Year: 1867

eu, uuIIieu 0er out OF tHe Suop una put
up the shutters, growing angrier every
moment.


s.If it is the policeman, I'll make him
pay dearly for it; so crept along the
sidewalk to the corner. keeping in The
shadow allthe way, and when stood be-
side the box and saw, by the light of the
lamp close by, that the ham was there.
wrapped in something that looked like a
handkerchief, bit my lips with rage.
Had it been a common thief, / should
not so much nave minded, but police
man 1t was more than 1 could stand.
So crouehed myself in doorway and
waited. The watch was relieved at twelv e
O'Clock, knew that, and knew also that
this would be the time when my police
man wolld come to take the ham frem
out its hiding place. And sure enough,
when the time came / heard him chal-
lenge the man who was to take his place
and come marching down towards the
corner. let him get the ham well un-
der his arm before / was satisfied, but
then l pounced upon him like a tiger.


I've got you,' cried. a pretty sort
of policeman you are indeed; but you
shall suffer for it can tell YOU


He struggled with me a few minutes
like wild thing, and all of sudden he
dropped the ham and fell down in a help
less sort of heap upon the ground


''Tm ruined man" he groaned, "a
ruined man there's no hope for me now
o my God! my wife-my poor little
wife y and he burst out crying like wo-
man.


The sight softened me, but / was an
cry still.


'1ou should have thought of that be
fore you became thief said If the
guardian of mans property is not to
be trusted, what is to become of him
and you look like gentleman-you do
not seem like scoundrel how have you
stopped to do such disgraceful thing
as this p


He was standing beside me now, and
the lamp light fell on his face 1t was as
white as any corpses and his eyes gilt
tered terribly.


"Policemen's families do not often
starve,' l said with saeer


"My God. can't you believe me
won't you believe me? painted the man.
4 have only been appointed three days.
l have not received cent of salary vet.
/ have been ill long while and had
neither money nor credit. Last night we
went to bed supperless, to- day there has
not been a crust in the house, and those
hams tempted me So You can never
know how awfully they tempted me
and meant to pay you afterwards


He covered his face with his hands
and could see great tears dropping
through his fingers, and before / knew
it my own cheeks we're moist, and so we
stood silent with the ham lying between
US on the ground.


At last he turned towards me and said:
DO what You like With me. The last
hope is gone.


But put my hand on his arm and
said, God forbid that should take that
last hope from you. If your story be
true and l believe ii isl pity YOU
more than l blame YOU


He looked at me in a sort of bewilder-
ed way, as though he scarcely under
stood me, and l took him by the arm and
led him back to the shop. There filed
a basket of bread AID butter and coffee,
and put the ham nthe top of all. Take
it home to ycur WIFE, said, you'll pay
me when you get your salary, and if you
need before that, come to me. / am a
poor man myself and can feel for other
poor men,


/ shall never forget that mans face in
my life; SO wondering, SO thankful, and
So awestricken. All he said was, God
bless you,' but there was whole sermon
in those words. and slept better for
them.


On Christmas night he paid me every
cent, and from that day until left the
neighborhood, he dealt with me regular
ly. But times grew SO much better that
l took store in good street, and one
way and another saw no more of my po-
lieeman for three good years.


One night, just such a night IS that on
which saw him staring at the hams, ]
was awakened long after midnight by a
cry of fire. started up to see the flames
through the floor and to know that the
store down stairs was all ablaze The
stairs were on fire also, and when, as
opened the entry door. the hot air and
smoke rushed in and almost smotheret
me, gave up all hopes of getting my
poor wife and helpless little ones out o
that burning building alive and safe.
was 50 faint and ill from the acciden
you see, that hadn't all my wits abou