The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-12-01
A DecOy for Thieves.

1t was one O'Clock on Friday morning.
l sat on the almost deserted piazza Of
one of the big hotels at Coney Island
The day had been insufferably hot, and
fairly cool breeze had set in. Turning
to the bartender | remarked that [ felt
like dropping asleep in my chair and
remaining in the open air all night.
He laughed. "You'd be cleaned out
in half an hour" he said. Your
watch and chain would be on Chat
ham street shelf before noon tomorrow.
[ don't know where all the thieves
come from, but let 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
chair. An immense brass curb chain
fell in yellow festoon from pocket in
the waistcoat. At distance the image
looked like a hearty old gentleman in
dulging in 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. I saw q head cautiously raised
above the edge of the stoop, near a
pillar. After q moments observation it
sank from our line of vision, and heard
receding footsteps. Next we heard a
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 q
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. 60 Say, Colonel" he said,
in voice just loud enough to test the
soundness of the nap, 4" hadn't you bet
ter be getting inside? 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. 2 appeared. The first
conner assumed an air of companionship
with the sleeper. He soon drew up a
| 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 a 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. Prowlel
No. reappeared. He glanced suspic-
iously at the sleeper, saw the watch.
chain, and seemed surprised at the alb.
sence of the tall man. He unused with.
in himself some time. The shining lure
acted like charm: Gaining conf
dence, he approached quarry. "Say
Judge" he ventured as feeler, "you'l
get robbed if you don't 60 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 tugging at the supposed watch
when the bartender yelled at him. lie
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 a recon
noitering party, consisting of man anC
a boy, appeared. They made con
certed effort to clean out the slumberel
by approaching him simultaneously
from opposite directions. This effort
however, was checkmated by persist
ent humping on the window.
By this time the bartender though
that had received an instructive lesson
He said that the fun might be kept uI
until daylight, but it would become too
monotonous. While we were talking
about taking ia the figure, tall, lanl
man, evidently the original speculator
rushed across the platform, and made 1
dash for the chain. lie yanksd at it will
such force that he jerked the sleeper
from the chair. For an instant HI
seemed dazed by tho catastrophe. Then
recovering himself, he swept the cffig,
up in his arms and ran over the sanl
like deer. Before the bartender hat
recovered from his surprise he wae on
of sight. A long chase followed. Th'
bartender returned painting, and stream
ing with perSpiration.
"Well, by thunder" he exclaimed
81 tti,it fellow got his work in woll. Ill
di'tn't quit no loser. That suit of tog
! cost me $40. 1t wasn't paying circus
I'm blowed If 1t was. If this thing goe
on and we stay on the island all sum
, mer, Wen have to sleep in the safe"
HsW Y0rh Svn.