Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1891-05-07

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and gaslighters, but every man and
woman swore that no such thing had
been found. We searched the chair she
had occupied and the aisles in vain.
Then VIC gave it up, She started away
sobbing After awhile she came back
and told us the necklace was done up
in small package.
"'Oh,' said |, why didn't you say so
in the first place? We supposed it was
on your neck
"'Why, didn't think to tell you
that
$50 we brought out several packages
that had been found, and she selected
one that looked like her package Be
fore opening it she described the neck
lace accurately. Then l opened the
package and there was the necklace,
indeed costly thing of the most SUI
perb workmanship. She said she had
bought it for a wedding present and
handed me card containing the name
of very well-known woman
"a man once came back after per-
formance and said, with a white face,
that he had left seven hundred dollars
in the theater. We went to his seat
and found the roll of bills caught in the
joint. The sweepers had overlooked it.
But people don't often get back money
or pocketbooks. You can't control tho
honesty of the theater employees, you
| know. We have the most stringent
rules governing this matter. An en-
ployc is instantly dismissed If he fails
to return found article, and If it is of
any value and he is 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
theater many times, and have good rea-
son for saying so. 1t is very easy in
passing down an aisle with crowd to
place hand on the head of an UNI
brella or cane standing up against u
chair where somebody has left it, or
upon wrap carelessly left over the
back OF chair. You will seldom see a
thief pick up anything which has fallen
to 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 in the audience, though l
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
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. He was young man, neatly
but cheaply dressed. l 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 thcater with the crowd, he sudden
ly stopped down and scooped up some.
thing from the floor. He examined 1t
openly and curiously, and noticed 1t
was roll of bills. He called the atten-
ton of 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
at first. Then he opened the roll and
counted the bills. He puckered his
lips into silent whistle. Suddenly q
furtivc 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 hi:
lip again, and again glanced round
Finally, after several such changes o1
countenancc, he dropped his eyes to ths
floor and pushed forward nervously
and quickly. l followed him into the
foyer. He dropped to one side behint
q curtain till all near him when he
found the money had passed out. Ther
, he pulled his hat over his eyes ant
walked rapidly out. At the door lait
, : my hand firmly on his arm. He 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 hc
gasped
" 1 know it, said /, and that is VIII,
don't arrest you now. am detec
tive
81 let go of his arm, and he darted of
!, on run. The roll contained four hun
! dred dollars.