Daily Republican., 1888-05-02

mn OAUSAr a 30 OK hR.

Bill Charters was q very original
man-that is If he was out Of q job
he'd devise some way of his own to
procure the wherewithal to keep q
fire in the CRATE and provisions in the
pantry, eaid q Main street man. Bill
was also fond Of fishing. On winter
evenings at home, If he had nothing
better TO do, be would haul out his
fishing tackle and inspect it thorough
ly, and then, after making two or
three new-faDgled flyhooks, he'd
place the outfit back in Its box, at the
same time knowing that he would be
unable to use his tackle for probably
over six months.
Bill lived in Boston when l first
knew him. That was eighteen or
twenty years ago. went up one
night to see him concerning some
work he had been engaged on for sew.
eral days. Bill was in the dining
room examining his fishing tackle
when | entered.
One huge batch of hooks attracted
my attention. There were probably
thirty very small eyehooks, all sewed
secure TO jagged piece OF cloth string
drilling-about the size of your hand
Bill, said l, taking the hook covered
cloth in my hand, did you catch any
fish with this arrangement
"Yes, sir" he answered, with a
laugh. 81 caught sucker on that
collection last tall that weighed 100
pounds"
Where and how2 l asked, hardly
knowing what Bill meant, as had
never seen q sucker that weighed
more than three or four pounds.
"Just this way" replied Bill. 'Oue
night my wife and decided to go TO the
theatre. When We reached the uox Off ce
there was perfect Jam of people. left
my wife near the door while struggled
brayely to reach the ticket window.
| asked tor two dress-circle tickets, and
when put my hand in my pocket to gel
the money to pay for them | discovered
my pocketbook was gone. Stolenn ex-
claimed l., and retreated
| Mrs. Charters and ! walked home. Sht
felt disappointed; she wanted TO see tha
play. A thought struck me Instant y
and just as quickly as possible l put ny
'
4 pocket inside ont hastily yfewed all thl
email 6shhooks l bad to the Inside OF the
pocket In such a manner that when nj
p cket was showed back TO It's prope
position the barbs Of the hooks sto ID ou
and pointed downward
took some money with me but l plac
ed 1t In another pocket, and again WI
started for the theatre. There was ttil
considerable OF crowd In the neighbor.
hood of the box Office, and once more
hogan edging my way through. aliows(
my fishhook pocket to take care Of itseli
Just as | was being handed my ticket
felt bite. l attempted IN turn around
twhen found had hooked very fin,
looking sucker in the shape of vel
! dressed man who wore SHINY tile.
J paid no attention to his tugging at IN,
lip cket, as knew after one or two tug
he'd quit. When / reached my wife sh,
ssid: William, who is this gent ma
with your l told her he was very par
ticular friend Of mine.
An officer standing at the door accom-
Ipanied me, at my request, into q
, ad Joining room where explained matter
l recovered my lost pocketbook ant
!, greenbacks 1t was keeping cOmpaI
, with seven other similarly situated urse
had to cut the pocket out to hand Il
, thief over to the officer, but 1t WAS II
turned to me after the doctor succeedt
In getting the no ks out of the fellow
! hand
Yes, concluded Bill he was the bigge
! sucker ever caught-must have wei h
? a. lie st 100 pounds And this Is NO fl
4 story, either"