The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1902-01-01

ing upon handy nail in the wall a
foot away. The thief, understand, was
only an innocent tin tube, open at both
ends and slender enough to slip easily
through the bunghole In use 1t was
thrust down into the liquor, open end
ed. Then II finger held close over the
upper end made it fetch out enough
liquor for Il drink, stiff or mild accord
ing to the depth of the plunge. By
way of keeping the thief In place a lit
tie ring had been soldered on TO the up
per end, long wire twisted In the
ring and likewise made fast to the nail
In the wall. Careless drinkers might
otherwise have dropped the Invaluable
tube or absentmlnded ones, after the
third drink, have gone off with 1t in the
pocket
Throughout the summer Major Boz
rum came into the store only when he
had business, but as the days grew
short and nipping he fell into a way of
sitting into the group around the stove,
listening when he had to-that was
rather seldom-and talking when he
could-that was most OF the time.
Toward Christmas the jor haunted
the store more than ever, especially
late in the day when there was al
ways plenty Of trade. lie had got SO
familiar he went everywhere, up stairs
or down, without exciting comment
Some few said he was simmering down
They reekoned 1t would be all right be-
twixt Jink and Molly by-well, say,
next spring; but link aud Molly knew
better. Indeed they had alg'r est
hope when Dan Brown CALI &c their
help
The lights had been working badly,
so Dan chased down into the cellar
about dusk enc night to look after the
switchboard. In minute lie came up,
his eyes staring like swucers, beckoned
Jink to him and plunged again below.
Nobody saw any more of them that
night. They worked In the cellar until
near II o'clock and went home ehuc-
king aloud.
All next day link moved like n man
| In dream, waiting upon customers
| with his head half turned over his
shoulder. 1t was a busy day, Satur-
day, and the world and his wife were
in town. About noon, when the crush
was greatest, everybody was startled
| by succession of yells, uneartl-
| ly, agonlzing, coming up, 1t seemed,
| from right under their feet. Three
| parts of the hearers dashed into the
street. two women tainted, and old
lady Buckley snatehed up her basket
| OF eggs, crying out Ahat she "allus
| knew som'p'n' was bound ter happen
ter that store ever sence they took an
made candles outen the Lord A'migh-
! tvs own thunder" But half q dozen
rushed below, where the screams still
kept up, intermingled now with roars
of strenuous laughter.
There was more laughing when they
saw the whole thing Major Borum
their in hand, bowling, hopping from
one foot to the other unable to let &c
and between bowls swearing like {
pirate at Dan Brown, who stood Will
his hand upon an innocent looking Ike.
newly set In the switchboard.
, Dan was saying between gasps:
= you've got TO agree. major. IL
o Jink have Molly or here you stay a
/ day. You can't let go that thief. Il
v got n full lamp voltage. We flxt
: It, Jlnk and l, as soon as ever | csugl
4 you taking a drink ON the sly"
r mo, no, Dan. l can't let you pers
cute Mollys uncle" Jink said reacl
, Ing for the key. I'm awfully oblige
TO you, though, for watching here" b
went on. You know" to those be
hind him, eve could not afford to tur
on the current-until we were sure o
our man."
II sorter reckon you've made sure o
your gal" old man Buckley said as TIL
crestfallen major vanished up the stair
Sure enough. 1t turned out that Jinl
had.