Connecticut western news., 1902-02-20

toner. Major Bornm was a prerts good customer, in spite of social com plications, but nobody ever suspected him of even knowing where the bar rel stood.
 It lay bung up, with the thief hang ing upon a 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 a finger held close over the upper end made 1t fetch out enough liquor for a drink, stiff or mild accord ing to the depth of the plunge. By way of keeping the thief In place lit tie ring had been soldered on to the up- per end, a 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 absentminded ones, after the third drink, have gone of with 1t in the pocket.
 Throughout the summer Major Bo- rum came into the store only when he
 
 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 major haunted the store more than ever, especially late In the day when there was al- ways plenty of trade. He had got so familiar he went everywhere, up stairs or down, without exciting comment Some few said he was simmering down. They reckoned it would be all right be- twixt link and Molly by-well, say, next spring; but Jink and Molly knew better. Indeed they had almost lost hope when Dan Brown came to their help.
 The lights had been working badly. so Dan chased down into the cellar about dusk one night to look after the switchboard. In a minute he came up, his eyes staring like saucers, beckoned Jink to him and plunged again below. Nobody saw any more of them that night. They worked in the cellar until near 12 o'clock and went home chuc- kling aloud.
 All next day link moved like a man in a dream, waiting upon customers with his head half turned over his shoulder. It 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 a succession of yells, unearth- ly, agonizing, coming up, 1t seemed. from right under their feet. Three parts of the hearers dashed into the street, two women fainted, and old lady Buckley snatched up her basket of eggs, crying out that 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 a dozen rushed below, where the screams still 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 go and between howls swearing like a pirate at Dan Brown, who stood with his hand upon an innocent looking key newly set in the switchboard.
 Dan was saying between gasps:
 You've got to agree, major. Let link have Molly or here you stay all day. You can't let go that thief. It's got a full lamp voltage. We fixed 1t, link and I, as soon as ever I caught you taking a drink on the sly"
 "No. no, Dan. I can't let you perse- cute Molly's uncle" link said, reach. ing for the key. I'm awfully obliged to you. though, for watching here," he went on. You know" to those be hind him. i've could not afford to turn on the c;:rrent-until we were sure of our man."
 '1 sorter reckon you've made sure of your gal" old man Buckley said as the crestfallen major vanished Up the stair
 Sure enough. 1t turned out that Jink had