Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-08-09
Ny Pickpocket,

i
pockets. They positively swarm on
the lines of railroad Why, every
: station house on every road in the
land has its sign up. Berars Of piok
, pockets. Miss Borey with expressive
foreiinger traced in the sir the legend
of the sign as if it were visibly on the
wall before her, "tAey know what
they are about. those railroad men.
Why, there was Miss Newcome, only
the other day, had herpocket picked
in just coming from Yonkers; and
when it was done she could not tell
to save her; all she knew was that q
most genteel and well-appearing msn
shared her seat with her, who was
no doubt the thief. 1t was always
the nicest-looking, meelest, most
elegantly dressed men who are the
likekest to be pick pockets, Miss
HoE4rd-always. Oh, they are so
agreeable! and before you know it
your purse is gone, too. Why, it is
not week since my friend Mrs.
Cadd, of Port Jervis, was robbed Of
her pocket book in that long dark
tunnel in Jersey City by the incest
appearing young man you ever sam
He held her little girl on his knee
and gave her nuts and was mighty
agreeable; and when they went into
that tunnel he picked Mrs. Cadd's
pocket of every cent see had, and
got of before she suspected him
Why, bless me, Miss Howard"-I
with energy--"you have to go
through that very tunnel. don't you?
Well, be very careful Of your port
monnaie, that's all; if you don't you
may be sorry you didn't heed the
words Of one who knows. Beware
Of polite and genteel young men!
particularly if they are good looking;
| always do; | make them keep their
distance, / promise you"
This harangue was delivered by
Miss Borey one day last June, snd
that night l dreamed 1 was robbed /!
and choked and thrown out Of the |
car window in that dark tunnel, by |
the hsndsomest man / ever saw. with |
great beautiful eyes and the air and |
manner OF a prince.
The hustle of departure next morn |
ing did not drive these thoughts quite |
out ofmy mind. / had no sooner
got across the river and taken my
seat in the car than glanced out Of
the window and saw that staring pla-
card
BEWARE OF PICE-PoCKETS."
1t seemed as if the train would
never start. / had come over in an
early boat, so as to make sure Of a
good seat, and hence had half an
hour more to wait. Look which way
l would, could not get my atten>
ton off that black lettered plscard.
My eyes would in spite of me, wan
der back to it every other minute,
and read it again, until it settled it's
shadow over me like q night mare.
In desperation 1 would shut my eyes:
but | could not shut out that placard.
There it was, and multiplied by tens.
l opened book and essayed to read.
In vain; / could not settle my mind
on any thing but the nineteen letters
that spelled those three words of
They began to tumble
up in my mind in the /
most sgravating way, till my head
ached with their mad freaks: Beware
beware pickpockets - pickets--
Observation-Disclosures - be-
neutrality-suspicious.
"BEwARE or PIcKPocKErs?"
And back my eyes would 60 as If
The thing was fascinating melt q
snake and l q bird. |
On dear, how tired / grew OF it.
1t was great relief when, just as
The conductor called out AN aboard
4 good looking young man cane up
to me with shawl over his arm, and
said, in respectful tone, |,
"Will you allow me to occupy this
seat, madam"
The car wss crowded. Irenored
my travelling bag from the phce at ,
my side and he seated himsslf by !,
me. He said nothing to me, bit took
the morning paper from his pocket ,
aud readit.
Men say that women Jump 1t con. |
clusions-that their judgment is al
together intuitive, and that they can
never give reason for the belief that
is in them. can give you, respect ,
ed Sirs, more than one reason for ,
ny belief that the man at my ide was J
a pickpocket.
First, although well dressed, he
wore q peculiar psir Of black panta. !
looms with narrow white stripes In
them. Second, his hands weie white 4
khouoh tbsv looked psrvo,~fw rnus ,