Year: 1867

arrested So gave him back his look, turned OF
my heel, and walked back into the shop: | die
not see him again that night but long after eve
rything had been taken in and locked up, and
was snug in bed, heard tramp, tramp, tramp
upon the pavement, and knew it was the new po
iceman, and that he was looking at the hook!
where the hams,hung, as well as though hao
seen him. "On the third evening he was there a
gain that, you, may say, was no wonder, tor II
was his duty to be upon that beat and no other
but it was curious that he should keep on staring
at those hams with those bright, wolGsh eyes o1
his. I didn't like it, though could not have said
why. A vessel had been wrecked at sea about that
time, and an extra with the latest news of the dis
aster, came out that evening. bought paper
and sat down behind the counter to read it. Ii
was stormy night, and but few customers came
in, and those were easily served, and somehow be.
tween reading and thinking, time passed on, until
the clock struck eleven, and had not yet taken in
my goods or put up my shutters.


"Just as was about to do so, lin fact, had al
ready put my hand upon the first piece OF the
shutter, my door opened and an old woman came
in. She was scottish, miserable creature, known
about the place as Irish Kate, " and with her red
nose, bleared eyes, and bloated limbs, was as ugly
dram, suppose, said to myself, going behind
the bar at once, for wanted to get rid OF her as
soon as possible But she, to my surprise, came
close up to me, and put her great red paw upon
my arm. -,
ssYouve not been keeping as bright look out as
you should; there's been thafe at work without
this blessed night. -


"What thief ?" / asked


'sMore than can tell ye, " she answered. "But
think it's policeman, no less, the blackguard.


"a policeman |" | cried, and my thoughts flew
at once to the man I had seen staring at my hams:


Its too dark to see his face" she said; but
caught the shine of star on his coat he has on,
and whoever it was, took ham from your pegs and
hid it in the ash box beyant the corner. Yell find
it there, if ye look; and now yell not refuse an an
old woman sup of whiskey for the information p
gave the old woman what she wanted, hurried
her out of the shop and put the shutters, grow
ing angrier every moment


"If it is the policeman, I'll make him pay dear
ly for it., as skunk along the sidewalk to the cor
ner, keeping in the shadow all the way, and when
stood beside the box and saw by the light of the
in something which looked like handkerchief, ]
bit my lips and clenched my hand with rage. Had
it been common thief should not so much have
minded but a policeman it was more than |
could stand. So I crouched myself in doorway
and waited The watch were relieved at IL o'clock;
knew that, and knew also that this would be the
time when my policeman would come to take the
ham from out of its hiding place. And sure E.
nough when the time came l heard him challenge
the man who was to take his place, and come
marching down towards the corner. let him get
the ham well under his arm before stirred, but
then pounoed ppop HIM HIM Like tiger grsv nooem,u
you are, indeed, but you shall suffer for it; you
shall suffer for it, tell you. -,
"He struggled with me fora moment like wild
thing, and then all of a sudden dropped the ham,
and fell down in helple sort Of a heap upon


"fm ruined MANI he groaned, "a ruined
man there's no hope for me now. Oh my God
my wie-my poor little wife - and he burst out
crying, like woman.
The sight softened me, but was angry still


"You should have thought of that before you
became thief" l said. IF the guardian of 6
man property is not to be trusted what is to be
you do not seem like scoundrel; how have yor
ever stopped to do such disgracefu thing as this?


He was standing beside me now, and the lamp
light fell upon his face. 1t was as white as any
corpse and his eyes gittered terribly.


'I'n tell you what made me do ii" he said; ii
was the only thing which could have driven me tt
an act like that; my wife and child are starving
starving tell you, and had nothing for them !!


'Policemen's famiiesdo not often starve, " saic
with sneer.


"My God can't you believe me-won't you be
| lieye me?" painted the man. IL have only beer
appointed three days-I have not received CEN
Of salary yet. / have been Ill a long while, anc
had neither money nor credit. Last night we wen
to bed supperless; to-day there has not been {
crust in the house, and those hams tempted me so
|
me, and meant to pay you afterwards.


'EHe covered his face with his hands: andI could
see great tears dripping through his fingers, anc
before knew it my own cheeks were moist, and 81
we stood silent with the ham lying between us OF
; At last he turned towards me and said, I'D
what you like with me- The last hope is gone"


But put my hand on his arm and said, Goo
forbid that I should take the last hope from you
that I, of all men, should be- the one to ruin you
If your story is true-and | believe it isl pit!
you more than blame you" ss.N


"He looked at me in short bewildered way a
though he scarcely understood me, and took hin
by the arm and led him back to the shop. Their
l filled basket with bread and butter and coffee
, and put the ham on top of all. Take it home II
your wife, said, you'll pay me when you ge
your salary, and if you are IN need before that TIM
come to me- I'm poor man myself and can tee
for other poor men,"


'I shall never forget that mans face in my life
, so wondering, so thankful and so awe-stricken.-
All he said was, "God bless you" but there was
whole sermon in those three words, and I slept bet
ter for them"


"On Christmas night he paid me every cent
and from that day till. I left the neghborhood h
dealt with me regularly. But times grew so mucl
better that took store in good street at tn
other end of the town, and one way and anothe
saw no more of my policeman for three good years


"One night, Just such cold night as that OF
which I first saw him staring at my hams, I wa
awakened long after.midnight by the cry Of fire
and started up to see the.Aames through the floor
and to know the store down stairs was all ablaze
The stairs were on fire also, and when, as opene'
the entry door, the hot air and smoke rushed il
and almost smothered me, gave up all hope o
getting nv poor wife and helpless little ones out o
that burning building alive and safe. Help com
to us, however and though in clapbering dow
the ladder 1 slipped and broke my arm, l wa


thankful when 1 saw, as thought all were safe
I was so faint and Ill from the accident, You see
= that hadn't all my wits about me, and heaieve'


there was no one missing. My blood ran coli
al when nv wife c|asninp her hands with an aWtu