Betrayed by a Bird.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 50

Betrayed by a Bird.

A trifle sometimes leads to the detection of a fault or crime. A theatrical musician owned an ebony flute with silver keys ; he valued it highly, but as one of the upper notes was defective he seldom used it. A young man lodged with the musician, and between the two a close friendship ex'sted.

One night the ebony flute disappeared, having no doubt, be- n sto'en Suspicion fell on several persons, but nothing could be proved against any of them Not long afterwards the lodger went to live in a town a few miles off, but as the friendship between the men still existed they occasionally visited each other

Nearly a year afterwards the musician paid his friend a visit, and was pleased to find him in possession of a beautiful bullfinch, which could distinctly whistle three tunes. The performance was perfect with this exception, that whenever he came t > a certain high note ho invariably skipped it and went on to the next

A little reflection convinced the musician that the note in which the bullfinch was imperfect was the deficient one on his lost flute. So convinced was he that he immediately sharply questioned his ex-lodger on the subject. He at once tremblingly confesssd his guilt, and that all the bird knew had been taught him on the stolen instrument.