The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-05-25
Il SN4KE SIORY.


pacard posted in the car in which he vas
riding. 'Dear me, how sad that such a
warning should be necessary in Christian
land ~
yes, sir' said the young man next
him, ''but it's best to be careful for there
may be pckpo3kets in this very car. |
know all about that, sir. I've been rescued
from the lowest depths. l was a pick
pocket once, SIR
Dear me-" said the old gentleman,
starting.
I'm a respectable person now. Yes.
sir I'm very respectable ask anybody
about Jim Till1s and they'll tell you that;
but was brought up thief. | was born
among thieves, aud took TO the trade natu
rally, and | used to pick pockets when |
was ten years old. You needn't look at
yours, if you please, sir. I've been con-
verted since, and go to meeting regular
ou could trust me with untold gold now.
But | said, | was thief, aud |
might have been one yet if it hadn't been
Tor what happened at Rickady station,
where | was sitting waiting for any old
lady's re;icule, or any forgetfui PERSONS
| parcel, or even an umbrella, or "A pocket
! handkerchief. as might be dropped by
! chance. For folks that's anxious about
! gettin' on the right train at the right time
and nobody to do anything but snub em,
which is what the officials are apparently
paid to do, amt as careful of their portable
| property as they would be otherwise. When
| L was wicked sinner, | used to take ad-
| vantage of that, you know. You couldn't
! brIbe me to do ii DOw-oh, no.
But as | said, | was a-lounging about
| there, and III came a gentleman with q
! long basket. 1t was the curiousest basket
/ ever saw. Had two handles and pad
/ lock. Never saw such a basket. There
! was a cord about it, too. He put it down
! tl.a.- L..
! book. and he spoke TO a gentleman who
was standing near, and seemed TO know
him.
"'GOti it, he said, 'and its cost me enough,
! | can tell you, but | wanted il for the col
! lection-couldn't do without it. So proud
of it | brought it along myself Whew !!
! five minutes only, and haven't my ticket
! and he rushed toward the office.
he other man looked at the basket n
minute and then walked away, and that
was my time. | crept up to the basket and
! took 1t up and walked away in another d-
J rection. Nobody noticed me. | didn't
. run, Of course. / just went ont of the station
! aud down under the tree, and what | meant
to do was to take the yaluables out of the
| basket and leave it there.
Il made up my mind that it was some
| thing very valuable, but what it could be
! | couldn't guess. | took off :he cord first
and then took the key that hung beside
! the paddock and unlocked that, and lifted
up the cover 1t little. just then there was
"A noise and turned my head.
"When | found it was nothing to be
afraid of, l turned back. | opened the
cover wider and peeped in but there was
nothing there, the basket was empty not
thing i'll it,
why, gracious me = says I only not
! in them woiSls-i was a wicked sinner then
what does this mean? An empty basket I.
And what did lie mean 10y talking of its
| being valuable?' And there was /, running
| Il risk for nothing.
| "A risk, Why, was done for, for moth
| ing for here were the police after me at
| least, big arm went around my wal ist, all
| of a sudden like and when ieIked it only
+ held me closer and what was that--auoth-
} CT arm?
| ''Well, sir, l thought should just give
/ up that minute, for there and then knew
| that what was twisting bout me some
! thing worse than even a polceman'S arm
| to such as | was theu.
| at was snakc-a great snake-the kind
! they put i'll mcnageries. Boa -coEstrctor-
! yes, sir-that was the kinda boa constric-
/ tor; aud now ] remembered the face of the
! gentleman who had the basket-he was the
nenngeiie man. I'd stolen a basket with
a snake in it, and it had slipped out when
opened the cover, and now it had me-
Tight, sir, was no word. 1t was twisted
! around me until | had very little breath
/ left, but with what did have | set up a
! yell, Would you believe it, sir, the first
! person that heard me was that menagerie
man he was looking for his snake, | sup
| pose.
"'Bless my heart, says lie, when he saw
me-'bless my heart. Well, the bitter bit,
| if ever it happened. You stole the basket,
my friend, auu out of it came the thief
catcher. Now keep still; don't move for
your life. There's just one chance for
you
Says L; Hurry, please, sir; Tn
clokin.'
"He did hurry. He took a bottle ont Of
his pocket, and out of another he took
kind of folding cup, and opened it out.
Then he poured something from the bottle
into the cup,
"'Mill, says he; ft may tempt him
away; if not, say your prayers, friend :
and tell you that was an anxious moment
for me.
'At first thought he bad done fer me,
FOR the snake only seemed 20 twist tighter
bat in minute the head looked out to-
wards the cup and felt him drop off and
saw him coiled about ;lIe. milk cup. | dd't
wait to see him fed.
''But it was lesson to me. 1t put an
end to my course Of wickedness. This is
my station, sir. Good afternoon. There
isn't a more respectable or more honest
young man than l am living now. Good
afternoon
Then lie was off.
IT'S very curious story" said the old
gentleman-''veyy. But he's evidently
very conscientious young man now"
He put his hand i'll his pocket for his
pocket-hauCkerchief. 1t was gone-so
was his purse. They had gone with the
conscientious young man.