The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-04-05
THE P0LlcEMAN'ssRoMANCE

wind h0wled round the corners II
night, catching up the snow that h
fallen during the day and whirling
In drifts In the doorways.
There are lots of big stores do'
there, and the street is always crowd
Of evenings, but this evening 1t was
sight to me. There were hundreds
yss, thousands-of pretty girls o
doing their last shopping before Chrii
mas.
ut was getting along toward MI
O'Clock, when my attention was q
tracted to pretty little girl who vi
tripping across the street.
"Just Is she reached the curb 81
slipped on . patch of ice and fell heav
ly.
"It took about half second to reac
the little woman and pick her up. Sh
was dazed by the fall, though not ir
jured. and had to support her for
moment.
Then she recovered herself all of
sudden, Strengthened up primly. az
saying Thank you, Mr.. Officer trip
ped away, giving me pretty look tina
went clear through me.
II had tramped up and down my
beat three or four times, and had 60,
back 70 Twenty-third street when bare
headed oash-boy ran out Of one tf the
big store and yelled at me:
"'Come quick! the manager has
caught . shop-lifter!'
~ was met at the door by floor
walker, twho piloted me to the book
keepers den at the back of the store.
1.-TWO men were in there, and a wom-
IN was standing in the corner, with her
ftoe covertd with her handkerchief,
weeping As II her heart would break.
"'Ah! officer said the manager, who
WAS . mere bushes machine, i am
glad you have come. One CT our clerks
1t the lace counter discovered that a
valuable piece Ct lace had been stolen,
and gave the alarm. This woman hur-
ried away from the counter. She was
detained and brought here and searched,
Tho lace was found In an outside pocket
Of her sacque. Tbs is the piece on the
desk here
"'Have you asked the woman for an
sxplanat'onr asked, hoping that
some explanation would fix the matter
up.
."'What can she sayr cried the bust
ness machine. She was caught red
handed in the act, She is the thief.
That settles It.
'There was sudden movement on the
part Cf the WOMAN. She snatched her
handkerchief from her face, extended
her righs arm and finger, which shook
with rage, and turning her blazing eyes
upon the buainess machine, she fairly
screamed;
"'Tis false! am no thiefr Then she
fell In heap upon the floor.
"As she turned her paid face upon
the manager l started as If some one
had struck me. 1t was the black-eyed
little girl had picked up scarcely half
An hour before.
Gifted the girl up gently and placed
her In chair, and called for water with
which bathed her temples.
''Pretty soon she came out of the
'woon. As her eyes met mine they lit
up with . glad light, and she cried: .
"'Ob" I'm so glad. This officer
will tell you that am no thief, won't
Iour .
"Here was = pretty predicameht. :
There was nothing for me to do but my y
uty, 90 told her l was sorry for her,
nd asked her II she would walk ahead :
4 me quietly. :
"She made brave effort to calm :,
erseh that touched me hard. l -
ouldn't believe the girl thief, but the =.
whence was too strong for me to doubt =
nat she had gwen away to temptation. r
''Ths poor girl walked ahead CT me :"
W PAGES and gave me no trouble. "
'und myself wishing that she would
lelt away or in some fashion or other Go
Anish, when she stopped under lamp af
side street, and waited until came al
p. 10
''As l came up, she turned her pale IN
'ce up In the light, and clutched my pi
'at sleeve tight with her hands as she pe
lid:
"'Mr. officer, you don't really think be
70 thief, do your co
well, couldn't say yes and wi
'uldn't conscientiously say no. so 1 eli
i'd neither. 1 only said was sorry
r her and wished that could help her. dii
"'Are you really sorry for mer she tn
Id, and her black eyes filled with
ars: oh! I am glad to have one VIC
y g. =