The Winslow mail., 1899-10-05

gathered up my rug and umbrella and
prepared TO move toward the door.
No, you don't, my mani said Mrs.
Scoble, rising and taking possession of
the door by the simple process of
thrusting half of her ample person
through the window.
Il saw at once that the game was
up.
That man has picked my pocket,
said Mrs. Scoble, as soon as the police
man opened the door. Search him and
you'll find my purse in his possession.
1t is marked "A. d. S. and has four FIVE
pound notes, two sovereigns, and some
change in it, besides my ticket
What do you say to this?' the po-
liceman asked me, evidently impressed
with the certainty of my guilt.
Simply that it isn't true replied.
L know nothing of the lady's purse,
and L can easily convince you that am
a respectable person.
Ny EoodnessI, exclaimed my ac-
QDmp otter OIL CODSt0plG pG Die:
dumb after ALL Constable, he pre-
tended to be deaf and dumb. That
shows what a scoundrel he ISL
Il rose up to follow the policeman,
and my foot struck against something
that was lying on the floor of the car
riage. L stopped and picked it up. 1t
was the missing purse.
is that your purse, madam
asked, as L held it up. You must have
dropped it when you were looking out
of my window.
L wouldn't advise you to play that
game any MORE said the policeman,
severely. Let me tell you, sir, that if
you travel under false pretenses you
needn't be surprised if you find your
self in trouble. You'll have to give me
your name and address, in case any
thing more comes of this
II gave him my address as soon as
1 could get away from the carriage,
and at the same time gave him sur
reptitious five shillings and asked him
not to give my name to Mrs. Scoble.
Il saw Scoble on the platform as the
train drew up at Greencroft, but he
did not see me, for 1 had concealed
myself behind the curtains of the car
riage. l watched him until his back
was turned and then sprang out and
bolted into the cloakroom, which was
close at hand. | had hoped to remain
there until Scoble had left the station,
but l was disappointed. The porter in
attendance, finding that had no par
ticular business with him, Immediate
ly suspected me of designs upon the
property under his charge and told me
that L must not stay in the cioakroom.
tried bribery, but the action only
confirmed his suspicion, and he rough
ly ordered me to go about my busi-
ness or he would have me arrested.
Just then Scoble spied me.
why, here you are, after all!' he
been?
The niece had returned, and was
standing looking in bewilderment, first
at me and then at her uncle. Suddenly
she took in the full meaning of the
situation, and, after saying to me: is
this Mr.. Johnston? burst into uncon-
trollable laughter.
"There never was anything so con-
tagious and irresistible as that laugh
since the world began, and the flash
of the girls mischievous eyes would
have made John Calvin smile even in
the act of burning a hereto. l could
not help it, but in another moment /
found myself joining in the girls laugh
ter, while Scoble stood and gazed at
us with an almost frightened express
sion.
''The niece was the first to speak.
Uncle she said, there has been a mis-
take that would have been perfectly
awful if Mr.. Johnston had not been
real humorist and seen the funny
side of it. Auntie has driven home,
for she could not wait any longer, and
we will all three walk home together,
and you shall know all about it.
Il hesitated for second and then
said to myself that 1 would meet so
aunts sooner than say good-by to the
niece before l had convinced her that
L was not always stupid, and that !
could sometimes be other than a
nuisance. L not only walked home with
her and faced the dismayed and re-
pentant aunt, but l staid my full week
at Greencroft. When went away was
engaged to he married, and had al.
ready begun to call Mrs. Scoble aunt
partly to show her that l bore no NAL.
ice and partly by way of emphasizing
the triumph that the man whom she
had called stupid had won. Pail Mall.
just Cause for Tears.
The rain had ceased, but the little tot
still c+o - -