DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22217#0244
232 THE ORGAN-GRINDERS MONEY-BAG.
it's not me alone he's wronged, but the owld paiple, that are
less able to bear it, and my sweet colleen, that would lay down
her life for me."
"Oh, but Mr M'Govan will soon run him down," observed
the lame man, hopefully.
I was not so sure of that, for, supposing the thief to be
Poulson, that worthy had already got three days' start. As yet,
however, I was by no means certain that there had been any
thief in the case. When I had got from the organ-grinder a
description of the land of houses in which he lived, I found
that it was one well known to me as one of the ricketiest
buildings in the quarter, and I quickly formed a theory, from
his description of the place and circumstances, that seemed to
offer the only feasible explanation. He had thrust the bag of
money into a hole inside the chimney ; that hole might have
been deeper than he thought; might have led into another
chimney ; and so, in thrusting in the treasure, it was possible
he might have sent it tumbling down, like a gift from heaven,
into some wretched abode beneath. I said little of this idea
at the moment, but anxiety to test the matter induced me to
go with the queer pair to the organ-grinder's garret. It was a
poor place, and very small. There was a bed at one side, and
a window jutting out on the slates. This window was fastened
with two thick screw nails on the inside, and had not been
opened for years. I tried with all my strength to open it, but
it did not yield in the slightest. The place was very tidy and
clean, considering that no woman ever got within the door. I
turned to the fire-place, beside which stood a square board
very much papered over on one side, but showing clean white
wood and two cross spars on the other. This fitted the fire-
place exactly. Directed by the organ-grinder I reached up in-
side the fire-place and soon touched a recess in the wall of the
chimney. It was a mistake to call it a hole-; it was a mere
ledge in the wall on which a bag of money might have rested
easily, but in which it could scarcely be said to be hidden.
There was no soot in the chimney, and my fingers were not
even soiled by the inspection. My theory, of course, was
completely knocked on the head, but I immediately formed
another.
Looking up the chimney I could see daylight at quite a
short distance above. The vent was nearly straight till near
the fire-place, where it widened considerably. The organ-
grinder was positive that the strange door of his safe and its
it's not me alone he's wronged, but the owld paiple, that are
less able to bear it, and my sweet colleen, that would lay down
her life for me."
"Oh, but Mr M'Govan will soon run him down," observed
the lame man, hopefully.
I was not so sure of that, for, supposing the thief to be
Poulson, that worthy had already got three days' start. As yet,
however, I was by no means certain that there had been any
thief in the case. When I had got from the organ-grinder a
description of the land of houses in which he lived, I found
that it was one well known to me as one of the ricketiest
buildings in the quarter, and I quickly formed a theory, from
his description of the place and circumstances, that seemed to
offer the only feasible explanation. He had thrust the bag of
money into a hole inside the chimney ; that hole might have
been deeper than he thought; might have led into another
chimney ; and so, in thrusting in the treasure, it was possible
he might have sent it tumbling down, like a gift from heaven,
into some wretched abode beneath. I said little of this idea
at the moment, but anxiety to test the matter induced me to
go with the queer pair to the organ-grinder's garret. It was a
poor place, and very small. There was a bed at one side, and
a window jutting out on the slates. This window was fastened
with two thick screw nails on the inside, and had not been
opened for years. I tried with all my strength to open it, but
it did not yield in the slightest. The place was very tidy and
clean, considering that no woman ever got within the door. I
turned to the fire-place, beside which stood a square board
very much papered over on one side, but showing clean white
wood and two cross spars on the other. This fitted the fire-
place exactly. Directed by the organ-grinder I reached up in-
side the fire-place and soon touched a recess in the wall of the
chimney. It was a mistake to call it a hole-; it was a mere
ledge in the wall on which a bag of money might have rested
easily, but in which it could scarcely be said to be hidden.
There was no soot in the chimney, and my fingers were not
even soiled by the inspection. My theory, of course, was
completely knocked on the head, but I immediately formed
another.
Looking up the chimney I could see daylight at quite a
short distance above. The vent was nearly straight till near
the fire-place, where it widened considerably. The organ-
grinder was positive that the strange door of his safe and its