The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-09-20
A.9NAKE 8TORYs
A Tola ~ = Very Conscientious
Young MAN.


A. rola ~ . very Csnsciensious
Young MAN.
Beware of pickpocketsp repeated
, benevolent old gentleman as he
glanced at . placard posted in the car
in which he was riding. Dear me,
how >sadthat such . warning should be
necessary In . Christian landp
Yes, sir said . young man next to
him; but its best to be careful, for
there may be pickpockets on this very
Car. I know al about that sir. I've
been rescued from the lowest depths.
1 was . pickpocket once, SIR
Dear me- said the old gentleman,
starting.
I'm respectable person, now. Yes,
sir, Pm very respectable. Ask any
body about Jim Tilks, and they'll tell
you that; but I was brought up .
thief. I was born among thieves, and
took to the trade naturally, and used
to pick pockets when was ten years
old. You needn't look at yours. If
you please, sir, I've been converted
sure, and 60 to meeting regular. You
could trust me with untold gold
now
But - said, I was . thief, and I
might have been one yet If it hadn't
beep. for what happened ct Rickady
Station, where I was sitting waiting
for any old lady's riticule, or any for
getful persons parcel. or even an um-
brells or pocket handkerchief that
might be dropped by chance. For
folks that are anxious about getting
on the right trains at the right time.
and nobody to do anything but snub
'em, which IL what the officials are
apparently paid to do, amt ~ careful
Of their portable property as they
would be otherwise. When I was .
wicked sinner used to take advan-
tage OF that you know. You couldn't
bribe me to do it now-oh, no.
But - i said / was lounging around
there, and in came . gentleman with
. long basket. 1t was the curiousest
basket / ever saw. Had two handles
and paddock. Never saw such bAs-
ket There was cord about it. too.
He put it down in the corner as he
looked for his pocket-book, and he
spoke to . gentleman who was stand
ing near; and seemed to know him.
"Got it, he said, and it's cost me
enough. 1 can tell you. But I wanted
it for the collection-couldn t do with
out It So proud Of it brought it
along myself Whewl fiye minutes
only, and I haven't any ticket" and he
rushed toward the Office.
The other man looked ct the basket
. minute and then walked away, and
that was my time. crept up to the
basket and took it up and walked
away in another direction. Nobody
noticed me. I didn't run, Of course.
I just went ont of the station and
down under The trees, and what 1
meant to do was to take the yaluables
out Of It and leave Il there.
I'D made up my mind that it was
something very valuable, but what it
could be I-couldnt guess, took of
the cords first and then took the
key that hung beside the paddock and
unlocked that and lifted the cover q
little, Just then there was . noise,
and / turned my head.
when I found it was nothing to be
afraid Of turned back. I opened the
cover wider and peeped in, but there
was nothing there, the basket was
empty-not thing in It.
"Why, gracious me' says 1; only
not in them words-I was . wicked
sinner then-'What does this mean
An empty basketl and what did he
mean BY talking of its being valuable +?
and there I was running q risk for
nothing.
"A risk. I was done for, for nothing
for there were the police after me at
least big arm went round my waist
all of . sudden like, and when / jerk
ed it only held me closer; and what
was that-another arm?
We'll, sir; thought I would Just
give up that minute, for. there and then
/ knew that what was twisting about
me was something worse than even q
arm to such - was then.
1t was . snake-a great snake-the
kind they have in menageries. Boa
constrictors-yes, sir, that was the
kinda boa constructor; and now 1
the face of the gentle
man who had the basket. He was a
man. I'd stolen . basket
with snake in it, and II had clipped
out when I opened the cover, and now
it had me.
Tight sir, was NO word for It. II
was twisted about me until 1 had very
little breath left, but with what I did
have 1 set up yell, Would you be-
lisve 1t sir, the person that heard me
was that menagerie man /; he was look
ing for his snake, suppose.
Bless my heart, says he, when he
saw me, bless my heart. Well, the
biter's bit, If It ever happened. You
stole the basket, my friend, and ont of
it came the thief-catcher. No, keep
still. Don't move for your life. There
10 just one chance for you.'
Says /. hurry, please I'm choking
He did hurry. He took bottle
put of his pocket, and out of another
ae took kind Of folding cup and
opened it Then he poured something
from the bottle into the cup.
sCMilk, SAVE he Sc mas <n,~x Ii