Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-05-06
VIRGINIA, MAY 6, 1892.

You must grow steady and solemn like
Miss Brapkston Hall and be good" Then,
as he retired again, he heard, Checker
mints," in subdued, ecstatic tone.
This was a mystery to the professor, but
he followed breathlessly along.
They had passed the Common, and she
was crossing fremont street. A beautiful
palace electric car about a mile long got
between them, and by the time he had
threaded his devious way around it she
was nowhere to be seen. "But I know
where to find her," thought the observing
professor. She'll be looking at the pic
lures of the Cadet theatricals. That's
what all the ladies go toSee first now; a
month ago it was Shadows, up on the
place" Right enough, and he bumped up
against tall, rigid figure in front of him.
Sir, pardon me, but you are exceedingly
awkward in your manners!" There he
was again, the specter of the morning. He
retired to the corner crushed, but the pro-
fessor's dander was "gettin riz." Miss
Brankston Hall put him in mind of that
beautiful elastic band on Miss Helen's
pocketbook. But for her it might have
been his ere this and as he stood there
waiting for them to finish their comments
| on the photos and move on, he nursed his
grievance and brooded over it. TIT wasn't
his fault he had slipped it on his wrist, a
trick that had never failed him before. In
another moment he would have gracefully
retired, and it would now be peacefully en-
circling his notebooks pure Para maroon
band, too, full half an inch wide, some
thing one didn't strike every day." and he
turned impatiently, more than half bound
to ask for it, for the professors fad, from
years OF fostering, was so much of a mania
that he almost believed the worlds supply
of rubber bands belonged exclusively to
him.
''Aha! They were just going. He'd
follow them. Perhaps, who could tell, it
might yet be his.''
They walked down as far as Boylston
street, the tall lady keeping wary eye on
the wretched professor; then turning into
confectioner's store, she spoke cordially
to young man who was buying.
The professor, watching through the win
dow with eyes only for the rubber band,
didn't notice him hurry out; Miss Helen
had got her little oblong box of checker
minis and had laid her pocketbook on the
counter; the professor leisurely pushed the
door open, and walking in asked for some
of the same; the girl seemed furried. but
he didn't notice. being occupied watching
Ulc 1ctU1cS. 1AClI UdChS WOI0 UuIuCu, UutIt
lay the pocketbook and the beautiful
maroon band beside it; he put out his hand
to clutch it, but instead he was caught by
the shoulders from behind and whirled
round face to face with policeman.
Miss Helen screamed and almost tainted,
but Miss B. Hall, with proud smile on
her firm lips, said: ''Sir! or rather thrice
hardened wretch, you are at last in the
tolls Of the law, and by my hand! Officer,
to your duty. Drag the miscreant to-
to''--
''To Lagrange street, mum?" said the
policeman.
eyes, that's it," said she. "My friend,
Miss Helen Jones here, accuses this man
Of attempting to rob her of her purse.
Three times today he has tried it, but
saved her. All, this shall be known far
and wide over the broad land-'A Boston
woman decoys a bold thief to his fate.'
This morning he attempted to rob her on
the Common, and outwitted him. This
afternoon he followed her from Common
wealth avenue to fremont street, and
foiled him again. Then, seeing his bold
ness, I lured him here, sent into the library
for you-and he is yours"
ooh, let him goI' cried Miss Helen tear
fully; che didn't mean anything, know;
perhaps he was hungry. Oh, say you were
hungry, sirl Do! please do! and perhaps
he'll let you CO."
"Can't do it, mum; got to take him now;
guess won't call the hurry-up; I'll make
him walk. Say, what's your name?"
"John SMITH
'"Nuff said," broke in the policeman;
you're like them all; bet Blacks taken
your phizr'
4. l.,
aroused professor, II didn't want her
money; really-pve got plenty. See!' max
ing a bad matter worse; call wanted was
the rubber band"
At this there was loud laugh, and back
men had gathered, prolonged Singer,
which was quickly hushed.
"Your name is John Smith, and you just
wanted the rubber band" mimicked the
officer, with grin. NO" said the pro-
fessor, rallying bravely to the charge, ''lny
name is Professor John Smithers 4,oddle-
winker of the institute, and if the librarian
hasn't gone home he'll identify me-" "He
won't need to, professor, we all know you,"
came howl from behind; and the shame
faced professor turned about to see half
dozen of his young men tottering about in
various stages of commissions, and one of
them, the one the professor had seen go
out for the officer, and whom he now saw
was one of his own class-Fred De Jones
stepped up and introduced the equally
chagrined ladies as Miss Brankston Hall
and his sister, Miss Helen Jones.
The professor never wrote the mastery
dissertation on the Ginkgo biloba tree, at
ter all. He heard that every true Bosto-
MAN, from the grQcers boy to the Listener,
knew that there was another aud better
specimen of the same tree on the public
garden; but ask his opinion of fads, and he
will probably say, as he looks in a proud,
proprietor sort of way at certain trim
little figure: "Fads! my boy, fadsl best
thing in the world. Let me tell you it's a
poor sort of man who doesn't have fad"
But he's little more careful just the
same!-Boston Transcript.