Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-01
A CITY MYSTERY.

Miss Melinda Parkinson had come
down to New York to buy her sum-
mer patterns and to indulge herself
with glimpse at the great world, of
which hitherto she had only become &C
quainted through the columns of the
weekly newspaper
1T must be a mortal strange place."
said that amiable spinster, where folks
walk up and down Broadway in their
Sunday clothes, and milk sells for ten
cents a quart. And where they hain't
no garrets to their houses, and go out to
parties just when we Centervillers are
tying on our nightcaps to go to bed.
Well, well, it takes all sorts of people to
make world"
So Miss Melinda retrimmed her leghorn
hat with sage green ribbons, sponged
over her ancient black silk gown, in
dulged in the extravaganza of new gloves,
and set forth for the great American
metropolis to visit Cousin Lemuel Lar
kins. whose family had frequently spent
halcyon summers at the farm, and to
partake of whose hospitality she had had
a standing invitation for some time.
Cousin Lemuel and his eldest daugh-
ter, Persephone, met her at the depot
with faces of friendly welcome. Cousin
Lemuel was photographer on the Bow
cry, and Miss Persephone "did" super
numerary parts at the Sparkle theater
and had the promise of ''going on" when
ever there should be a vacancy in the
regular dramatis persona.
"Come along. Cousin Nelly" said Mr.
Larkins. where's the check for your
baggage? Here, expressman! And look
sharp, d'y' hear?'
But" shrieked Miss Melinda, that
check is all I've got to show for my
trunk. How do you know he'll ever
bring up the trunk at all, gasped Miss
Parkinson. II once read in The Sentinel
how
Come along" said Mr.. Larkins, good
humoredly. You'll find it'll all be as
right as a trivetl'
"Ain't we going in carriage?'
BLESS us, no." said Cousin Larkins.
Were agoin' in the short cars"
"But why are you going in the short
cars?" said Miss Melinda in great bewil-
derment. 81 thought you said you lived
mile and half from the depot?"
'Ohr said Mr.. Larkins. "'short'
means the cars, not the distance. Let
me help you aboard, there's good girl. u
No sooner was Miss Parkinson safely
bestowed between stout gentleman
reading his paper and black velvet
cloaked lady than she again began to be
uneasy in her mind.
'Lemuel," said she, in astage whisper,
II don't like these cars. I'd rather
walk"
But why?" said Mr.. Larkins, who
was hanging from strap like first
class trapeze performer "Eh? The
man next you pickpocket? But, my
dear woman, it can't possibly bel He's
a-holding up the paper with both hands!
How can he be picking your pocket?'
"Ah!" nodded Miss Parkinson, "they
can't deceive me. One of ems stuffed!
I've read all about it'll And he may be
a-takin' my watch and my twenty-five
dollars out of my under pocket with the
real hand, this very minute. for all
knowP
Madam" said the strange gentle
man, jumping up and turning very red,
as he started for the door, ~ have not
yet arrived at my destination, but
much prefer walking a few blocks to
finding myself the subject of aspirations
such as these! Conductor, you will have
the goodness to STOP"
There" cried Miss Parkinson, start
ing to her feet, ''it's just as The Sentinel
says! He's escaping! Driver, insist
that he shall be searched! Conductor
call the policer'
"P'r'aps," suggested Cousin Lemuel.
you'd better see if your watch and
money amt safe, Melinda!"
Because, marm," added the conduct
or, with the corners of his mouth twitch-
ing. "that there gent is Judge De Grif-
fiths, of the court of common complaints,
as amt noway addicted to pocket pick
ing. as ever heerd onl''
And Miss Parkinson, discovering that
her valuables were all safe, subsided
once more into her place and merely re-
marked that I'VE are all liable to mis-
takes"
She was rather surprised to discover
that the Lalkins family, instead of oc-
cupying one of the palatial mansions
contiguous to Central park, lived on the