Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-06-16
A SAD PICKPOCKET.
"HOOT" DONEGAN'S STORY OF HIS
MOST RECENT AFFLICTlON.

Ran After n Hanson and Wasted Nearly
Lay In Pursuit of n Bogus Pearl-Lone
Chances at n 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, the
puller in at the clothing store two doors
from the corner, having held up in vain
twc sailors and one armed soldier left
his postto inquire the cause Of the pick
pockets woe.
"What's tho matter, Hoot?" be asked.
Donegan, the pickpoclSet, known on
the row as Hoot, glanced up at Silver
stein, grunted out an oath, and then
letting his head fall on his breast again
rolapsed into silence
"What is it, Hoot?"
ClINGlSUClu Was SIoWlhS CulAOuo' liz
had done light fingered work for time
himself and knew something of the
changing conditions Of mans life
when he made himself an offensive en-
envy of society.
"See that, jew" said the pickpocket,
hauling a scarfpin from his vest pocket.
1t was short gold pin, topped with
huge pearl of that rare virgin pink.
1t seemed to be valuable bit, and Sill
verstein s eyes glistened as he looked at
it.
"Talze 1t to Cooney," he said In a
whisper. "He's Safe
Tho pickpocket laughed IN hollow
fashion. "Too safe," he said. Then he
Strengthened up, threw his hat back on
his head and said:
"Silverstein, in these days man like
me ain got no license to live. What's
the skill of my hand, that can take most
anything from a screw stud to scarf
pin from man without his knowing it,
against the brain of man that can
make them things?'
care you nutty, Hoot?" inquired the
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, l
was out spotting today, and finally
along comes Teller that sized up fer
my meat. He was a dressy guy, with
all color ribbons on his hat and them
spready soles on his shoes. He had big
pinl, necl1tie on, and in it this here pin
was stuck. From the size of his chain,
l said to myself that the punkin on the
end of it must be bird, but when see
that pink pearl l decided to let the
watch 20 and make for that.
"Well, he was nervous cnss, and
couldn't get chance at him fer long
time. 1 followed him up Broadway and
laid for him outside o restaurant while
he took lunch. Then he met q lady, and
they took more lunch together. When
he came out, the two took a hanson,
and I hear him say to the driver,
Around tho 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
| waited there, Jew, and then see the
hanson and runs off two pounds afol'
lowing it down town. My man. he leaves
the lady at honse, then drives to the
corner of Broadway and starts walking
down slowly. Now, says l to myself,
I've got him. But didn't get him.
lie meets friend and they 60 and play
billiards fer two more hours. Well,
was busting, l was so mad, but l made
up my mind to stick. Isoe dozen juicy
chances 20 by, but I couldn 1T leave thai
pink pearl. My eyes watered at think
ing of it and my fingers itohed for it
I By and by ,ay man comes out, and hi
and his friend go in saloon, one OF
them places whore you stand up at
sideboard. l followed and just as
my man lifts glass up to drink
push against his friend. The frien(
pushes against him, and he turns around
I was waiting Of course, and next min
ute the pearl was mine. 1t was Ions
chance jew, but you know feller'l
take them once in awhile. When the
guy turns around, l was chewinga sand
witch from the counter and bawling t(
the waiter for a check.
"Well, the gny misses the pin. Damn
me if l know what put him on. You
know don't mess job like that, jew
Ny heart was a-going hard, jew, but
almost falls over when see him put hi
hand up to the tie, feel around and then
! q l,n11nri,sfy ,,,11r1or r,nIJpn
watch and dozen other things, just grill
and say to his friend. 'Some sucker s go
gold brick.
"There was mo with the pin III nl'
palm all ready to drop it in the salad Oh
the counter. When he don't make hol
Ter, though, snakes her back in m.
pocket and in. two minutes am on thu
way down to Cooney.
IT saw easy times and no chances fe,
couple Of weeks OH the strength Of tina
pearl, Jew, and when tossed it over tt
Cooney said, Give me $3.50, quartz
value Cooney whistles at the pin ani
picks it up. Then he begin to lool
Queer Finally he dips the pearl in 1
glass of water and, picking up knife
E'help me, goes peeling off that pinl
color 'Cooney,' yell, what arc yo'
doing? Fish glue, says Cooney. An'
he throws the pin back.
"Well, it was one of them fish glu
pearls. You've seen 'em-just a bit o
glass painted over with fish glue, jus
ringers for the real thing, but wortl
about so cents. I walks out of Cooney'
in u trance. comes over here and
amt moved fer an hour. Think of it
Jew, think of it, all day and lon'
chance fer that thing! Take it and Civ
it to yer gal the next time you go up tt
Jones woods. 'S'holp me, if [ ever fin'
thnt .ruv [ tnuchnl for that III nick