, 1877-11-17

HOW a SMART THIEF WENT THROUGH HELLEl
THE PRESrIDIrIGArEuR.

( y fsN N,
THE PRESrIDIrIGATEuR
In the cars with MIR. Heller and friend,
in Boston, the other day, were soms bali
dozen people, among them an estimable old
lady who had evidently been doing her mar.
keting, for she carried basket on her lap,
containing groceries, vegetables and in par
ticular a large quantity Of eggs. Mr.. Heller
sat down beside the old lady, and for few
minutes nothing of moment happened. Mr..
Heller then stopped down and picked up
two eggs from the floor, and handing them
to the old lady, remarked that she was losing
them. Tho old lady. a little surprised,
thanked the polite gentleman andeverything
again relapsed into silence. In > few mo-
ments repetition of the scene. The old
lady wondered how it was, she hadn't no.
tieed the eggs fall, and wondered stu more
| when Mr.. Heller thirl time picked up sev-
eral eggs, which he insisted had dropped
| from the basket This SO puzzled the Old
lady that she got UP. and. taking the eggs
out OF the basket she laid them on the seat,
and, taking out the vegetables in the same
manner, put the eggs back and the other
articles on top of them, and then sat dows
again. Mr.. Heller then leaned over to
gentleman who Vas ON the other side Of the
| old lady. and remarked auhibly:
Il saw you do that. It's wrong"
What do you mean sir-what's wrongY
said the gentleman addressed rather indig-
liant at being spoken to in this way.
lyon shouldn't have taken those eggs
f'he old lady turned towards the gentle
man. and looked at him very suspiciousiy,
while the other answered with great gravity.
Arc You mad, sir. l took NO eggs"
But saw you, said Heller
BY this time the attention Of the other
passengers in the car was directed u the
conversation.
1T is false - exclaimed the one accused.
evidently feeling very uncomfortable.
This is too mnch sir, when l say ssW
you," said Heller, and with that he rose,
and passing before the old lady, who looked
half frightened and half angry, and stood
before the gentleman accused.
'.What do You say to that" said Heller,
taking from the mar's overcoat pocket two
eggs, and handing them to the old lady,
land that, taking two mere from the other
pocket
Lord, o Lord, who would 4 thought it,"
said the old lady.
The gentleman from whose pockets the
eggs had been taken rose from his seat and
stood opposite Heller. saying:
Il don't understand this; perhaps We can
| find some more.
No doubt can," said Heller, putting
his hand In a side pocket and taking out
three eggs, two more from his hat and >
couple from bis trousers. Thus occupied
severa. minutes, and as Heller proceeded
very deliberately and slowly, to the evident
surprise and Indignation of the other occu-
pants of the car. 'And here, look here.
continued Heller, taking box of spices
ssoln the mans HIND pocket
'Put that man off the car, said somebody.
The car was stopped, and the man on
whom all this had been played waited fcr NO
further Developments, and bolted through
the car as fast as his legs could carry him.
| The old Lady confounded herself in thanks
to Mr. Heller and said she wOnld never have
suspected-hOw such a nice looking gentle
man, etc Mr. Heller's friend whispered to
somebody next to him, however, and pretty
soon everybody In the car was laughing, tbs
old lady being the only one who remained ip
! ignorance that this was one Of Mr.. HellerS
Jokes
By-and-by they reached Cambridge. and
Mr.. Heller and his friends got off As they
were walking along. the friend said he
thought he had noticed that Mr.. Heller bad
pin in his scarf.
| ESQ have" said Mr. Heller, and he felt
for the pin, but no pin was there. -COul4
have put it in my pocket," and he search
ed in his vest. .tHalloot" he EXCLAIMED,
''whercs the money! and hs nesva.asiy
sought through all his pockets. ''Sold. by
| JOve."
Mr.. Heller was minus cameo scarf
s2S in hills and geld match box. He had
for once struck tile wrong man. who, while
! Heller had been going through him, had beep
quietly going through Heller. Strange 70
say, when Mr.. Heller got back to Boston he
mentioned the incident to nobody. and en-.
Joined strict secrecy on lis friend. AL, ,of
which. shows that it takes two to play
! Joke, and that biters are sometimes bitten
| Dramatic Ne,rs.
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