Year: 1870

nized him as as a man who had been sew
eral times to see me in reference to
schooner, with fruit we expected from
the West Indies, protesting that he wish
ed to buy all the pineapples. This was
the greeting between the doctor and
Thumby Dick


This was a well-put-up job, Dick
says the doctor "but its played"


"If I'd known you was on it, doc, Id
'av struck the heap and gone"


Yes scratching his chin; "but you
didn't want to kill the goose that laid the
golden eggs, eh ?"


Come, take us out Of this, I've got
nothing TO say


And so Mr.. Thumby Dick was taken
out and accommodated with his bracelets
on the same side of the house, and told
us the whole story He had noticed the
money.drawer when he first came to see
me, his intention at that time being to
tap the safe some pleasant evening. He
knew the next building well it was a
small drinking place in front, with back
room, and Offices upstairs. This back
room he managed to hire, and with the
nice eye of mechanic-for the job
showed skill-through the wall he went
right behind my desk. At night he had
skillfully removed the rear of my money
drawer, and reftted it With four wooden
pegs (Which was Blaisdell's first clcw, as
he was examining the drawcr,) and so
could noiselessy help himself during the
day for, even though | might open the
drawer when he was in the act | could
not have detected him, unless bent
down and looked back to see the rear
part out. Baisdcll and his friend, the
ocksmith-looking man, had skillfully fit
ted spring.trap at the bottom Of the
drawer under the white paper, so that
the crowding of the hand, in the act of
grasping the money, sprung the trap,and
took Mr.. Thumby rrisoner-a mishap
that he is now expiating at his residence
on the Hudson


And this is the way came to be din
ing with the doctor, all of which has moth.
to do with my story.


So now, after telling (egostistically put
ting myself frsn the affairs Of the
money drawer, | will let the doctor talk
now :


YES, sir; that's true-we do have odd
things occur in our line. 1t has always
been my rule not to work in case with
any one else. did not begin so but |
had so many mishaps throug gh stupid peo-
pie, that | concluded would rather take
the chances Of working every thing out by
myself. You can make some count on
knave but iool-you never know where
to have him.


And how did you happen to enter
upon this business ?"


"Ah that was rather curious in it.
self. 1t arose from an accident, and if
you would like to hear it. ! will tell
you


"Of course, wOuld," and, passing
him the sherry, seated myself into lis.
tening condition.


Twelve year ago was in Boston. [
haa. ysingradUetea vapd ypf saaea,vo5sG
how near man could come to starvation
and still keep alive. | had got as far
away from home as possible, because |
did not want any Of my folks to see or
know of my struggles, being content to
fight patiently on until | had made a sue
cess, and then let them know how | had
made it.


" had but one relative, | may say
only one friend, in all Boston, and that
was Charley Drake. Charley was my
cousin, and clerk in drug-store--a re-
tail-store-wherc he had plenty Of close
work, and very small pay. For him there
was no such thing as rest. He slept in
the store, and was liable to be called at
any hour of the night, to make up pre-
scrption, or retail dose of castor-oil.
This may seem trihe to some but, to Il
man who has been going through the pet
ty drudgery Of a retail store from six in
the morning until eleven at night, it is no
small matter to be walked up from his
first sleep to mix and pound, and spread,
and tic up prescription-a task that re-
quires quietness Of head and repose of
body.


One morning, quite early stepped in
his store, AS it was my almost daily habit
TO do, to get some small matter | want
ed. The proprietor came out with look
Of anxiety on his face and greeted me
with


Did you know that Charley is in
trouble ?"


Trouble No." said What
trouble ?'


a wrong prescription he put up has
killed woman. wish he'd killed him
self before it happened IN my shop. 1t
will ruin me-"


| looked contemptuously on the fellow,
who only thought of his shop and his
pocket, and made further inquiries


"Oh, it happened last night about
shutting.up time. The woman died
within an hour; and Charley is under
arrest, awaiting the verdict Of the coron-
er's jury"


felt an utter disgust for this fellow /;
but | thought | would give him part
ing shot before left him. So l said


But why don't they arrest you7 They
must look to you as principal"


1t was almost amusing to see his ex-
preston of fright.


Arrest me? What had got to do
with it; Why, ! wasn't even in the
store when it occurred"


"No-the sneak-he was asleep in his
bed, while he put all the work and re-
sponsibility off ON poor Charley. How
ever,I contented myself with asking few
questions as to who the person was that
had died, and when Charley had been ar
rested and then started to see him.
found him, in IA very little time, in the
custody of one of the coroner's officers,
awaiting the holding OF the inquest, which
would come off in an hour As matter
of course, Charley was in intense mental
agony, and it was tnly with difficulty |