WHO STOLE THE BRANDY?

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2625, 7 June 1877, Page 3

WHO STOLE THE BRANDY?

The Christchurch correspondent of the Daily Time's tells the following :—

Two gentlemen who happened to have taken up a temporary residence at one of the leading hostelries .of' this city were considerably exercised in their minds last week at the gradual diminution in their stock of superior brown brandy, and could in no way account for its disappearance. They accordingly set a plant to catch the base appropriator of the liquor. They went to a chemist and purchased a sufficient number, of grains of antimony to make about a quarter of a bottle of the ■brandy rather fetching in its results. ;They mixed the decoction, left the bottle in the usual place in the cupboard,.and retired for the night. Next morning on visiting the cupboard they were astonished to find the entire contents of the bottle missing. Knowing that the amount of antimony was supplied with a view of rendering one good " nip" out of the botthv certainly effective, they were not prepared to find that all three "nips", had gone, and most probably down the same aesbphagus. Soon after news was brought, to them that one of the waiters was taken- violently ill. They: rushed to the chemist, who-was aghast at hearing that all the antimony, was gone. A 1 Why," said he, "tW map will die." Docf ors were sent for, and antidotes given and ffter a very severe bout of it the, patient revived. The best part ; of the story is to cojae. The waiter, of course, received notice to leave, and the following morning was fixed as therdate of his departure., Our friends being perfectly satisfied at having discovered T;he purloiner of their brandy left the. bottle as . usual, never dreaming that the offender dare venture upon another dose., They wer~ mistaken. Next morning when they went_ to the cupboard they found (that the bottle had vanished !