Evening star., 1900-10-13
AN ACCIDENTAL ROBBERY

'T happened to witness a humorous de-
nouement to a mild bit of skittishness on
the part Of young couple in New York
street car last week." said Washington
man who frequently visits the big town in
his capacity of buyer for one of the local
department stores. '"They looked like an
engaged couple-they were obviously not
married. for he was too attentive. They
chatted away at a great rate, and after he
had paid their fares his attention was at
Il acted by her pocket book, which had ra-
ther an ornate monogram design on its
outward side. He asked to have a look at
1t. and she archly demurred. telling him
that she was afraid he'd hold on to the
pocketbook for the vast wealth 1t contained
and that sort of fol-de-rol. He persisted In
wanting to look at the pocket book, and the
persisted in pretending to be afraid that
she wouldn't get it back II she handed it to
him. Finally he reached over and deftly
removed the pocket book from her grasp
She took this good-naturedly, and he ex-
amined the pocket book with a great show
Of interest while they talked OF It's points.
and she told all about her Uncle Joseph, who
had given 1t to her for her birthday, and
then the cart was Broadway cable car
jolted into a big truck, which caused little
screams from the women. and some notice.
able alarm among the men. This young
man in particular that I'm speaking Of alb
sent1mindedly slipped the young woman's
pocket book into the pocket Of his sack coat
in the excitement, and when the car went
ahead he had forgotten all about 1t, and
so had she. She took a transfer to go In
westerly direction on the Saith street
crosstown line Of cars, and he got or with
her at that point. They bade each other
goodbye. and then she went over to the
embarking point to take her car. ana ne
started up Broadway. I got or at Ath
street. too. and / watched the young wo-
man to see If she would miss her pocket
book before the young man got out Of sight
in the Broadway throng.
"Well she did miss 1t. She suddenly re-
leased her clutch on her skirt. stood stock
still. a funny expression Of alarm spread
over her features, and then I could see
that she suddenly remembered that the
young man she had been with had been the
last possessor Of her pocket book She
glanced hurriedly after him, and he was
just about to be swallowed up in the crowd
or strollers over the way on the corner.
She took after him wildly. calling his name.
He. of course. didn't hear her. and went
right on.
"Jack! Jaokr she called after him. oh.
my, won't anybody stop him.?
Now, It's az right to talk about the
or cities. but don't think there's a more
curious population in the United States
than that Of New York, nor any city where
a larger crowd can be more quickly got to-
gether to look upon some trivial thing. The
young woman continued to rush franticaily
after the young man, when half q dozen
men who had been watching her sprang
forward solicitously.
whats the matter miss" they in
quired.
"She was 80 excited that she could. only
exclaim. My pocket book! and point fren-
ziedly toward the young man, who was
swinging along close to the curb, by this
time up near 35th street
1.-The fellow with the big soft hat? the
half dozen soiicitous chaps asked her, and
she nodded excitedly.
'"The six men took up Broadway, pell.
nell. yelling Stop thief" with all Of their
lungs. When the young woman saw this
she leaned against a photographers show
case in a state of collapse, and unable to
follow after the men to explain. They con-
tinued to tear up Broadway, yelling Stop
thief! and Collar that duck with the big
white soft hat? and things like that, and
then twenty or thirty other biase Broad
way pedestrians of the male persuasion fol-
lowed in their trail. until there was hue
and cry after that innocent youth that
would have made him quake had he known
anything about it. But he didn't know
anything about 1t, and only wheeled around
when he heard the Stop thief! yells be-
hind him, when he looked up Broadway to
see II he could get the thief himself, and
started off at a canter. Then the pursuers
behind him were sure that he was bad
lot and they redoubled their shouts and
sprinted after him faster than ever. had
followed as fast as l could on the otner
side of Broadway, in order to see the out
come Of the funny predicament, and III
never forget the expression of surprise on
the young mans face when they 1a1d hoio
Of him and tugged and hauled at him and
came near pulling the sleeves out OF his
coat.
Trying that old gag Of Joining in the
chase and yelling Thief" yourself. heyT
said his captors to him. They dragged him
back in the direction Of Saith street. Wnlie
he struggled and protested that he didn't
know what allied them all. One Of them
finally reached a hand into the youths
sack coat pocket and pulled out the young
woman's pocket book, however. and held 1t
up to view.
"'Oh, no, you don't know what We've
nailed you for, do you" exclaimed this
chap. sarcastically. 'Yeu didn't annex this
pocket book from the girl down the street,
did you. hey?'
1T was plain that the young man remem-
bered all about the matter then, but he
didn't look joyous over the situation at all.
He was trying to explain the matter when
a huge red-mustached member OF the
Broadway squad came bounding through
the crowd and grabbed the worried-loo6ng
youth as II the latter were wriggling boa
constructor.
"'Come on wit me. youse,' said the po-
Hceman, gruffly, when the youth tried hard
to make an explanation. 'Youse can put up
all dat chaw t de sergeant.
Just then, however, the young woman
who had caused all Of the hubbub pushed
her way into the crowd and tried to tell
the policeman that it was all q mistake,
while her captive young man scowled and
glared at her.
"'Wot's mistaken demanded the police
man. Didn't dis guy cop youse's rollT
Hey, we seen him do 1T ourselves! put
in a number Of the chaps who had been
with the pursuing party. The young woman
finally contrived to get hearing, however.
and the policeman reluctantly permitted
the youth to go, although 1T was plainly to
be seen that he considered she was trying
to shield him for some unknown reason,
and 1t was just as plain that the crowd
around considered him to be q purse
snatcher. despite the young woman's story.
THE two walked down 34th street to-
gether the young man gesticuiating eio-
quently and the young woman weeping
softly"
THE LAST LAUGH.