The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-06-08
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Maj. KeIby's Courtship
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3MAa OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,
By J. c. Hissinbotham

udnSeFS ana CNClltilcHt, IOI MI oIlIl-
bell has been one Of those whose profess
sion consists in breaking the eighth
commandment.
Mr.. SimbeIl is something of a philos-
opher, and when you have won his con-
fidence does not mind speaking frank
ly about his past business
SIN 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, | jumped at the
chance.
He found me work with a coal mer-
chant, decent sort of a gentleman who
knew what I'd been, and | got on SO
well that now l am a coal merchant on
my own account, and doing well, too.
Yes, il pays better than night work,
assure you, sir.
Il drifted into it, for as yOungster
1 never had chance. Father left
mother and went abroad and she took
to the drink and left me 10 do as liked.
Consequence was, got into the hands
of Il gang, ana was trained pretty Toung
how 10 sneak purses and what-not. l
was a quick learner and l soon went
into business with older chaps
Mr.. 3i:Gbeli'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
br2eZas at Portland.
sit was Portland, sir, as couldn't
stan'. The first time | got there | SEES
to myself: No more of this crib for
me- and yet I was fool enough to get
back again in less than year"
Low was that?' | asked.
1T was woman as made fool of
me" he said, CURLY, after some hest
tation.
Mr.. Simbell, like most people, greatly
ed all my powers of persuasion to in
duce him to tell me the story of how a
woman betrayed him.
Women" he said, vehemently, you
can never trust in that line of biz or
any other line, for the matter of that
She was one of them innocent-looking,
lady-lilie sort, nothing flash; and you'd
have thought, same as | did, as only
little soft soap was wanted. But,
criclley! She was as deep as"
Mr.. Simbell's passions were rapidly
rising, so l soothed him down and got
him to proceed with his story.
you see, it was this way. I'd been
doing a FLYER down in Portland, and
was out under supervision. l 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 Il miserable So.
| threatened to round on him, but il
was no good, and if it hadn't been for
pal met | should have been on my
beam ends.
81 went down then to Southampton
to see 4 pal of mine who pretended to
have turned respectable. 1t hadn't paid
very well, | could see, and it was no
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 job as laborerS for bit
to Keep US from real starvation.
after Il month or two we had another
try at a Diapers shop a few miles out
of the town, and did a lot better. We
cracked the safe, and Id nearly 5000
for my share. / left Bill and went
down to Bournemouth to play the swell
a bit. Why, in my check suit-Id gone
to a good taior-I looked Il real swell,
l can tell you, and Il lot of nice girls
looked my way when Maj. kelby, as l
called myself, stroled about the pier.
II put UP at one of the best hotels
and spent freely and the cash began
to give out, so | had to think of bust
ness again. | looks round and spotted
a fine house near the West cliif-tWo
old maids, as rich as RothsChilds, ]
was told. They'd got a fine lot OF jew
elry, | got to know, but they'd never
wore it; they lived as plain as if they'd
only 5000 year. They kept one man,
who was gardener and coachman, and
two girls. The cook was about 50.
should say, big Scotchwoman; but the
housemaid, Lizzy Leeds, was young and
pretty and innocent-looking. You'll do
for me- | ses to myself, and one even
ing when she went out goes UP to her
an raises my hat as polite as duke.
Excuse me- | says, but l am speaking
to Miss Mordell, | believe?'
"'No,' she says, but | could see at
once she was taken with my grand
ways. 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 l was >;aiting for
her with a fine bokey, and | got on
first rate. She stopped five minutes at
the gate while | told her how pretty
she was and | kissed her hand on part
ing. Before the end of the week I'd
kissed her in the proper place aud given
her u bracelet. pumped her all could,
and she answered as inocently as a
lamb.
"The next Wednesday was her after
noon out, and | took her for sail, and
gave her a good tea afterwards. | went
ahead like an express; | told her all