The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-01-04
"LITTLE JINKS."
BY A LONDON DETECTIVE.

BY A LONDON DETECTIVE.
l never could be harsh with any one
having real love for his mother;
more, the moment that l saw that his
case was deserving one, was ready
to exert myself to the utmost to help
him out of the mire My own mother
had hard struggle to keep her harum-
scarum boy in order; but sooner than
cause a tear to gather in her eye, l
would have chopped off my right hand.
She was my idol whom 1 used to wor-
ship in secret; and many time, when
she thought me fast asleep, 1 have been
peeping out from under the blankets,
watching her sewing, and wishing that
l were strong enough and big enough
to work for her myself. But let me ex-
plain. l received the following note
one morning as l entered the office:
81 missed my purse when reached
home, so my pocket must have been
picked somewhere between the Mansion
House and Finsbury Square,
This brief communication was signed
by well known banker, jolly old
bachelor, living in Finsbury Square.
He was little man, and inclined to be
fat; but he had large warm heart
as [ had discovered long beforehand
seemed to live in q kind of genial at
mosphere, liked by every body and en-
We'd by none. I even felt momentary
surprise that thief had found it in his
heart to victimize such man.
oil 30
ensued:
cit is not so much the money that
concerns me-" he said; "though the
loss of that would be serious to a poor
man, but in the inner pocket | had
slowed away some papers and an odd
memorandum which shall miss very
much. If you just get me them, YOU
can let the poor wretch keep the
money"
This proposal was against all law and
order, and he must have known it; but
| had to remind him of the fact.
All, yes, l know" he said, in his
quick way, with merry smile. "It's
against the law, of course, but you de-
tectlves can easily stretch point when
you have mind to-; and, beside, I only
throw out the hint. Get the contents
OF the inner pocket-the rest also, if
you can"
"You did not feel yourself tugged or
Jostled anywhere on your way home p''
"No, felt nothing, and did not miss
the purse until / came here.
After eliciting all the facts could in
connection with the matter, I returned
to the office, determined to work with a
will to trace his purse and it's contents.
But l did not even hear of it. No one
among my numerous acquaintance
seemed particularly flush of money: the
empty purse was not picked up any,
where or brought in; and began to
fear that it had left London, and the
thief with it.
In this, however, was mistaken.
A little before 10 O'Clock next morn
ing, while we were chatting away, a
slim morsel of boy made his appear
ance, with his eyes all red-and swelled
with crying, and asked if this was the
detective office. We all started round
and gazed at the little intruder. The
strangest thing about him was his
"skinnyness ''-he was mere shadow
OF boy, though he had a progressing
little face, in spite of the clearing eff
feet of the crying.
Being answered in the affirmative. he
remained a moment silent, during which
I could see, by the quivering of his lip,
that he was struggling hard to appear
manly and firm while making his next
speech; he then suddenly produced the
purse of Mr.. S., the banker, and
hastily got out the words:
"If you please, I'm a thief-and nv
mother is dead-and I've come for you
to put me in jail"
He was choking and shaking all over
as he got the words out, but it was no
use. A binding rush of tears cane to
his eyes, and the heavy purse dropped
at his feet.
There was strange silence in the
room. Nobody rushed forward with a
pair of handouts, or grasped him by
the collar to hustle him off to cell.
He was so small-so forlorn and pitt
Unlocking.
1 touched aim gently on the shoulder.
"Whatss your name!" l asked but
was not prepared for the change the