Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-09

elbowing right and LEFT, and hurrying on at lit
tie less than his usual brisk pace. He had pro-
Gee ded in this way, getting q good many anery
looks, and some very uneomplimentaryremarz 3,
10 which he paid no manner of heed until he
reached point where the crush was densest
Here he was jostled about somewhat rudeiy, in
spite Of his endeavors to forge ahead unchecked
He began TO feel q little angry at what seemed
the unnecessary amount OF hustling he received,
and was pushing on rather unceremoniously
When he was Suddenly grasped by a man, to the
full as powerful n himself, who cried out
You have got my watch! Police! Police!
STOP thief! Police!'
rang above all the murmurs of the crowd, and
Dick in fury Of rage turned upon him Ike q
tiger;
Let me go. Let me 60, Isay,''
He struggled fercely, but the man who seized
him by the shoulder had him at disadvantage
and continued to shout:
Police, Help! help, Stop thier-
In moment three or four men had hold OF
Mr.. Strong. who fought and raved in his wrath
and indignation, and then two policemen ap-
into custody.
There you scanp-now we've got your
cried the man in triumph
Dick glaTed at him. almost SPECIFICS with an
ger, though he managed to say to the policemen:
You surely don't intend TO take ME into Gus
tody on the charge of that msniae?"
Indeed we do, my good man, and yOa M ght
a. well come along peaceably."
Now if there was one thing that more than
another Dick Strong despised. il was any boast
ing of position, OF family, or money. He had
always declared that "peOple would know a ms N
was gentleman without any need OF telling
them So" and that cit wasn't any consequence
what man we're if he only behaved himself"
He had hattered himself that he looked, despite
the roughness OF his dress. too much the we'll
bred gentleman ever to be doubted, and yet
here were these two policemenlcalling him - NJ Y
good man, hustlipg him along, and no way 20
get out of the scrape but to try To convince
them that he was not a common thief
Thus the unfortunate bridegroom was pulled
through the crowd, people staring at him, the
policemen holding him fast by the arms, and
his captor following close at his heels, giving
vent to feelings OF enjoyment in occasional ex-
CARNATIONS of q" Scoundrel.'" Scamp" But
he conldnt come it over me-" &c. Goaded at
last beyond endurance, Dick suddenly turned
upon him:
But 1 havn't got your watch, tell you.
before accusing an honest man in this way"
80 None of that now" said the policeman
roughly; " Come along quietly"
We'll see!-wen see!" shouted the tormen-
And thus was Dick led along. q miserable
captive. Men looked curiOusly at him as they
passed, women drew back in horror from the
criminal. Never had poer Strong so lOnged for
the face of an acquaintance, but none met him
1t was growing dark, and was not an hour when
any one he knew likely to be out In the side
they reached the station house For some little
distance Dick had been quite silent; and re-
covering from his rage, had tried to think what
il might he best for him to do. Onse IN the
dirty room of detention fresh cause for anger
speedily arose. The robbed man, who gave his
name as John CLARK, showed as a very respect
ably-dressed person when in the light, and dis
PLAYED the dangling end of a handsome watch
chain. from which the watch had been wrestled.
The ring was a little worm" he said, land
broke with the re-. pull, feif 1t ana saw the hand
gloved, like his pointing 70 Dick, who usual
was ungoved. al turned round quickly and
caught him. Now see if you don't find the
ITS all an infamous lie" said Dick. " What
should want of his beggarly watch?'
.. The prisoner had better be quiet and let
himself be searched" replied the police captain.
"Search me and welcome replied Dick, pull
ing OF his overcOat, thereby bringing in view his
handsome dress suit.
The men looked at each other in surprise. Il
didn't think he was.a swel-cOve," said one; .'he
looked like the common kind"
Mr.. Strong now drew out his own watch.
which was an elegant chrOnometer. :. Here"
said he to his captor, ''why should man want
to rob you when he has such a time-piece as
that?''
alt was stolen too, I've no doubt" replied
Mr.. Clark, imperturbably.
Dick nearly fell into a rage again. - You're
an incorrigible old fool, }" said he.
prisoner will please be careful said the
officer, sternly. Nov, sir, what i. your name?''
Richard Strong"
% Residence
coax Mn Farm, Aleghany county, New
York"
A shade OF surprise crossed the oficer'. face
g. he asked Occupation''
Farmer
just then Dick. who still had his watch,
orened IL, and uttered cry OF hOrror-it Wa,
"For Gods sake, be quck with this farce
he said. earnestly. g. I have a most important
engagement, and It is already past the hour"
Mr.. Clark smiled contemporary.
"I'm afraid ysu'll have to put it off, he said.
.'You do not seem to understand the gravity of
the charge, Mr.. Strong" said the captain. OH
GERS Smith and Brown will please search the
With what grace he could muster, Dick sub
mitted to the search; it was long and tedious
ahdresulted, OF course, in nothing. Strong was
boiling over with Indignation and impatence,
but had to put up with it; and as it CHANGED,
from the fact of his having on new clothes, she
pockets were nearly empty, he had hardly any
truth OF his assertions about himself. His linen
WAS, indeed, marked with his name, and the
men were convinced that their culprit was by
rank gentleman, whether the charge made
against him was true or not. When he was
brought back into the large room. Clark sprans
forward eagerly.
did you find the watch?''
No, Of course they didn't" replied Dick.
The mans couptenance fell.
"Then he must have nung it away when 1
why. do you still think 1 stole it:'' de-
..Of course you did; saw you take it,
Dick turned away from him, without reply
TO the captain, 80 Now, sir, hope you will lie,
me CO."
NO, Mr.. Strong. We cannot do that while
this man swears to this charge against yOu."
This was more than Dick had expected, and
his reserve broke down. " But, Captain, you
must let me go-why, this is my wedding.night
and must CO."
"That's likely story .aid Clark, with
sneer.
May / ask who you are to marry" asked
the officer, looking rather incredulOus.
" was awfully against Dicks ideas but he had
to say. - A daughter OF Mr. John Weldon"
=. Not Weldon OF Weldon and Grey"
Yes"
ooh that's too much" cried the inexpressible
Clark, las II he would look at such fellow as
you''
Dicks anger famed ont again, but he began
to find there was use in displaying it, and adj
dressed himself especially 10 the captain. To
him he was very august. saying ali he could TO
prove that his statements were true-perhaps
TOO, he displayed some of the greenbacks that
were plentiful in his purse-be that as il NAV,
he succeeded at last in persuading the officer to
allow a message to be dispatched TO Mr.. We'll
don, and finally one of the policemen departed
with hastily scrambled note.
By the time he reached Mr.. Weldon's, il was
after ten O'Clock; the uncomfortable guests
there assembled, had begun to think they had
better go home, as there would be no wedding
that night, and the clergyman. who had pa Sseej