HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1874-02-06, Page 2T E HURD
ExPosivroft.
A NICHT IN A BAKEHOUSE.
AN•XPERIENGE OF AN EDINEURGH DE
ticrrez.
sat night • aibag of flour—a .ivhel
big was stolenfrom my • bakehouse
It ust have been done by some One ac
qua ted with the plate, for not a door
or w dow appeared.: to have been tam
pere with.'
T e speaker was a wizened, little ol
man named Skinflint, a master- baker i
the igh Street, whe had just paad e hi
corn taint, and> been bancIed otret„to m
to ' ve the particulars.
II now stood before me looking con
cer d and excited etiough; demandin
my sistance, and in the same breat
ma trig anything butflatterieereinaek
i
" as ' the efficiency of the police force i
gen ral.
I had neither tiine to waste nor inclin
ati to waste it, so I stopped him. '
'Do you suspect any one—any ef you
me for instance?' '
' hat's just it,' he quickly returned
'The robbery must have been commited
by some of the men.'
; 'Why must ?' I dryly inquired...
' Because this is not the first theft that
1 have detected, and a strange dream
-
stance accompanied each. Two nights
ago a box of raisins was taken away, and
the night before that einisketof eggs, and
4e strange thing was that each time the
thief had deliberately gone to work and
s t the sponge for the afternoon bread.
• othing was Omitted or bungled—the
I
Work. was done neatly and tidily, and
the place left as if nothing had occurred.'
I 'Strange. . How do you -account for
. that ? '
• 1 ' I cannot aceount for it at all.. The
Mee one and. all denied stoutly any
eriowledge of the thing, and. threatened
to leave on the instant if I did not retract
Ithe charge. I had to do it, too, curse
'them ! for at this season 1:find. it almost
'impossible to get good hands. But last
I
'night a whole bag of flonr went at a whip; it is too much. ' I shall be ruined 7,- I shall
, be ruined:'. .
Who locks up theplice it night ?'
i ' I do.'
i 'And who opens it intthe morning ?'
. 1 'Sometimes myself, but generally lily
i son.' - - -
I ' - I *
1 • 'Then' you think ' that the :robberies
I 'have been ccemmttted between the time
when son?'
r
nstohe,place was locked at night by,
yourself and opened in the mortiMg by
yo
.:CIerwtaoinillidY'l• like to have a look at the
,
plaee. How do you think the theitres
got in.' .
`By the door, with false keys.
'Are there no other likely meanS of ad-
mittance ?'
'None—at least none that anyone
would think of. • -
-' Can I see the place now ?'
'You could, but the men would take
offence at mice. They would know you
were a detective, and. what you were pry-
ing about for. Jlourneymett bakers, curse
them, are the most, flighty and indepen-
dent wretches on the face cl earth.
Just!say a cross word t� them, and they
• will. put on their caps and walk ,out of
, the shop. I cannot afford that just -now.'
'' Well, it will do after they are -gone
at night; better, too; for it will bellark.
When do you shut tip ?'
' About seven.' .,
'That will do. Wait for Me -then.
We cued() no more .juat now,' anti I
bowed slightly, to intimate that the in-
terview was &Van end,tand he took the
hint and. left. .
After he was gone, I found myself un-
consciously giving the'matter a good deal
of thought. The stealing of the flour
. and ether thinks did not puzzle me much,
considering the bard and gripping char-
acter of the master, but that the thief
should coolly set to work and leave be-
hi•nd hini something which said plain-
ly, ." The thief is. a - baker, and
an expert one, ', was a - circumstance to
which I 1 could:find- fit! parallel in the
whole range of my experience., Even
M'Sweeny when I referred the matter to
hied,- admitted that it was 'mighty
queer,' but added,' Just ,, wait till the
morn', an' we'll be thiek-headed °alma-
douns if we don't aee ,through it then.
when a thafe could slip through -the key-
hole, andget.a 'sack of flour in his pock-
et, an' no-one the wisere-he'll not be slow
to try it again, if he tries it to -night,
we'll be there to help him to carry it,'
and. one of his expressive *inks convey-
ed. the rest. It
'But . the work — the setting of the
sponge ?' '
' Oeh, we'll help him at that, too. Be -
dad, it's myself that won't be idle while
he's th-utcpin at the dough;' and he
fondledlovingly with a pair of handcuffs.
' I don't mean that, but why should
he do- it ?'
' To aize his •mind. Sure, one pod.
turn -deserves another. ' if he doesn't
-think so, we'll tactic,' him.' .
M'Sweeny was never without an an-
swer—geod, bad, or indifferent—so I
let the matter drop.
, But there was mere to come yet.
' About half -past five in the afternoon,
a
It mare=evidently i journeyman baker; nd fresh from his work—made his ap-
1
pearence at the office, and caetiously ask-
ed. to see a deteetive. . He was handed
over to me ; and what was my surprise
*hen he informed me that he worked
With a Mr. -Skinflint, in, the High street,
and then went over the details of the
Missing property, the sinteular habits of
the -thief, and _the -rage of .himself and
h's fellow workmen at being suspected;
a d finally asked us to take the matter
in hand and sift it out, without letting
Sitinilint kintself know anything about it.
Here was a queer position in the affair.
_First the master comes secretly and
without the- Knowledge of the workmen,
and places the matter in our hands, and
the the workmen, in like manner and
unknown to the master, send and ask us
to ferret (tut the eccentric thief. What
was behind. it -all? I thought I Would
I
try to discover. :
The appearencc of the man 'before me
was singular, but it took me some time
to find out where. the singularity lay.
Then I found that it was in his eyeS. At
one Moment I thought them dull and
stupid, and then in a I:Cement they look-
ed bright and flashy—giving him a sort
of ' raised look.' -
But he was sane enough—as I found
out °on questioning him—and quite as ex-
cited and indignant as his master had
been in the morning. Of course, that
Skinflin had been there at -all was a fact
• ' that for Several reasons T kept carefully
in the background.-
• 'Now,- quietly, between ourselved,' I
said, soultdingly, after I had. talked with
him'a little, 'who do you think is the
thief?'
The answer came at once, and with-
out the slighted hesitation—
' Old Skinflint himself.'
He wail wrong—I thought it—knew t
--but I vtould. make sure.
Was Skinflint ever a baker ?--I meant
h he ever "boxed "the trade himself?
'No, lite knows nothing about the
Ork--never did—and that's why he's
• s eh a tyrant.'
'Thies e know enough about it to be
a le to "set -a sponge ?" '
Not e,' and the Man smiled right
•
-d o t at th idea. Why, to do ;that well
0 to kno how to heat an oven, is what
p •oveS a aker. It is the grand test of
h s skill. He knows no more about it
t an the cat -not so. much, for he does
t see it so often.' .
Then if he is the thief, how is it that to
g t e spon e is always set for the after -
n on's eadr
The m n looked puzzledt--a little stag -
g red- d scratched his head in vain.
Ah, hat'sit. That's a funny thing?'
• h said but, though" he himself had
elation cl the fact, he appeared quite
✓ helpless at a soletion. ,
I had now prepared the itraY for some -
t ing, as d that something I now pro-
ceeded ro bring forward. 1
The son—What sort of a character
d ea he bear ?' I 'asked. I
Ah, he's One of the right Bork', wals
the rea y answer. '1 like him—as unlike hi father as day's fronL niglat—a
regula good-hearted, generous
I r
rascal..
D you think he coulkseta sponge
at a ch
—eh, well, I never thought of
that.'
eyes had.opened widely—he was
evide lay seeing the thing in a new light.
N ver thought of what vt--hinxt being
t ?'
Aly just sq.' .
ell,and what do you think now?'
\ ell, I don't know ; he might do At,
Bu , no'he could never set a sponge like
th t, In fact,' and the man blushed
sli Fitly, as said it; 'in fact, there's no
one about the place could do it So Well
ex *A Myself.' I
You entry the thief then?' I said,
laughingly, for r thought 'there was a
sic. of jealousy in his tone and look.
—no- --not exactly; but I would like
to know who Ile is.'
',Who gene ally sets this particular
1
sponge?'
'Well, to tell you the truth, we've
had a gooci many words- abaft that. I
have no rig/Lti to do it—ttor the time
either, considering the workl haVe, to
gett through of a morning= -but for some
tin t.6 it has been palmed . upon me and
I have to slaire through it— ill this thief
todk it inland.' '
Then you're obliged to hie; Thiefship ?'
yes in a way; if he didn't take any-
thing with him. A sa,ale,, of flour is a
good deal for half an -hour's work.' ;
Could you tell, from the time at
which itwas ready, when it had beeni
set?'
'Oh, easily—to within a quarter of an
hour,' and he counted back on his
fingers.' It must have, been set be-
tween one and two o'clock. Of course
it was ready too soon for us, from being
set so early, but we managed to dodge
that.'
'How do you think the thief got in ?'
'Well, I don't know. .But I have of-
ten thought of a way by which I could
get in, if the key went amissing.
An ! how?'
The flour room is at the back of the
bake -house. You have to getup a stair
to it, so you will know that it is a little
sepatate building run out &gm the back
Of the land, and having al roof of. its
own. Two windows in the roof are sup-
posed to light the inside, but they are
often blocked up with bags of flour ; for
Skinflint always buys in a lot vhen it is
cheap. One of the windows, though. is
at present clear, and, as it has a move-
able pane, with a wire catch Which could
be opened as easily from the outside as
the in, nothing could be easier than to
get clown the close Into -the yard behind,
din:lb up by some of the empty barrels
on to the roof, get in your .1hand by the
moveabletpane, unfasten the lower half
of the window, and jump in.'
But the getting out again?'
Oh; that Would be quite as eau.—
easier, in fan • .
But couldi a sack of flour be taken
through the perture ?'
No, not i a lump.'
I thought or a minute, and then
said -
This son o Skinflint's—you said he
was generon while by your own ac-
count his fati er is almost a miser for
stinginess—w ere, then, does he get the
money to be generous with?'
Well, I d n't know that he has much
money--onlyit's his nature. 'He'd give
the very coat ioff his back,if he thought
yoti were cold and needed it. Any one
with a plausi le tale- could get round
him easily. ut I've heard nim say
that, if he anted anything, :and his
father held b ck, he wbuld not trouble
to ask it again, but just take it.'
Ah ! incle d ?' I thought I was be-
ginning to get at something now. -
Yes. I w aid laugh if it turned out
that he had taken the flour and things,
or given 'there away, or Something. It
would_ serve the old beggar right. I
wouldn't care what he said about us
then, not though Harry took 'away a
sack every night.
•
Now that the thing had been placed
in our hands, I could not see very well,
where the laugh would come in. Rob-
bery at any titne is a serious matter, btit
it becomes donbly serious when a father
suddenly awakens to find himself forcecl
to prosecute1,his own son, and trebly
serious when that son has nothing really
criminal in his nature, but is on the
contrary, "one of the right sort," brim-
ming over with generosity and good. feel-
ing,. If things went on in. this way, I
began to fear that I would soon find my -
set engaged ih a nasty job.
How does this young man's genet.,
osity generally show itself?' 1 gravely
pursued; in giving things away?'
Yes, oh, in lots cf ways.'
Have you noticed hint generous' to
any one in paiticalar.'
Yes—to his uncle, Skinflint's bre-
ther ; but then he's a poor man, and has
been long ill, and is struggling hard to
keep a very large family. I've seen
Harry take out his purse and shove it
boldly into his hand. I've seen hirn
smuggle six loaves out of a batch and
carry them clown to the uncle's shop
himself.'
You say smuggle.' Am I to under-
stand, that the loaves were stolen ?'
The man opened his eyes and stared.
The idea seemed knew to him.
1 -mean, did Skinflint know of it?'
pursued.
‘Jgot he, He'd see them drop dead at
his feet before he'd part with a farthing
to save them ; ancl yet he owes all he
has to them; for the shop and business
were all theirs once. He wormed them
out of it sontel4w,1 and luck has gor
against them ever since.'
' Where is this uncle's place ?' ,.
-4, fit -the Comfgate. It's a little shop, ,e,
'kind of provision store, With ,the bout.:
at -the back ; but he doesn't seem -to 0tt,
on well ; for therthi precious little in 1
'I suppose hetsells all sorts of things
—flour, . and eggs, and raisins, for in.
starlet: 4--- anything , to turn an honeit
penny?' I .
' Just so ; all these sort of things.'
I mentally resolved that if nothing
turned up I would pay a visit to this
'little provision, hop next morning, and
have a look a'the stock of ,flour,
voices. for the -s Me, &c. ,
Yet I must s tr that I sincerely hoped
I woiild find in aelf on the wrong track. ,
The circumstan es of the case were pe-
culiar; and m sympathies were now
strouglk in favi i of the suspected parties,
even though t ey should be guilty.
• Some such ought ran through ! m.y
mind ; but I rsued the inquiry no
fu rther. I to • i' down the man's 'lamer -
John Hastie, bade him good night,
promising to • o 41 in my power for him
and his mates and shortly after, in corn-
Pany with M'.weeny, took a walk down
to Mr. Skinfli i t'S bakehouse.
We found him waiting for us, and
amusing hi e self in the meantime by
killing ' cloc (8,' ' or cockroaches, which
he pathetical y Ih.rnenteci to us, 'ate up
half of thetp ofits of his establishment.
He showed- s over the place, flour house
and all ; 'an then, after drawing out of
him a few,- more facts respecting his
brother, we: arranged to return at ten
o'clock and llow ourselves to be locked
un in the pl ce for the night. *
',May he e say that' had it been an
ordinary c se of theft or robbery, es-
pecially. wi h,such a man for the com-
plainer, I ould: not have taken so much
pains wit it. But , now my' curiosity -
was strong y excited, and I had Veseltrect
to watch n t .one night only, but two,
three, or a dozefitit necessary. I had
noticedin:ny an instance of burglars or
thieves do ng work plyingMt their vo-
cation, it was generally a work that
benefited themsetves, such as consuitung
champagne, cigars, ,roast fowl, &c.,
when they, founithem handy ; but here
was a case quite he reverse. The thief,
by workipg, • no only. gained nothing,
and, endangered his Own safety for the
time, but left a ,clue to his identity . as
well. 1
After arranging our plans, M'Sweeny
and I got to! the .place at, ten o'clock,
and
were iticeiv!ed- by Skinflint, whose
consent to Olittle item we .now pro-
ceeded to ask. Pointing to a solitary
bag of flour in one corner of the flour
house, to which we had invited the pro-
prietor, M'Sween.y soundingly began:
'Isn't that the sister of the eine that
was stolen ?' , • i
'Yes—'it isthe only one of the lot lett
—the finest American flour; by far the
most valuable in the place.
' D'ye think, now, and M'Sweeny put
on his softest wheedle, .4 d'ye think, now,
ye could take out as much flour as would
let in me own swat° self.'
Skinflint started and stared.
.` What do you mean to do ?' he angrily
demanded.
' Only to make Myself the most valu-
able in the. place. •Sure, I wont be the
first (American Anur that's come from
Belfast county.' 1 ,
'1 can't allow it; it would spoil the
flour. - ,
.'-Divil a bit. You can bake it up into
chape Joaves for the poor; it'll -look
mighty charitable, an' at the same time
be a great benefit to yourself. Men of
genius like you always kill two birds
with the one stone,' and M'Sveeney's
look of great simplicity and reverence
completely deceived the man before him.
Skinflint still deinurred. •
'Sure it's myself that runs *the most
risk,' 'pursued, M'Sweeney. ' P'raps
the vagabones 'ill Steal me ant bake me
up into bread, and. then I'll find me head
stickin' out of a loaf, burnt black like a
wanderin' currant.?
Still it took some talking from us to
-convince Skinflintl. It was a - little
amusing to watch the struggle between
his avarice and his leager desire to cap-
ture the robbers ;but at last he con-
sented. The moutlh of the sack was
undone, arid about a third of the flour
scooped out and sto ed away in a bin.
Then IM'Sweeny ato d up on an empty
cask, and worked his feet down in the
flour till he reached the bottom, a draw-
ing -at ' g having flret been run into the
mouth of the Sack and the ends placed
in his hands, so that at any moment he
could duck down hi head into the flour,
pull the string, and ,look to all appear-
ance like an innocent bag of flour.
' Bedad ! it's soft, ianyhow. Aitchoo 1
a—a—tchoo !' he sneezed; it's as good
as an ounce of snuff; but it'll take a
mighty lot of brushi ' to make Inc prc-
sintabl.e at the muster call in the mor-
nin'.'
-I arranged to hide i.n an empty flour
cask close at hand, with an empty sack
Skin-
flint pit out the light and retired, lock -
to draw over as a cov r ; and -then Skin-
ing us f securely in. I
It Was a clear, froety night, and. by -
and bye the bright moonlight stole in at
the window of the flonr-house, giving the
long resin of flour -bag t rather a ghostly
appearance. It was lonesome, but quite
comfortable and warm owing to the heat
of the bakehouse and oven below.
'I begin to think it's hell!' whispered.
M'Sweeny, 'an' them's the white ghosts
of the twelve pirates I read aboqt oncet
that got hanged. I could fancy I see
their heads noddin' at me. The divil !
what's that? Something crawlin' over
my' face; it gave me a nip in the ear.
Begorra. it can bite. It's nibblin' at me
neck now --no, that's not it—it's an-
other. There's a lot of ' them. Down,
ye (Evils ! They're comin' on me in
whole regiments. _ Beda.d ! this beats
the bugs, They—oh, s8—s—s! they
think I'm flour, an' they're atin' inc!
They're only cockroaching,' I said_ ;
' keepttill and they wont hurt you, and
for any sake don't speak so loted.'
' That's aisy said ; if you only felt
1 them lnippint Who'd have thought
i there was such a los of them? I wonder
where they were all hidin' afore the light
went out.
'Fool!'
'Yes, I am ,• but it's not with aitin'.
The aitin's all on the other side. But
I've got as multi). as I want. Two hours'
nibblin' should satisfy any man. Bad.
luck to them, I didn't know it was them
'that Were ticklin' me. Why d.oesn't
owld Skinflint keep his bakehouse dame ?
It isn't safe. He'll be makin' curra.nt
bread when he doesn't want to.'
" Be quiet, can't you. They're in all
bakehouses.'
Thai's comfortin.',
Hush ! I hear a.noise at the back.
There's some one among the empty bar-
rels in the ya,rd. Do you hear? They're
gu on the roof.
fouched down in the ca
Per:nein:I:tate sack t leaving
tlitrthitrugh. •which I coul
window above Me. ,
There, was a dainbe lin g s
slates towards the windo
man's fako came slowly i
was clearly distinguishable
light, a d I uttered a sta.'
recogniz d John Hastie, th
mbalf.rsyewo.euehl
told me to be q iet,' geowle
y from inside the oor bag, 'in
which he had ducked an drawn ti
etring, '• but it's yourself ti at's dein' tit
talkin' ow. What's up ?' I
II
' A man, and he's comin down,'
The oveable pane in th window w
opened . rorn without and man's han
thrust i a,ndthen the fas ening was u
done ant' the window let back. ' The
very coolly and methodic lly, the ma
dropped down before us, raking not th
slight* notice of M'S eeny's floar
hea.d a d face and gaping mouth whic
had ,po ned oat of the bag close to h
elbow. i
In t e occ• asional-glimp es I got of th
intrud r's face I thoughti looked a trifl
paler han when I had sen it in the a
ternoqn, but I was scarce y prepared fo
the discovery that folio ed. Re walk
ed forward, without an of the shirkin
hesitancy of guilt, str ight to the ga
bracket struck a match and lighted it.
Not a moment too soo 3, as he thought
IVI'SWeeny popped in his head and drew
ring of the bag.
t he relight have a vedt hiinself the
le. .
peculiarity about, e man's eyes -t -
range. glassy fixed ess—caught my
and at once thet uth flashed upon
asleep 1
e discovery in a
tut he shrank and
nk, with his eyes fixed in a sort of
upon the somn ',mbulist till his
d had nearly vani bed into the bag
in. ,
Sure, he's more 1 ke a dead -ghost
kin',' he whisper in return, with
ight chatter in hi teeth. '1 don't
t all. Luk at him
'a he goin' to do
ped off coat and
up his sleeves,' and
head of the bake -
his hand a large
hen an idea netted
lin turned back.
was coming to his
d spring out of it;
feart-tthe man only
then descended to
us following on tip.
ash 1' and
k and drew
slight open
watch th
th
and then
ict *we A
ifl the mooii•,.,
led:Cry as I
journeyman
pulled me
and peered
Och, b
pint the s
into my face.
ad and it's 0
.•f4W
of moonshine
• WJy
edi'yY. e dO.ii t inane it 7' li,e cried exalt-
. , f .w , itiiid,yp,igd:et.:,ridt.t.
yowffeit:hiaatviw,iimhi .s:it.,Le_. _aoi!,,f:.:ds,vis:67:yat: .fe..` t,h,ink
• 'I'm af id w'ellitiVe i but I thhilt
know one them again,tiand I hii
ed a mome t in his 'ear. !, .
' But I d ; Ws a fact,' i returned, and
then we w ret down; and lip to the bake-
house door and found, as Itbad. expected,
that the fl 'rig thieves had, taken tine to
lock it afte them. t
But We ad no fear of +ern returning
so we both got out by the window of the
flour-houie, lastened it behind us, and
went home to bed.
at
Next da I Called on S. ' flint, and in-
cedentally nquired for his 'n. fre told inn
that the y ung rnan had been taken unext
pectedly tl that morning team. leaving
the -house to open the, bakehouse, and
had. return ci when he hadtto get up -and
go in his ; ea'd, and was rap a little sur-
prised to ,fi • d us gone. I Ke.Ve him a full
account Of the 'night's proeeedings, but
as it was g'ven without an. f, private com-
ments mt uspicions, he id not make
much of it, but at once beglin to tell me
of a strang occurrence of that day. This
was neithe moiettior less than the re-
ceipt of a ote stating that he wonld,find
the stolen roperty—to w% one bsg of
flour, one ox of raisins and a quantity
of eggs—Sa ely deposited;ini his yard, to
which. pia e the thief ha4 them con-
veyed befote writing the note, - A post.
4
SOlipt eta; 1 that he, the thief, had been
forced to ake the restitution by a re-
markable' o currenee which he could not -
relate. without being consi4ered super:
-
stitious. . -i.
Skinflint found the thingsi exactly -at,
stated, and now in high gleetfold me to
bother no f tther in the matter. I Was
secretly gl d of the order, but still wish-
ing private y to:satisfy rnyetelf, I man -
with me. hen I wrote a d immy note
aged to car y the note of therhief away
to Skinfliq s brother about some provi-
. : .
mons, requ sting an answer, and was not
at all eurpr ed twtind: the handwriting
to be neati identical witl. tilt of the re-
pentant th ef. , . f '
It was lo g. ere' I could., gett a sight at
Skinflint's :on, and bithat tinte the Old
miser. wa,s ead,„ and he -mater of the
settabtrIlysIlreinc '1 ilginiz; Obtlu'tthwellfatne Ii'haicliddiseiettinin
the flour -house itilien M'Sweenty-- was be-
ing lifted fir a bag of. flour. Ifheshould
read this, h willSee that detectives are
not ' qUite et had as they areimmetimest
painted.
. As for astie. the • staSatnbulist,
*hen told f his part in. the adventure;
he appearedoVerwhelmed with confusion,
and
and took t e first Opportunity ito slip on
lig' coat :an walk out of the bakehouse.
-He never came :back.; and was etnly heard
'of by chanceMonths after as hiving been
- seen in a far distant town. 'I
the
trou
A
a 8
eye,
me., The man was fas
II communicated t
wh sper to 1VI'Sweeny,
shr
aw
he
agi
a
like the looks of him
notw. What the divi
with the flour ?'
The man had att.'
witietenat and turned
was approachingthe
henise stair bearing i
s oop full of flew,
tc trike him, an
'Sweeny, feating b
bitg, made an Otcit
but he had nothing
lowered the gas, ant
the bakehouse, with
toe at his heel.
Then we were witnesses' to a strange
scene.
lia.stie very deliberately- lit the gas,
walked straight to one of the dough
bins, and mixed the floor he carried -with
a quantity,already there. Then he took
a pan of hot water out of the oven and
worked away with it a long time, cooling it
by adding cold water, and testing it
every time with a thermometer till he
got it to his liking, when he poured it
into the bin, and began working away
' among the .pasty mass with his hands.
T *
t
s done, he scraped his hands clean,
d ied. them with some flour, scattered
so . e flour over the dough, scraped down ,
the sides of the bin; an'd goverediever the
*hole with R. cloth and a board,
' Well, that's done,' said. heF speaking
for the first time; with a sigh of satisfac-
tion, and taking no notice of ns as we
peeped oat at the foot of the stair; and.
then froth a hole in the wall he took out
a tobacco pipe and settled himself to a
comfortable smoke.
'Sure; it's mcseif that could help him
this minute,' muttered M'Sweeny, with
an envious look. ' It's a fine time of it
ye have over there, never so much as
axin' a body to take a draw.' •
But the man smoked on; meditatively
and quietly, and then resumed his vest
and coat.
'He's goin' to pocket a bag of flour now,'
said M'Sweeny, as he slipped hastily up
to the our room. But le was wrong.
Putting out the lights as hewent, the
man ascended..the stair, got up on the
flour bags,. pulled himself through the
window, and closed it as he had entered,
and was gone.
' What a big chate of the world; I
thought he was the thafe,' grumbled
M'Sweeny, as the sounds died away.
'So did I at rat;fibut he's not.'
- • ' P'raps the real thafe is to come yet;'
was the quick witted. suggestion. ' Sutra-
ly we're not to have so much trouble au'
bitin' for nuthint'
I thotight the idea ae good one, and
once Mere we ensconced ourselves in our
biding -places. ' ,
' But it was well on for three o'cloc
efore we were again disturbed, and this
inie the sounds came from the bakehouse
door. We distinctly heard a key insert-
ed. and the door opened, and then two
persons—men—entered,• conversing in
sabdued whispers.
They did,not strike a light, but came
softly up the stair to the flour -house, and
I could have touched them both with my
hand as they passed on towards
M'Sweeny's bag. One of them—the
younger of the two—turned, and. with
out a word pointed to the bag containing
M'Sweeny, and as he did so the moon-
light strack full on his face, and I saw
uistinctly the features of a rather good-
looking young man.
The other obeyed in silence, and at
once seized the bag and endeavored, with
a lift from the other, to get it on his
back. The position must have been
anything but an agreeable one to
M'Sweeny, but he bore it unflinchingly.
As bad luck would have it, however,
the moment he was raised into the air a
quantity of the flour was drawn iii with
his breath, and he emitted a sudden and
energetic double sneeze.
The effect was instantaneons.. He
was dropped. with a yell, which._ the
thump, he received caused him to echo,'
and then loosening the string, he sprung
out before them like a frightful white
apparition.
I made a grasp at one as they whiskecl
past me like swift shadows; but I was
only drawn forward, cask and all, on my
face, and then lay sprawling while the
were fiymg like the wind.
At the same moment M'Sweeny made
a dash forward, tumbled over me grap-
pled with me, and tugged Inc up by the
hair of the head.
'So I've got ye, ye 4gabone !' he
cried, giving me a thump in the ribs be-
fore I could find my voice. 'You let me
fall on purpose in the sack, did. ye? to
try an' break the small of me back, 'an'
then 14 down there that I mtght
break me neck --there, there and there !'
He was thumping me with a vengeance
but I conld do nothing but laugh; which
'did till I was powerless. Then he
SPIliCIAIi NOTIOZS
,
1
— t
t,
BREA.ICP4 T.—EPPS'S POCOA.Z---eii R ATE -
FUL it.elD.COMFORTING.—' '13y aithorough
knowleclge of the natural laws which
govern the operations of digeetiori and
nutrition, aid by a carefulapplicationof
the fine properties.of well-eeleceed. coeoa,
Mr. Epps hi,s provided our breakfast ta-
bles with a elicately flavoured beverage
which may aye ulmaity heavy doctors'
bilis. "--Givil Service Gazqtte.i Made
:simply- wiiJ Boiling Water Or Milk.
Each. packet is 1abe11ed-4mA Es &
CO., :lloutcec atliie Chemists, LkidOnt"
MINUFAG URE OF COCOA.— "We 'will
now give an ccount of the process adept -
ed by itleesrl. James Epps & Co., iaare.
ufaxturers of dietetic articles, at their .
works in thi Euston Road, Lotidon"-i-
Cassell's Rol sehold Guide. _. 1
BH WISE..-- Too often a coldor slight
oonttli is c nsidered a very ordinary,
trifling affair just as well left totgo as it
came, and he:1 ue systematically neglected
until a simple
e curable -affection --: is con-
verted into a serious pulmonarydisea.se.
The more pendent, aware that a cough
or cold §13.0p.lcl never be trill* with,
promptly use "Bryan's Pulmonic Wa-
ers," which iavc sustained their repu-
tation for oyr 30 years.---Theyi are al -
Ways efficacious, and exert a most bene-
ficial influenc on all the bronchial and
pulmonary o ans. Sold by all drug-
gists and ccn try merchants. Price 25
cents per bo ..,
VERY NAT nth,: ---When a perion.-- has
proved an art' le and found it 'ciod, and
answering the purpose for whic fit is in-
tended, he wit not readily abandon it for
_
one Ot dolibtf 1 reputation,. or Concern-
ing which he nOWS nothing. NNTe are
led to make th se remarks owing! to the
course alway pursued. by those who
have used tha • celebrated.and truly val-
uable horse -m clicirie known as
ley's ConditiO Powders and Arabian
Heave Rented . " All are so welltpleased
with it that th y Will not Use any other ;
many have wa ted eseyeral weeks / until
the agent co d Obtain a new supply.
There is nothii g equal to it as a! condi-
tion medicine, or for any complaint af-
fecting the wind of horses-. Itte' ember
the name, and 4ee that the signature of
Eurd & Co.', is bit each package!. Nor-
throp and Lym u, Newcastle, Onft., Pro-
prietors for Canada. Sold, by all mecli-
, ,,
eine dealers. 1- .
MANY peed() s, apparently healthy on
retiring, die durtngthe enervating hours
from 3 to 5 in the morning. The life
force being lowest . at that time, nature
more readily su ' limbs ! Indite. uals on
the shady aide, o forty, and whose vital-
ity has been imuiaired, are most .suseep-
tible. Fellows' Compound Syrup of Hy-
pophosphites , will sustain and tone the
nervous system, and its use is a -necessary
precaution again t PREMATURE nuitality.
DISTINGIJIFJI ED PHYSIOLOGI§T HAS
said that N eur igia is the cry of the hungry
nerves for their fine 'al food, -which is the Phos-
phorous contained in the blood. This panful dis-
ease is usually font) d by general prostiation on
aecount of the great este of nerve assure and in-
sufficient supply of nerve force to maintain the
functions of the vital lorgans. The emunten cause
of Neuralgic and Rheumatic Pains la depnived Nu-
trition arising froniperangements of the Stom-
ach, Mal-assimilatior of Food, and Pear Blood.
Dr. Wheelers CompoUnd Elixir of Phosphates and
Calisaya supplies Ph4sphorous for the t nervous -
system, Lime is an extant of mitrition4 Iron for
the blood, and Calisaya for promoting trength.
No preparation in existence it, so reliable io main-
tain the vital forces and energize all th ie organs
and tissues of the -body.
Thomas' Eclectric Oil -
WORTH TEN TINES ITS WEIOUT IN OOLD. DO YOU
KNOW ANYTHDTG OF rr ? IF NOT, Ilia
=MR YOU DID.
There are but few preparations of iriedicine_
which have withstood the impartial judgment of
the people for any great length of time; One of
these if; THOMAS' ELECTRIC OIL, purely It prepar-
ation of eix of some of the best oils that arh known,
each one possessing -virtues of its own. Scientific
physicians know that medicines may be fOrmed of
several in gredients in certain fixed propeitions of
greater power, and producing effects whiph could
never result from the use of any one of them, or in
different combinations. Thus in the preparation
of this oil a chemical change takes place Pformin
pip w c co not by any poss ilk be
ED. 1874.
made from anytiler combination or proportion
of the same ing edients, or any other ingredients
.. pnd entirely di orent from Anything -ever bifer,
laid°, one which produces ttteinastaetoniehingii
lults,- and havi g a wider range of applicatioi
I
than any medicine ever before discovered. It ton
tains no aleohog -or other volatile liquids, cerise
guently loses n thing by evaperation. Whereve
applied yon get e benefit of every drop, where&
with other pre, : rations nearly all the alcoholli
lost in that way, and you get -only the small quail
tity Of on.li wide . they may contain.
. S. N. THOMAS, PuBLrs, N. Y.
And NOR 's OR & LYMAN, Newcastle, Ont.
,
Sold in Seafo teh—D8boeyinieEient.eillodniaz.nkaso7nice&triCzoe.dand R
SoleLruNnl::::11;:ni-11111:3tioes_131;a3critr:t)
SES'iIirtpitI Pera :IL: niittibliillisc",i Lan nic,fiamni iniesi;g1 1.1'n thi
-A- cure of all th se painful anddinagerous diseasei
to which the lei ale constitution j.#3 subjeet. I
moderates all ex • .ss and removes_all obstructions
and a speedy cur : may be relied on.
To married lad es, it is peculiarly suited, It wil
In a short time, .ring on the monthly period wit]
regularity. - 1
,
These .Pills ah uld not be taken by Female'
during the first hree months of Pregnacy, as the,
are sure to firing on Miscarriage, but at any ot,h,
time they.are sal .
iallcases -o andSihmlAfections
te;
pansintteikanaimbs,fagueonaiightex
ertion, palpitation of the helut, hyateries, an
whites, these pills will effect a cure when all othel
means have failed; and although a powerfn
remedy, do not contam ir4m, calomel, antiTROUY, Jai
anything hurtful to the constitution.
Full directiona in the pamphlet around eaci
.package, which sl ould be carefully preserved.
Job Moses, Ne York, Sele Proprietor. 81.00 and
121 cents for post ge, enclosed toNorthop &Lyman,
Newcastle, Out., eneralngents for the Doininion
will insure a, bo tle, containing 'over .50 _pills b3
return mail.
Sold in Se forth y . Hickson & Co., an
R. Lurnsden. , 1974
4
.1E41iGAOL,
_T M. LEET,
t-' • pointed Agen
pany of England,
veto Capitalists •
very reaeonable
Charges moderat
Wingc. hain, De
--• -
eCAUGHET 4t-
torneys at Iaw,
lAsoivency, Not!
Solicitors for the t
the Canada Life
N. B.-30,000
ouses and Lots
ENSON & MEYER,
at Law, Solid
onveyancers, No
t rth and Wroxete
1 vest at once, at
early.
• JAS. H. )3ENSOig.
olicitor, Wingliana, has been ap.
for the Colonial Securities Cora-
he is also Agent for several pri,
f 'Tqronto, who loan Money al
ates. Interest payable- year),
.
15-, 1.871. 213
HOLMESTED, Barristers, At
Solicitors in Chancery and
ies Ptiblic and Conveyancers.
LC. Bank, Seaforth. Agents for
urance Company,
0 •lend at 8 per cent. Farms,
sr sale. 53
,
Biaristeri and Attorneys
os in Chancery and Insolveney,
Dries Publie, ete. Offices—Sea-
. • $28,000 a Private Funds to
iiht per cent. Interest, payable
53
1t, 'W. C. MEYER. '
R. SQUIE
• ery, &c.'G.
Detlor & Co.'s Em
.
. Saute
BARRI S TERS,
&c,
. Brussels,
the Post +Office.
W. ll_SQT.J.LER,,,
271 G-oderi
...1_,„
,Barrister, Attorney In Chan&
deriell, Ont. Oilice--aver 3.0.
iritun, Market Square. 269
I
& McDonald,
,
Etorneys, Solicitors in Chence.ry,
nt. Office—two doors lima of
t
, - DANIEL MoDONALD.,1
li. __ Brussel.
11110TELS.
KNOX'S HOTEL,
Knox begs 'AO
and the travelling
Hotel lately- occir:ded
formerly known at;
hopes to receive a'
so liberally bestowimi
years in the hotel
convenience will lid'
choicestl,iquors and
A careful and reliablekostler
291 ., , T4HO1AS
.
SEAFORTII. — Thomas
state to ibisold friends and
imblic, that he has leased the
by Mr. MIIRRAY, and
tlie DewNEY noneE, end
continuance of the patronage
upon hira during his many
business. Every conifortand
provided for travellers. The
Cigars only kept in the Bar.
alt aye in attendance.
KNOX, Proprietor.
ROYAL HOTEL, Seaforth, Ontario. SIMON
POWELL, .Propriator, The subscriber has
thorougbay ,reuovated and newly furnished the
abol•e house, SO thilt it now affords_ good accommo-
dation for the travelling public. - Choice liquors
and cigars in the ber. The table is supplied with
the , delieacies in season.. Oysters in season.
Large stabling aild an attentive hostler in con-
nection. 251-1 •
pRINOg OF NY,
C. J. 11cCUTC
accommodation for
plied with the'very
stabling attached.,
every day for Win,
ES HOTEL, Clinton, Ont,
1 ON, Proprietor. First-elass
travellers. The Bar is sup-
I) st liqncrs and <agars- Geed
he stage leaves this House
, : •• . 204-4t
FOSTER'S nOTEL, SEAFORTH.
rimoNr&s FOSE I.-• begs to inform his old
-a- friends and the traveling public that he has
opened WS 11CW hote ,adjoining the Post Office
Seaforth, 'where he has the very best accommoda-
tion for man and beabt. The best of liquors land
cigars at the bar. THOMAS FOSTER.
Di DDICAL • .
r tit. CAMPBELL, ( raduate of McGill Iliaiver-
eity, Montreal,) Coroner for the County of
Efuron... Office—Nex door to • Calder 13rothers'i
MarbIe 'Works, and pposite McCallum's Hetei;
Main -street, Seaforth, neer the Railway Station.
JAMES STEWART, M. D., C.. M., Graduate ef
McGill, Universit Montreal, Physician, Sur -
eon, etc. Office itad esidence-13rucefield.
To. RING, Beef°
Coroner for tile C
resi•lenee over Johns°
Main-st. Calls at DR.
tended to - day or nigh
h, (late of Cairoubrook,)
unty of Perth. Office anti
Brothers' Hardware Store,
KING'S office will be at-
.
287
., C. tat Physician; Sur -
r for the -County of Huron. i
nun of Market and High
ing Mill.
IT L. VERCOE,
• geon, etc., Coron
Office and Residence,
streets, next to the Pia-
-
VETERINARY SUR
v V. S., bees to auno
Seatolth and surroun
been awarded the diplo
ary College, and is now
otHorses and Cattle and.
has opened an office inc
shoeing ehop, where he
tend to calls. Diseases
tended to. Residence, p
of Killoran & Ryan's rre
exinary Medicines kap
titarges reasonable:
EON.—D. MeNA.DGIIT,
nice to the inhabitants of
'lag country that he has
of the 'Ontario Veterin-
repared to treat diseases
all domestie animals. He
maection -with his horse -
ill be found ready to at -
of the feet specially at-
te and shop in the .res,r
store. All kinds of Vet -
constantly on hand.
229
11
J. G. BII L, L.D.S.,
"URGE , D &c., Seaforth
o. :Plate work, latest
atly executed. All sur-
ations performed 'with
ees as low as can be ob-
hours from S. A. M. to 5
G.- McDougall's Store,
270
Onta
stylea,' n
gical ope
care and promptitude.
tained else*here. Office
P. M. Rooms over Mr.
Main-st.
rr J. CHURCHILL, V
-a- • ber of the Ontario
to intimate that he has r
his professipn in Seafort
consulted on the diseas
Veterinary medicines c
calls promptly attended
House, Sealorth..
tarinary Surgeon., (mem-
eterinary Co)lege,) begs
turned to the practiee of
, au&may -at all times be
0.5!" Horses, Cattle, ece.
nstantly on hand. All
to. Oilice, at Mansion
278
rri A. 'SHARP'S LIVERYSiND SALE STABLES.
44" Office-7,kt Murray's Hotel, Seaforth. Good
Horses andifirst-class Coniveyances always onhand.
lgELL S IIVBRY STAELES, ShAFORTII, Ont.
Good Bfrses and Conitfortable Vehicles, always
on hand. Faorabie Mrangemcnts made with
Comnaerciarrravellers. 431 orders left at KNOX'S
HOTEL, Will be promptly ittended to.
OFFICE AIND STADLES —Tidrd door North el
Knox's Hotel, Main Stree
• 221 T11031/1i3S BELL, Proprietor.
EXTII.ACTI,NG T It'ETH WITHOUT
PA N.
tit! CART WRIGHT, L. D. S„ Surgeon Dentist-
\--'• attends in Seaforth, it Knox'e Hotel, the first
'Tuesday and Wednesday o each month; in Clinton,
at the Commercial Hotel, on the following Thurs-
days and Fridpys. The r mainder of the time at
his Stratford office.
Parties requiring new itieth are requested to call"
if at Seaforth and Clintoni, on tne first days a at-
tendance.
Testimonials of ever 500 patients who have had
their teeth extracted by the use of the Gas, may
be seen at my office office in Stratford.
Teeth inserted in the most substantial and im-
proved styles.
Filling done in gold, Ac., in a manner which
annot be surpassed. 287;
•
FRB
Dont I
me, bo
, .
yon,
Come hei
You're thi,
stead,
Don't bel
TT.ii:Eheeuoitwintytosinsa.il
,
YOU talk Oil
i They'ruli.
But ah, thel
If only yti
The merean
The gee&
tter risk I
I Don't be 1
,. i
he great, bi
And so Ini
But wealth i
. Don't be
The banker 1
. They takAl
A -h, think of
• DMAI be il
h
1 T e farm is
J The orcha
N ou are as :
tain,
And Men,
1 So stay on t
i
Though 141
!
ItemeMber til
Delft be t
A Capta
passengers 4)
ed, they had
—"D 01-17t
to any pne,
"If he don't
how does hel
—Out in
man down
his appearan
—An emb'
close observe
" Tinte mar
measured tr
day.'
.—Dobson
mined to giv
butcher, ba,k
but they put ;
of before it.
—Postal
general use t
ladies have ;
—It isn't a
their right n.
called. a eoac
and was info
he could not
lier pre.seriee
strangem
1100Sie
apolis &Wine
old impertine
--Quilt) an
tention the
you have me
the woman,
judgment."
choice in Ina
was informed
=A young
eently said
talking ahem
town—always-
and yet theY
while here we
po that ao
Eastern wome
—A -wretc
bright little
through a pie
when she and
into her moth
shone ireher e
beyond her
haven't forgo
—There is 1
to a Villagen
up a complime
hibition,
performers wI
_of the paper
News.
—Not Iong s
, took passage
'White .1,1ounta
I most perpendi
were apparent
; lowing dialOgu
, and the cond
.ti.u.etor, how do
'you want to rt
iltIadame, weal
•see there. -
!ductor, that
What would' yo
tqadante, we tb
ing brake, whi
-end of the ea
duetor,'suppos
euffiCient to ch.
We go then?
depends sotiri
lived in this wo
ed, but subaiAle
Priteedo
But who en
mond's private
portion of the
from it by a lig
the Prince an
heir apparent
-young wife, the
bridge and her
Teck, the Duke
mow) family An
ladies. The Pi
Ozarevnalook
Arnerican vivac
rather pretty,
wore a train d
trimmed with o;
evna and the Pr
the same dress
figure, and Vic
equally well.-
iiiiLk trillmed wi
from the colors
and were the
saw. The 'zart,
her sister, and,
(-irt/ti&ftc. he.
' rather stormy
will, They sa's
influence over
amiable sister ha
Hove both stat
rather live with
the princess. Ai
lies the atmospl
not only clogs bi
Reversing the
ezarOWitth to hi.
The Prince of N
mon and snobbis
-on his good beh '
of his knowing
fi-
th prince vome
four-in-han
unehes with