St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1881-10-22
A DECOY FOR THIEVES.

serted piazza of the big hotel a
Coney island. Toe day had beer
insutferably hot, aud Il fairly coo
breeze had set in. Turning to the
bartender | remarked that / felt like
dropping asleep in my chair and re-
naming in the open air all night
He laughed. You'd be cleaned
out in half an hour, he said. "Youl
watch and chain would be on a
Chatham street shelf before noon
Tomorrow. Idon't know where all
the thieves come from. but let man
go to sleep IN dark seat anywhere
on Coney Island. and thief will ap-
parently rise right ont of the sand
and go through him"
One word brought on another,
and the barkeeper finally proposed
to fish for thieves. We padded his
Sunday suit. put out the lights, and
placed it on chair. An immense
brass curb chain fell in a yellow fes-
toon from pocket in the waistcoat.
At distance the image looked like
u hearty old gentleman indulging
In cat nap before turning in for
the night. We took positions with
IN the bar-room, where we could
see through an open window, and
awaited developments.
Tel minutes passed. I was be-
coming impatient, when my COM
rads pointed his finger over the
hooriug of u veranda. / saw a head
cautiously raised above tue edge of
the stoop, near pillar. Alter
moments observation it sank from
our line Of vision, and I heard re-
cedlng footsteps. Next we heard
man mounting the stairs at the
further eud OF The portico. He was
a tail, spare fellow. He came down
the stretch of boards like one in
deep Ieditation, and walked past
our window, after casting a keen
glance at his victim. Then he turn
ed slowly and retraced his medita-
tive steps, taking closer view of
the prey. On the next lap he laid
his hand on the back of the chair
and shook it very lightly. "Say,
Coiouel," he said, i'll u voice just
loud enough to test the suundness
Of the-nap, hadn't you better be
getting inside? You'll catch cold
uut here.
His land slid gently down to.
ward the giIttelins chain. A. this
Instant more footsteps were heard |
on the piazza. Prowier No. Zap
peared. The first conner assumed
III ar of companionship with the
sleeper. He suou drew up a chair
ind took a position at his side.
Prowler No. 2 hunmed all air from
The Mascotte," and made several
APPS, closely observing the couple
Is he passed them. At last, how
aver, he disappeared at the ex-
RENE end OF the porch. The origi-
lal speculator hesitated second,
md ugaln extended his hand to.
ward tile chain. We alarmed him
~ tap on the window. He was
If i'll jitfy. Without looking
he sprang across the piuzza,
lfopped to the ground. and disap-
,eared.
After displaying anew the at
OF uLr bait We again
ourselves at the side of
he window. Prowler No. 2 reap
'eared. He glanced suspiciously .
I the sleeper, saw the watcn-chain,
nd seemed surprised at the alb
ence vi the tall man. He mused
within himself some time. The !
inning lure acted like charm. ,
tanning confidence. he approached !;
he quarry. Say, Judge he ven- ,
uted as u feeler, you'll get robbed i,
You dontgo inside" Ihe Judge
la,ie no response. Prowler No. 2
Tipped behind his chair. and, reach
~ down over his shoulder, gently !
etached the cham from the button :
ole. He Was tusgiuy ut the sup q
osed watch, when the bartender !.
eiied at him. He shot into the =
arkness like a bullet, leaving the .
hahn dangling loosely frcm the q
ocket. ]
We again doctored the image. !,
carceiy were we out of sight when
accommodating party, consisting
u man and boy. appeared. a
hey made u concerted effort tc n
can out the slumberer by ap- -
foaching him simultaneously from
oposlte dIrectious. This effort.
,w=ver, was check-mated by a
,rslstent humping on the window. Il