Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-06-30


Picket pursued his new hat and rescued
il from the gutter, much damaged and
covered with mud. A passing good Sa-
maritan stopped and said to him:
There's halter couple Of doors
up the street there He will brush it of
and touch it up with the iron, and it
will be all right
Thank you, said Picket, and he re-
paired to the hatter's. When he had his
hat pC lished, he stood upon the doorstep
for iuCment, and, not wishing again
to expose his hat to the fury Of the ele-
ments, he determined 10 step into .
friendly restaurant next door, where he
would wait until the storm was over He
went in, seated himself at table, hung
up his hat on one of the hooks over his
head, ordered sandwich and began to
look over the paper But he could not
take his mind away from the satirical
welcome which he knew his wife would
extend 10 him when he returned with
his damaged hat. However, the Rubicon
had to be crossed. The rain had ceased.
He rose, and, still rejecting on his
wife's reception, took q hat from the
hook and was about to go when two
walters came up to him and grabbed him
by the collar.
Now we've got him, said one.
Yes" said the other; we've got
him now. This is the fellow who has
been stealing hats"
Picket paralyzed with astonishment,
protested. What! steal hats!' he
said What do you mean!"
You will have an opportunity 10 ex
plain this at the police station, was
the reply, and the proprietor, who had
whistled for policeman at the door,
turned him over TO the hands of blue
coated guardian Of the peace. The un-
fortunate Picket was yanked along the
street. followed by u crowd Of passers-
10y. who applauded his arrest, and
number Of street boys, who signiiied
their disar ruval more forcibly by hurl-
ing mud at him. When the party
reached Tie police station, the proprietor
Of the restaurant made his complaint to
the sergeant there.
That's the man, said he. For tn,
last t,,o we, * some scoundrel has been
conf To my restaurant, and whenever
he - out somebody misses hat. We
have been watching for him. Now
we've got him There he is. This IL the
thief We caught him in the very act.
But was simply mistaken in the
hat" cried Picket. If were stealing
hat. would have two here, but |
haven't. This is not mine. but you Will
find mine hanging On the hook. "
Eyes, said the restaurant man. Il
know. Ordinarily you We're in the
habit Il carrying gripsack in which
you put the ether hat. This time you
came without il. "
But am an honest man. persisted
the unfortunate Picket. Il am well
known. Let the officer 90 10 my house
and he will see. He gave his name
and his address, and the sergeant, way-
ering in the face of his protestations,
sent an officer 20 accompany him To the
address given. In about half an hour
the officer returned, bearing an cnOr.
nous pile Of hats
Here sergeant, said the latter.
"see what found in the fellow house.
His wife had gone out, and 1t was the
servant who let me i'll. y
well, " said the sergeant severely,
looking at the accused person. "do you
still deny that you are hat thief
gazing at the gigantic pile Of hats.
Il deny it, | deny 1t in toto, said
the unfortunate Picket. Il bought these
hats. don't wear them, but bought
them.
You don't wear them. What in the
world can you do with % hats"
We'll, my wife has always told me to
sell them TO an old clothes man. | never
think If il. am so forgetful. Why, to-
day even forgot my umbrella l never
had any head. y
You have no head? What do you
want with - hats, them"
But at this moment weeping wom-
an entered the police station. II was
Mrs. Picket. She had heard from the
servant Of the plight in which her luck
less husband was placed and came and
told the police sergeant who he was and
that the hats were really his. But was
Picket grateful To her? Hardly. be
wished thousand times that she had
not heard about his misadventure and
that he had succeeded in going through
all the pains and horrors Of a police
court far rather than that she should
find him there with the 2S hats-2o
mute witnesses Of her superior Judgment
staring him i'll the face. He said To him
self mentally, Never shall l hear the
last Of those 2S hats. " he never did In
fact, he got it morning noon and night
He had il with breakfast, lunch and
dinner. he had it with his soup. he
had it with his nightcap. He had 1t
with his morning slippers. And when
ever the rain began falling and poor
Picket would incautiously say, What
dreadful weather. Yes" Mrs. Picket
would reply, exactly the same kind Of
day as when You got rid OF your ~
hats San Francisco Argonaut-