Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-12-09
~ wouldn't try it." replied the


II wouldn't try it," replied the
other, mot in a crowded street like
this"
"Just the place for it," said Jones
"I'll escape through the crowd in less
than half second and the very fact
that there is a crowd will make Smith
think that he has been taken in and
done for"
81 wouldn't do anything like that if
l were YOU" said Brown cautiously,
but Jones took him by the arm and
drew him into one of the courts that
entered Fleet street, where they wait
ed until Smith and Robinson had
passed them. Then he stepped out
and going quickly and quietly up be-
hind Smith and threw his left arm
suddenly around his neck, choked poor
Smith until his eyes began to bulge
out, and then gave quick tug at his
coat to make him think his watch was
gone. All this occupied but second,
and Jones bolted down Fleet street.
The thing was over so suddenly that
even Robinson did not recognize who
had done it nor did he realize quite
what had been done. He only saw
that Smith was CHASTITY pale and gasp.
ing and when he recovered breath he
said to Robinson:
"My God 1 have been garroted.
/ knew it would come some day"
Then he looked down at the dangling
watch chain, and seeing the guinea
which he always wears there still in
its place, he added: THANK good.
ness, he has left me the watch chain,
any how"
"Well," said Robinson, "let's lose
no time in getting on the fellows
track"
ooh, it's no use," replied Smith
dolefully, che has bolted."
So far the joke was a tremendous
success, and even then Smith did not
realize that his watch was not gone.
The joke would have probably been
success all through if it had not
been for a tall stalward man, who
stood head and shoulders above the
crowd, and who was coming up Fleet
street some little distance from where
the occurrence took place. He saw it
all, recognized the act and braced
himself up.
When Jones came dashing down
the street, to escape up court, the
tall man sprang directly in his way,
and seized him by both lapels of his
coat.
"You scoundrel," he said, "Ive
got you. You needn't struggle, I'll
throw you on your back on the pave
ment in a moment if you try to es-
cape"
Escape, nonsense !" cried Jenes,
lit was only a joke"
eyes, it's joke you'll explain to
the judge, my fine fellow. Here!
somebody call policeman"
Hang your policeman" cried
Jones, struggling to free himself from
the iron grasp of the other, who mere
ly shook him for his pains as a big
Newfoundland dog would shake rat
terrier.
When Smith and Robinson turned
back and saw Jones in the hands of
the tall fellow, Smith at the first mo-
ment thought Jones had captured the
garroter.
you've got him." said Smith.
eyes, l have" answered the tall
man. II saw him do it. Just 60
through his pockets before some of his
pals get away with your watch"
Then Smith, although he is not
very quick at noticing the point, saw
how things stood. He put his hand
into his own pocket and felt that his
watch was still there. While his
hand was in his pocket he slipped the
watch from the chain, left the chain
in its place and put the watch in his
trousers pocket. BY this time a
policeman had arrived on the scene,
and pushing the crowd aside said:
whats all this :"
ats garroting," said the tall man.
The policeman looked rather
amazed. 1t seemed to him remark
able thing that garroting should be
attempted in crowded Fleet street.
The very disheveled appearance of
Jones and his frantic efforts to escape,
however, convinced the policeman
that something was indeed wrong.
Here, Smith," cried Jones impa-
tiently, "you know very well that this
was only a joke. Tell this overgrown
fool that that was the case. Tell the
policeman so"
Gil LII - a..a..a.. lul llaaa