The Grinder Papers — page 240: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE GRINDER PAPERS. 235 "Twas a kind o’ an old-fashioned house, and back o’ the stairs was a big clothes-press. Miss Tibbs put winter things in it fur summer. 2 I opened the door o’ this, and sez I: ‘The silver is on a shelf in there, ef you'll look in.” In he goes, and that minnit I bangs the door tu, and locks 1t, and puts the key in my pocket. ‘*Hullo!” he hollers. © ‘‘What are you doing, old lady?” sez I, ‘‘I’m goin’ fur the perlice, you wicked wretch you. You thought you’d make a fool o’ me, did you? I’ve lived in York tu long fur that, you abominable larcening burgular.” Then I bolts the door in two places—fur it had bolts as well as keys—and knowed I had him safe. Then I sot out fura perlice. : I went without so much as puttin’ on a bunnit, and jest at the corner who should I meet but Mr. Tibbs. Some business had brung him home. ‘‘Heving has sent you, Mr. Tibbs,” sez I. ‘“Why, what's the matter?” sez he. Sez I, ‘‘Burgulars is in your house!” |”? ‘‘ Goodness gracious!” sez he. - ‘« They're locked up in the pantry, and I’m goin’ fur the per- lice,” sez I. ‘“‘Goodness gracious!” sezhe. ‘‘ How can I ever thank you, Miss Grinder ?” ‘*No occasion,’ b sez I. ‘‘ Merit is its own reward. I’m ob- ligated tu yer” Gomichboo <S (Elo)