The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-12-23

locked the front door and put the key in
his pocket, unperceived by any one, and
I secured the only door in the rear In
the same manner.
"By making inquiries learned that
a man had his pocket picked, and had
already pitched upon the supposed rogue,
one of his own kind, as judged, by his
appearance and dress.
t" But on investigation it proved that
no one in the house knew the man,
though he represented himself as a
sIlnner in one of the mills, and wore
the ordinary clothes of mill-hand.
"The stranger was searched, but the
money was not found on him. The VIC
tim looked surprised, but stoutly de-
clared that the fellow had been quite
near him when he was robbed, and no
one else could have done it.
80 Let every one be searched, said
the landlord, coming into their midst.
The innocent need not fear. 1t is only
the guilty who will object to this
"There was an almost unanimous re-
spouse in favor OF this measure, and the
novel process began, the landlord being
named as the proper person to perform
the examination.
"'I suppose can leave, since have
already been searched, asked the sus-
pected man.
You shall remain to witness the
exposure of the thief was the gruff re-
spouse.
"The man looked disappointed. and
walked away, grumbling to himself
in an undertone.
He came up to the man 1 still had
my eye upon (Alfred Rapine), and that
person remarked, smilingly:
"'We must all submit to be searched,
I see. There is no remedy for it,.
$3.50 it appears, rejoined the other,
and then they stood and witnessed the
unique operation in progress.
Presently noticed some suspicious
movements on their part, and kept a
keen eye on them. saw their fingers
moving in rapid manner, and knew at
once they were conversing i'll the mute
hnguage-a Language that [ understood
perfectly-and the whole transaction
was at once revealed to me.
"This seeming mill hand and Rapine
were confederates. The former had
robbed the man and Immediately trans
ferred the proceeds of that robbery to
Rapine, who now had it in his posses
sion.
"Their conversation was of the feast
bility of the mill-hand taking the dunn
mics (wallets) back again, since he had
already been searched, and it was not
likely that the process would be re-
peated.
"They decided on this, and in q very
dexterous manner the transfer was made,
and not one, but four purses, or wallets,
changed hands In moment.
"Then they drlftel apart, as if they
really were not acquaintance.
81 quickly wrote on a slip of paper
what / had witnessed, and managed to
slip it into the hand of the landlord,
with the whispered instruction to read
it at once.
He did So and exchanged knowing
wink. Presently he turned to the dis
guised pickpocket and said:
Come on, my friend, your turn
next
"'But 1 have already been searched
cried the man, with startled look ON
his face.
"Not by me, my dear sir, rejoined
the landlord, with benevolent smile.
GO But the gentleman that has been
robbed is satisfied that L haven't his
purse, persisted the rogue.
" You may not have had it then, but
may have it now; SO come along was
the landlords response to his appeal.
Rapine now stepped up with a smil-
ing countenance and remarked:
GO My dear sir, this man has been al
ready examined. as he says. Surely, if
he did not have the stolen property
on his person then, how can it
be supposed that he is likely to have
it now?'
BY very simple process, said /,
looking the unblushing rascal in the
face. Fellows of his stamp usually
operate with a confederate. After he
had stolen the money he at once passed it
tohis confederate, or "pal," if that term
is more familiar to you. Thus, when he
was searched it was not found upon him,
do you see?'
"'Then his opal, as you call him,
should be searched if he can be
found, was the smiling remark.
:" replied:
"' He can be found, and would have
been searched, only for the fact that,
fearing such an event, he transferred
the stolen property back again to the
original holder.
"He glanced curiously at me as he
quietly remarked:
"'You appear to jump at conclusions
without great deal of judgment it
strikes me.
"'Wait until this fellow is overhauled
once more, and you may change your
opinion, rejoined |.
"And while this process is gong on
this confederate-f not myth-may
escape, if he has not already done so,
observed he with slight smile of de-
rision.
"'I have my eye on him he will not
escape rejoined L, quietly.
"Rapine began to exhibit signs Of
uneasiness; then, smiling sarcastically
at my closing remarks, he sasntered
away, while his pal was being searched
in spite of his protestations. The plum
der was recovered and the three other
wallets were at once claimed by as many
II III ~ ,IoooyaraI tboi, looo