
and didn't wish to be near when it ex-
poded.
"But riding bicycle with a pune
tured tire is not easy, and his hurried,
nervous attempt to mount his bike re
HhAA'A AA lAAH ANAilnE UAl Oll iU lllt lOUIf
and just at that moment heard a flap
ping of wings, and looking up saw a
large black bird in the air, and after
sircling round once or twice it alighted
on the ground near my naughty com
panion. There ii stood giving vent to
funny little croaks, and then it hoped
round and gazed up into the mans face
with indescribable impudence and cum
ming; but he was strangely alarmed at
the birds sudden appearance, and
stared at it in a most bewildered man.
ner. Its tail was long and graduated,
and beautifully iridescent with glori.
Gus blues greens and puppies, but the
rest of its body was black. The shape
of the bird seemed familiar, but / could
not recall where had seen a similar
one, nor remember its name. Its bold
ness in thus yenturing so near us was
certainly astounding. My basket-man,
however, apparently had pressing
engagement, for making another des-
perate attempt TO mount his disabled
bike he succeeded in riding away, while
the bird, lazily rising in the air, flew
away too. i'm the same direction.
81 watched both till they were out of
sight, and then turned TO my bicycle,
but as did so. something bright on the |
ground where the bird had stood at
tracted my attention, and STOPPING
down ! picked up-a diamond ring, set |
with large briliants. I gave low /
whistle of surprise as the truth sudden /
ly flashed across my mind; had solved /
the mystery of the robberies, and dis
covered the thieves.
swiftly mounting my bicycle pur-
sued my late companion with all my .
speed, and some distance on found him
standing I'm a carriage-drive, putting
the bird into his basket. Dropping my
bike l made a dash and colared him
before he could escape, and said: 4 am
a detective, and arrest you on a charge
of completely i'm the robberies which
have taken place in this district
must caution you that anything you
may say will be used against you at
your trial
"IIe offered no resistance, although
he turned as pale as death, but came as
quiet as a lamb with me TO the local
police station, pushing his bicycle while
| pushed mine, the bird in the basket
giving vent to self-satisfcd little
,roaks as we walked
AT the police station we opened the
basket, and found several articles of
iewelry reposing at the bottom, while
The bird hoped out and surveyed MS all
In comical inquiry. Now the whole plot
was laid bare. The thief was none
other than the bird a mischievous mag
pie, whose love of bright articles and
passion for secreting them is well
Known. His scoundrelly MASTER we
'ound, had brought the birds failings
% a fine art, and trained him TO fly
through the open windows of houses,
)ick up all the bright things he could
zee, and bring them TO his master, who
,ruised about the outskirts of the town
n the meantime recalling the magpie
" a peculiar whistle. When the bird
eturned IL was put in the bicycle
,asket, and so taken about from place
o place, ready for instant action wher-
yer his master saw an opportunity for
sing him, and free from all obserya-
ion.
1T was a clever dodge for of course
bird would never be noticed entering
r leaving an unoccupied upstairs room
through an open window, and doubt
sss his natural cunning taught him
Ot 10 enter a room in which he could
re anyone. Magpies, as you know,
ave brilliant black and white plum
ge, and it was here that the consum-
lafe craft of the birds master came
ito play; he knew that a black and
-hite bird would be noticed flying
bout, whereas an all-black one would
OF, but be mistaken for a rook, so he
rtfully dyed all the birds white feath-
rs black!
AT the magisterial inquiry the man
loaded not guilty. averring that as
e had stolen nothing there was no case
gainst him; but he was committed for
'ial, when the judge awarded him five ,
ears penal servitude as an accessory a
efore and after the fact while as he d
)Hsidered that the birds being at d
.rge would prove dangerous to the a
immunity, the magpie was ordered t
be detained in one of the state pris- u
ls during her majesty's pleasure +
And /? Oh, yes; got my inspec- Il
l. -..... re-.