Evening journal., 1891-01-29
VAN BIBBER'S WAGER.

Mr.. Van Bibber and the other men d
his particular set We're grouped aroun(
the club window after luncheon. ol
breakfast, as it happened to be, whe1
Van Bibber said he thought seriously Of
entering upon a career Of crime Van
Bibbcr was given to making disturbing
statements of this sort, which required
one to think, even if one did not reply tc
them, and the other men rather wished
he would not.
For instance, said young Van Bib
Der, Il went to a dance last night, and
the room where you were to put your
hat was filed with old silver, little bits
Of it-snutf boxes and spectacle cases
and bonbon boxes and buckles and
girdles. Tho chap had made collec-
ton Of them, and had them all lying
around loose. | had a good mind to fill
my overcoat with half Of 'em, and then
| thought it would be much more fun to
fill every other mans pockets, and wait
and see the row, but some one came in,
and / couldn't do it. Now, there are
these teas and receptions and days and
all that sort OF thing that women 90 to.
| Why shouldn't | start ont some after
noon aud sweep the places bare, and
| melt the silver down and get rich? /
might become a sort of Jack the Rip
l per- or Louis the LITTER iii bet ex-
claimed Van Bibber, becoming more in
| terested in his idea, "that cun 10 out
this afternoon and bring back more
than 6ya ht7pd7.od l,flo,.-s .s-l.,.tl. u .I
yer and bric-a-brac, and iii 40 it. too.
If any Of you have amy sporting blood"
There was no question as to the men
| having sporting blood They jumped 1t
the chance. Van Bibber found not tho
least difficulty in dividing up his wager
among them an
but wait, said Travers; 'how do
we know that Van Bibbar WON'T hx it
with tho people iii the house. Eyen if
his friends dil see him handling the
bflc-a-braccr even if heplt fork down
his cent sleeve they'd not say anything.
They'd think BE was joking Orhe may
Yet them intoit beforehand
well, Unjust say appreciate vonr
confidence growled Van Biober; .tIu
play fair Of course, and iii tel yoa
what iii do; to make sure. I'M only po
to houses where they dont know me.
and til bring back spoons marked with
the peoples initials"
This recklessness delighted his friends.
"Nou are o sport Van Bibber.~ they
cried with admiration, "and youll be in
Jail before o'clock.
The servant brought them society
paper that made a feature of printing the
announcements of coming social events
and Van Bibber carefully selected the
names Of five estimable ladies' who were
giving receptions that afternoon, and
who were making a desperate fight to
get into society, as the proper people to
rob. AT he ordered a hanson, put his 1
list inside his hat placed fresh chrys-
anthcmum in his coat, ana started smil.
ingly forth on his oaresx of crime. His
friends watched him from the window
with keen delight and with much excite |
ment.
Now, then, said Travers promptly
and decidedly, "the thing for is % do is |
70 send detective after him ANA have |
him arrested
LAacNY, said tine rest.
NAT. Van Bibher alighted frst lit 4 |
very handsome brown stone honse. iust
2 few doors OF the aYenne On Forty
third street There was all awning over
the door, and line Of carriages on either
side Of tho street The name of the ladv
who was paying for this he discovered, |
by referring to his slip to be MOBILES. |
flbp rnnfl aa ~ l,f4, ffs.,g,g.t, sr.. a /
opened II, saying, Third floor, front" |
Mr. Van Bibber pushed his way |
through the crowd of women ana girls |
and old men and pots Of chrysanthe. |
NUNS, ana threw his overcoat in II cor-
ner There was no one il the room. |
and Van Bibber, while adjusting lis /
cravat, cast q wandering eve over the |
dressing table. II was Uttered with sill |
yer toilet articles. He picked some Of |
these up and bit them, ia most mo
iessional manner. Plated he r.. I
marked, with some disgust; lady prob /
ably gets her silver from caterer 4
Hardly worth while to try down stairs
Guess III move on TO next place.
He picked up his oYcrcoat and hat /
again, and went out without having |
gazed upon Mrs. Mobiles. The next |
place was on the avenue itself. and was
very crowded. Van Bibber pushed Bis
way slowly up stairs to the second floor.
and, without moments hesitation.
gathered up four silver photograph
frames, complete manicure set of sil-
yer, gold watch, which hung in d slip
per at tie side Of q bed, and pair Of sil.
yer backed hair brushes. lie placed
these carefully in his overcoat, and went
down stairs in q stately and dignifed
manner. he avoided the first door
Where he guessed the hostess was sta. /
toned, and made his way toward Ire
rear. There was terrible crush, and
yet he saw no one 10 knew.
In the rear room there was long
table overloaded with things To cat. He |
gathered up three or four spoons. one AZ a
time, after e-iInining them carefully. auI 1
stored them away back of n 81 ~ china
on sideboard, then be went b,- af.er
more spoons. Nobody PAID any at,en.
ton to him, ana be psld 10 a.t iio1 10
any one else. He carried plats vitb