Rock Island Argus., 1898-04-06
A SAD PICKPOCKET.
"HOOT" DCNEGAN'S STORY OF HIS
MOST RECENT AFFucTION.

Day In Prasuit of Bogus Pesrl-Long
Chances al q Free Lunch Counter-No
Prosperity For Him Now.
The pickpocket stood on the corner
looking very disconsolate. His coat col
lar was turned up, his hands were thrust
down into his pockets, and his hat was
tilted forward until the rim was almost
level with his eyes. Silverstein, tine
puller in at the clothing store two doors
from the corner, having held up in vain
| two sailors and one armed soldier, left
his Pest to inquire the cause Of the pick
pockets woe.
what S the matter, Hoot:" he asked.
Donegan, the pickpocket, known on
tie row as Hoot, glanced up at Silver
stein, grunted out an oath, and then
letting his head fall On his breast again
! relapsed into silence.
"What is it, Hoot:''
Silverstein was growing curious. He
had done light fingered work for time
himself and knew something of the
changing conditions CT mans life
| when he made himself an offensive en-
eny Of society.
'See that, jew" said the pickpocket,
hauling scarfpin from his vest pocket.
1t was q short gold pin, topped with
q huge pearl Of that rare virgin pink
1t seemed to be q valuable bit, and Sill
verstein eyes slistened as he looked at
it.
"Tako it to Cooney," he said in a
whisper. Hes safe
The piclpocliet laughed in hollow
fashion. "Tco safe" he said. Then he
Strengthened up threw his hat back on
his head and said:
"Silvcrstein, in these days q man like
me amt got no license to live. What s
the skill of my hand, that can take most
anything from screw stud to a scarf
pin from man without his knowing it,
against the brain Of a man that can
make them thiugs:"
care you nutty, Hoot?" inquired tie
puller in, edging away.
"No, Jew. no: but listen to me. You
know the hotels are my graft and this
region down here my market Well,
was out spotting today, and finally
| along comes q feller that sized up fer
my meat. lie was dressy guy, with
all color ribbons on his hat and them
! spTeady soles on his shoes. He had big
! pink nociltie on, and in it this here pin
was stuck. From the size Of his chain,
1 said to myself that the punkin on tho
end Of it mast be bird, but when l see
that pink pearl 1 decided to let the
watch go and make for that.
| well, he was a nervous cuss, and
couldn' get q chance at him fer long
time. ! followed him up Broadway and
laid Tor him outside restaurant while
he took lunch. Then he net lady, and
they took more lunch together. When
he came out, the two took a hanson,
and l hear him say TO the driver,
Around the park Well, l follow the
hanson to the park, and, seeing which
entrance it goes in, lay around the cir
Gle for it to come out again. Two hours
L waited there, jew, and then | see the
hanson and runs of two pounds a-fol-
lowing; ii down town. My man, he leaves
I the lady 1T q house, then drives to the
corner Of Broadway and starts walking
down slowly. Now, says 1 to myself
I've got him But didn't get him
He meets friend, and they go and play
billiards fer two more hours. Well,
was busting, was SO mad, but ! made
up my mind to stick. Isee dozen juicy
chances go by, but couldn't leave that
pink pearl. My eyes watered at think
ing of it and my fingers itched for it.
BY and by my man comes out, and he
and his friend so i'll saloon, one Of
them places where you stand up at q
lsideboard. / followed and Just as
my man lifts glass up to drink
lpush against his friend. The friend
pushes against him, and he turns around.
was waiting, Of course, and next min
ute the pearl was mine. 1t was long
chance, Jew, but you know a feller'll
take them once in awhile. When the
guy turns around, Twas chewing sand
lwich from the counter and bawling to
the waiter for q check.
"Well, tho gpy misses the pin. Damn
me if know what put him on. You
know don't mess job like that, jew
My heart was a-going hard, Jew, but l
almost falls over when see him put his
hand up to the tie, feel around and then,
instead Of hollering murder, police,
watch and dozen other things just grin
and say to his friend, Some suckers got
a gold brick
There was me with the pin in re
palm all ready to drop it in the salad Oh
the counter. When nc don't make hol-
Ter, though, snakes her back in my
pocket and in two minutes am Oh the
way down to Cooney.
II saw easy times and no chances fer
a couple OF weeks on the strength Of that
pearl, Jew, and when l tossed it over to
Cooney said, Give me $3.50, quarter
VALUE Cooney whistles at the pin and
picks it up. Then he begin to look
queer Finally he dips the pearl in a
glass Of water and, picking Up knife,
s'help me, goes peeling off that pinl;
color. 'Cooney,' 1 yell, what are you
doing? Fish glue, says Cooney. And
he throws the pin back.
well, it was one Of them fish glue
pearls. You've seen 'em-just bit OF