Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-07-06
THE WRONG CHARLEY.

fcmlnded htm-Wc were telling stories
In camp-but as he was one Of the
hnost fellows In our set, the idea Of his
ever having been arrested for picking a
pocket struck us all as very funny.
"Ifs fact he declared. when
some Of Va expressed our incredulity.
. Larceny from the person. they called
u, but it's the same thing
What n charge against man like
You, COlOnelr'
"Well, IL does srcm n little absurd
now. But II wasn't So very absurd
then. The truth Is" the Colonel
added, with n smile, 1.-THE charge was
not only made. but Il was proved"
That you picked n pocket"
That's the simple fact, gentlemen"
But you didn't"
well, but did,
And as this assertion piqued still
niore our curiosity, he proceeded To
crafty u by telling the following story:
lit was the spring when / was
eighteen years old. was out of
school, out Of work. out of money.
and l went tO Boston 10 see II / could
fiud something To do.
81 found boarding-place in Charles
town, and tramped the streets Of both
cities looking for n place. had been
at that discOuraging business about n
week. meeting with no success; INV
bOard-hill was due. and was thinkino
i should have To pawn my watch 10
pay IL. when. one evening. ON Boston
Common. Just at dusk, met with INV
little adventure.
AS / was passing one Of the
hrnrtIfUa nr Huwl....
man leaning over IL who was evidenf-
~ upsy' What attracted my attention
was watch that had fallen ont of his
pocket, and was dangling by the chain.
saw that he was country fellow. and
there was something about him which
looked very familiar
Hello, Charleyr said /. walking up
10 him. I'm great surprise at finding him
there In that condition. is that youp'
Charley Dibbin was n young farmer
at birmingham, who sometimes drove
n markct-wagon 90 town. and had been
Known 10 ride home once or twice in n
Jolly frame Of mind, hardly consistent
with perfect sObriety. But I had never
heard OF his forgetting himself so far as
he seemed To have done that afternoon;
and though I wasn't much acquainted
with him. thought Il my duty TO take
him I'm charge.
"'Hello yoursolfl'' he said. irving
To look up, but lurching heavily and
raising his tipsy eyes not much higher
than my knees.
lie seemed To recognize me, and stuck
cut his hand. I'm all riVhtr said
he. AN ri-ightv with another lurcb'
And don't YOU go home and tell folks
you ever saw me when l wasn't all
right
But. Charley said I. YOU are los
ing your watchl Don't YOU sceP'
$50 am said he. Bother tho
watehr trying to get IL back into his
pocket.
asked him where he was stopping.
and he told mo ON Elm street.
Take me there, said he, and I'll
give We five dollars
"i.ll take you there for nothing /
said. II you have money to pay for a
Money! said he. I've piles Of
He tried 20 get at his wallet. hut
merely left IL. sticking out Of his
Don't say that so loud said I. in
alarm. You'll lose your money and
your watch, too, I'm afraid. while I'm
going for hack
Lake 'cm with We! take 'em with
yer said he. lurching over into INV
arms. Fact Il, t'm tOO how-comc-v,.-
30 for anything
" As the watch was dangling again. I
thought IL best To transfer Il To- my own
pocket And seeing suspicious-look-
ing fellow watching w. from the pas-
sagc-way leading out ON the street. I
concluded To take the pocket-book also.
q" then told Charley TO sit up steadi-
~ rs he could. SO as not Co attract the
attention Of any passing policeman,
and wait patiently where he was five
minutes. when | would return for him
with n hack. But before starting I
looked all around again. To make snre
there was no policeman in sight.
There wds one in sight. though.
coming directly along the mall. told
charley tn keep still, and stood before
him to prevent his condition from being
Obsorvc,l
7" Nj would have passed of rs de-
sired, but just then the suspicious-look-
ing fellow at the passage-way stepped
cut. advanced To meet the officer. and
said something To him in low
Voicc. The officer thcreupon walked
straight mp % me and said. in an arbi
trary tone;
What's the matter with this man?'
"My only thought was TO screen Char
ley and keep him out of the lookup, and
i replied. rather carelcssly:
.. Nothing much; little sick. lam
taking care Of him.
You're taking care Of him with n
vcngeanccr said the officer. I'm the rud-
est manner; and without waiting for n
word Of explanation. he thrust his hand
into my pocket and dragged out Char
ley watch.
- Is this yoursP" he demanded. as he
would have spoken % misbchavinO
cur, AZ the same time giving a Jerk M
my own watch, which was In its place.
No said I. frightened and angry.
'Thats-this-maniss I was taking care
of Il for him.
iHoaEoltaising care Of his pocket.
book too And In the same rude, ex-
nsperntiuH Way he thrust his hand into
my other pocket and pulled out Char
leys well-hilcd wallet
's'fs that his OF yours
.That's-his. ] tried 10 explain. Il
was afraid he would lose both bis watch
and bis money while went for hack
he's an old friend Of mine. you SEE
Tho Officer shook Charley roughly
by the shoulder.
IA gentleman. which You are nOtr
said Charley, tipsily.
NsDo yon know this man Il he
your friend p cried the officer with an
ither shake 70 stir up his muddlcd wits.