The Worthington advance., 1880-10-21

not! She put her hand to her bosom.
Her pocket-book s0as gone. She made
the discovery, and announced it with
q little scream, and then q success
sion of shrieks.
The attention of oil the passengers
was excited, and the gallant conductor
came running to the rescue. expecting
to find the lady in an epileptic fit.
"Oh, oh! It is gone He has got
it,! she cried, in perfect agony.
| ."What is it, madam?" The con-
ductor did not ask the question very
PLEASANTLY
"He has stolen my poclzet-book I"
she cried.
"Who, madam?'
"He-that fellow-that pickpocketr
indicating the astonished gentleman,
who had leaned over the seat, looking
mildly at the young lady.
(Which gentleman % asked the con-
ductor, not at all pleased with the dis
| turbance.
"That man p Jennie cried. "Dont
let him get off! He has got my money!
had it in my bosom, and he stole it!
Search him Get it!
"Madam, " the conductor said, cit is
impossible"
He's got it, an you know it !" the
girl demonstrated. "You're in league
with him, I know! Oh. dear; wont
somebody help me?"
and poorJennie burst into n paroxysm
| Of tears.
The conductor looked ioubtfully ut
the accused gentleman, who Immediate
ly said:
'' If the lady thinks 1 have her pock-
ct-hook, I am willing that yo1. should
search me, conductor
The search followed. The gentleman
regarded the conductor with a uuizzical
| expression on his face, as he emptiel
first one pocket, then another. The
! passengers regarded the proceeding with
amused faces. Jennie anxiously
watched every movement. The pocket
hook was not fonnd.
80 dear, dear !" Jennie cried. "What
shall do?''
Madam" the conductor said. ";t
VAS, no doubt, the young man who oc-
cnpiel a part OF this seat that deprived
You Of your pocket-book p
"What!" Jennie exclaimed, looking
up through her tears. "What! you do
not think he stole it? No, sir that was
Mr.. Alexander Lawrence, from New
York."
"Indeel!' the conductor returned.
"And who is hep"
Jennie was nettled.
"He is one of the incest Of men," she
| answered.
"Did you ever see him before?'
"What if I didn't?
Madam, you will find him to he the
thief. By the way, do you know who
this gentleman is that you have accused
Of theft ?"
mo"
" 1t is no other than Rev. DR.. S.,
"f New York. -
Jennie turned deadly pale. What had
size done? The name Of Rev. DIR. s.
had often met her eye, and she had
thought Of him as one of the great men
ct the United States. Confusion pos
ssssed her soul, but her natural frank
ness came to her rescue. The conduc-
tor had gone on down the aisle, and,
acting on an impulse of her better
nature, she leaned forward.
"Dr. S. she said, quietly. II
| beg your pardon for what did"
The reverend gentleman smiled
blandly.
" am glad that you are satisfied of
my Innocence" he mischievously said,
and added: "Did you lose a large
s,lm?"
Zone hundred dollars, SIR
"That is, indeed, a great loss," DR..
s. remarked, courtcously, "but
think if you act on the conductors ad-
vice YOU may recover it."
DO You think Mr.. Lawrence took
| it %
A namcless fear seized Jennie's mind.
<" think it probable, madam" DR..
s. answered. Just think it all
over and make your conclusions"
Els manner was so kindly that Jennie
felt herself ashamed. Gradually there
dawned Oh her mind the idea that Alex
ander Lawrence was not onl y fraud
but tiirt and a hypocrite. It is easy
for New England girl to arrive at
conclusion. The fire flashed to her eyes,
and with the rushing of the blood came
a sense Of hatred for the man in whom
she had so foolishly confded, and whom
she now regarded as an impostor. A
feeling of faintness came over her.
80 dear, what shall I do?" was all
she could say.
The kind heart of DR.. S. was
touched, and he interested himself in the
young lady, inqu1ring into all of the par
ticulars. When Jennie spoke of her par
ents and her home tender chord was
touched in the clergyman's heart. He
advised her to leave the cars at the next
station, return to Worcester, and there
put the case in the hands of the police.
Jennie consented to the plan, and, great
ly to hersurprise and pleasure, DR.. s.
volunteered to accompany and assist
her.
Fortunately the up-traln was met at
the next station, and Jennie, with DIR.
s., left the one train to take the
other. The excited girl felt ashamed of
her position, and divided her anger be-
tween Alexander Lawrence and the au-
thor who had dared picture q pick
pocket as a man with black beard.
wearing n suit Of conventional black.
No longer did she distrust DR.. s..
When they reached Worcester DR..
s. sought the chief of police, and the
result Of the matter was that Nh. Alex
;'Hdcr Lawrence was soon in the hands
oi the law. The missing pocket-book
was not found on his person, but an in
dictment was procured against him, and
after an examination he was admitted to
bail. In the strongest terms he depre-
Gated the accusation, alleging that he
was "only firting."
DR.. S. felt confident that the thief
had been secured, and was equally sure
that, with the conductors evidence, he
w"nll be convicted. He took Jennie to
II hotel, and, with assurances of hope,
babe her goodnight.
The poor affrighted girl threw herself
into chair, and gave vent to her grief
in an outburst of tears. She felt that
her money was lost, Boston an impossi-
bility, and disgraceful return to Perry
vile certainty. In the agony Of her
sorrow she frantically pulled of her hat
and threw it from her--when out rolled
the lost pocket-book
Jennie now remembered inlistinctly
I l>,A IL. H.