The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23

or pocketbooks. You can't control the
honesty Of the theater employees. you
know. We have the most stringent
rules governing this matter. An en-
ploye is instantly dismissed if he fails
to return found article. and if it is of
any value and he il caught retaining it,
the theater becomes the prosecutor and
sees that he catches all the penalty the
law will enforce.
People in the audience, believe, in
very many cases steal lost articles.
have observed audiences leaving the
theatcr many times. and have good rea-
son for saying 50 1t il very easy in
passing down an aisle with crowd to
place hand on the head of an um-
brella or cane standing up against
chair where somebody has left it. or
upon wrap carelessly left over the
back of chair. You will seldom see
thief pick up anything which has fallen
10 the floor, however, for the act of
STOPPING down attracts attention. So
it is that money and small articles
dropped on the floor are seldom stolen
by thieves if the audience, though
have known thieves to drop an umbrella
or hat in order to make an excuse for
STOPPING down, If you see anyone stoop
down and openly pick up lost bill or
article from the floor you can nearly
always take it for granted that the
finder is an honest man and means to
leave it at the box office.
'.Once, however. ] saw an honest man
overcome by temptation and yield while
| on his way out of the theater. 1t was
an interesting study in human nature.
| was standing where could see all
the changing emotions in his face, and
the fact that his face was SO plainly
read convinces me that he was honest
at heart. lie was a young man, neatly
| but cheaply dressed. | had casually
observed him during the play. because
he seemed to enjoy it SO hugely. He
was evidently treating himself to an
unusual enjoyment. Passing out of
the theater with the crowd, he sudden
~ stopped down and scooped up some
thing from the floor. lie examined it
openly and curiously. and | noticed it
was roll of bills. lie called the atten-
ton of a man near him to the find,
, and they exchanged words smilingly.
They were evidently strangers. 1t
took some time to pass down the aisle,
during which time he was tempted,
struggled and yielded. His face ex-
pressed only amusement and curiosity
ut first. Then he opened the roll and
counted the bills. lie puckered his
! lips into silent whistle. Suddenly IA
furtiye expression crossed his face, the
bills dropped out of sight, his lips
closed and he glanced quickly around
! him. No one was noticing him. Then
! he put one hand to his forehead. and
slowly shook his head. Then his face
/ cleared: but Immediately afterward the
| furtive look came back, and he bit his
lip again, and again glanced round.
Finally, after several snch changes Of
countenance, he dropped his eyes to the
floor and pushed forward neryously
and quickly | followed him into the
foyer. He dropped to one side behind
curtain till all near him when he
found the money had passed out. Then
he pulled his hat over his eyes and
walked rapidly out At the door ! laid
my hand firmly on his arm. lie started
and turned pale.
THAT money you found, and-stole,
said in low tone.
He handed it to me instantly,
dropped his face in his hands, and broke
into sobs.
I-I-never stole before, he
gasped.
/ " i know it. said /, and that is why
| don't arrest you now. / am a detec-
tive
Il let go of his arm. and he darted off
on a run The roll contained four hum
dred dollars.