The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-10-12
A Decoy for Thieves.

1t was one O'Clock on Friday morning.
1 sat on the almost deserted piazza of
one OF the big hotels at Coney Island.
The day had been insufferably hot, and
a fairly cool breeze had set in. Turning
to the bartender remarked that L felt
like dropping asleep in my chair and
remaining in the open air all night.
He laughed. ssYou'd be cleaned out
in half an hour" he said. "Your
watch and chain would be on a Chat
ham street shelf before noon tomorrow.
1 don't know where all the thieves
come from, but let a man go to sleep in
a seat after dark anywhere on Coney
Island, and thief will apparently rise
right out 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
a chair. An immense brass curb chain
fell in a yellow festoon from a pocket in
the waistcoat. At distance the image
looked like hearty old gentleman in
dulging In q cat nap before turning in
for the night. We took positions within
the bar-room, where we could see
through an open window, and awaited
developments.
Ten minutes passed. Twas becoming
impatient, when my comrade pointed
his finger over the flooring of the veran-
da. 1 saw head cautiously raised
above the edge of the stoop, near a
pillar. After moments observation Il
sank from our line of vision, and heard
reoeding footsteps. Next we heard q
man mounting the stairs at the further
end of the portico. He was tall, spare
fellow. He came down the stretch of
boards like one in deep meditation, and
walked past our window after casting a
keen glance at his victim. Then he
turned slowly and retraced his medita-
tive steps, taking a closer view of the
prey. On the next lap he laid his hand
on the back of the chair and shook it
very lightly. I" Say, Colonel" he said,
in q voice Just loud enough to test the
soundness of the nap, a" hadn't you bet
ter be getting insideP You'll catch cold
out here"
His hand slid gently down toward the
glittering chain, At this instant more
footsteps were heard on the piazza.
Prowler No. 3 appeared. TIE first
conner assumed an air of companionship
with the sleeper. He soon drew up q
chair and took position at his side.
Prowler No. 2 hummed an air from
"The Mascotte," and made several
laps, closely observing the couple as he
passed them. At last, however, he dis
appeared at the extreme end of the
porch. The original speculator hesi-
tated second, and again extended his
hand toward the chain. We alarmed
him by a tap on the window. He was
off in a jiffy. Without looking around
he sprang across the piazza, dropped to
the ground, and disappeared.
After displaying anew the attractive
ness of our bait we again ensconced our
selve at the side of the window. Prowler
No. 2 reappeared. He glanced srspic-
ionsly at the sleeper, saw the watch
chain, and seemed surprised at the alb
sence of the tall man. He mused with
in himself some time. The shining lure
acted like a charm. Gaining conf
dence, he approached quarry. "Say,
Judge, he ventured as feeler, I" you IL
get robbed if you don't go inside.'' The
Judge made no response. Prowler No.
2 slipped behind his chair, and, reach
ing down over his shoulder, gently de-
tached the chain from the buttonhole.
He was Juggling at the supposed watch
when the bartender yelled at him. He
shot into the darkness like bullet,
leaving the chain dangling loosely from
the pocket.
We again doctored the image. Scarce
ly were we out of sight when recon-
noitering party, consisting of man and
boy, appeared. They made con-
certed effort to clean out the slumberer
by approaching him simultaneously
from opposite directions. This effort,
however, was checkmated by a persist
emit humping on the window.
By this time the bartender thought
that had received an instructive lesson.
He said that the fun might be kept up
until daylight, but it would become too
monotonous. While we were talking
about taking in the figure, o tall, lank
man, evidently the original speculator,
rushed across the platform, and made q
dash for the chain. He yanked at it with
such force that he jerked the sleeper
from the chair. For an instant he
seemed dazed by the catastrophe. Then,
recovering himself, he swept the effigy
up in his arms and ran over the sand
like deer. Before the bartender had
recovered from his surprise he was out
of sight. A long chase followed. The
bartender returned painting, aud stream
ing with perspiration.
"Well, by thunder" he exclaimed,
90 t4rt fellow got his work in well. He
didn't quit no loser. That suit of toys
cost me $40. 1t wasn't a paying circus,
I'm blowed If it was. If this thing goes
on and we stay ON the island all sum-
mer, Wen have to sleep In the safe. -
Heso York 8tsss,