Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-02-09
HIS LIFE THE FORFEIT.


feelings of joy and hope the new BON
babe of Father Time.
Crowds Of people, young and old, rict
and poor, were vending their way down
Broadway, laughing and chatting merri
ly, says the New York Herald
An immense crowd Of people was
standing in front of Trinity church, wait
ing to hear the melodious chimes of thai
dignified old edifice pour out their notes
Of joy. The air was clear and cold, and
countless stars gazed down upon the en-
thusiastic throng, lending their brilliant
rays to the festive occasion.
In the doorway Of an old Pine street
building, few steps from Broadway
stood three suspicious looking men. Any
policeman might have told you that they
were three OF the most desperate pick
pockets in New York. The tall, thin
individual, whose derby hat was drawn
down to shade his nervous black eyes
was Mike Dahlen, and his companions
were Bob Letton and Bill TarbOr, tbs
latter a delicate, smooth faced young
man with a sad, pinched face.
What ails yer to-night?' said the tai
man, addressing Bill. Yer look and
in of, anyway
odd times" replied Bill whenever
act kinder glum. What er yer think.
New Years comes around l can't hell
thinking of some one"
"a girl, l s'pose," Mike said.
Yes, a girl, and the best girl that
ever lived"
"Eyerybody's girl is the best girl that
ever lived" remarked Bob.
Perhaps" Bill said, absently, but
Annie-that was her name, bOys"-Bob
hesitated, and it seemed as if he had
some difficulty in speaking-''t THAT is, /
/ mean I've never met a girl like Annie
since"
Don't suppose yer have" said Mike
The time you knew how well off !
was. You see, 1 met her one time at a
swell reception, and we fell in love RICH,
away. Her father, Alexander Marbury
was rich merchant. He has retired
now, think. Well, he too, took a great
interest In me, and he treated me like
his own son. 1t was a New Years eve
TOO, ten years ago tonight, and Annie
and became engaged"
Bill turned his face away from his
two interested chums as If to conceal
a tear.
1.-THE devil must have been in me,
Bill resumed Il got away with lot OF
the firms money, and l had to skip. |
have never seen or heard Of her since,
but 1t must have broken her heart"
Quit, quit" said Mike whats the
nse Of crying over spilled milk? Maybe
she's better off without yer. Things
are -
Mikes remarks were cut short by the
chimes beginning TO peal forth Their
music.
Suddenly the figure of a man, with
unkempt beard, and dirty, ragged
clothes, hove in sight. He was singing
Ia a cracked, unmusical voice the quaint
melody of an old Scotch song. He stop
ped when he espied the three figures
IN the shadow Of the doorway.
"A happy New Year, ter We, me
gents" he cried, coming forward.
Scuse me, but | feel like Shalzin' hands
wild de whole world tonight, for de new
years comm. I've been cruising wild
bad luck in my days, but hope always
comes back ter me wild de new year
Shake, gents, shake"
And the rugged man shook the hands
Of three pickpockets with much warmth
and then resumed his way and his song.
There's the kind of a man yer want
10 initiate" said Mike, slapping Bill on
the back. Forget the old and begin the
new. But come, were wasting time
We got business on hand, and If we
don't get out of here the cops'u take us
M"
The three figures hurried out of the
doorway and mingled with the crowd
On Broadway
There's our game" whispered Mike.
''See that old bloke wild de old woman
that just passed us. His coats open and
we got a dandy chance for his watch
They kept close aC the old gentle
mans heels
Yer want ter work that, BILL said
Bob. yer better at watches than We
are. We're only good at pins
Bin declined the offer at first, but
finally consented to undertake the Job
The old gentleman and his companion
came to a halt at the corner of Wall
street, and rested their backs against a
railing in front of the corner building
The three picllpockets found positions
directly in front of him. Bill eagerly
watched his opportunity, and when the
old gentleman was busy gazing up at
he Trinity church Steeple, Bill deity
extracted his watch from his pocket
and moved away. But the old gentle
man had become aware Of some move
ment In the neighborhood Of his watch
pocket, and on CHANGING down and see
ing his chain dangling and the precious
timepiece gone, he set up yell for the
thief and In q moment the widest con.
fusion prevailed. Bill and his compan-
IONS had gained considerable Roadway
however, and We're out of sight before
the real situation dawned upon the
crowd
About half an hour later Bill and his
companions had found refuge in Their
headquarters, a dirty, vile smelling
bar-roOm in Water street.
well, fish it out and let's see what
the case is WORTH said Mike eagerly
when they were alone in the back
room.
An exclamation of surprise was utter
ed by all as Bill laid the gold watch
on the table.
'0That's worth five hundred to us a