The representative., 1901-04-11
The Story Of the
REFORMED
PICKPOCKET

The plain clothes policeman wormed his
way through the crowd. keeping his eyes
closely fixed on q we'll dressed man Just
ahead of him.
Il know that face. I'm certain" the Off
Ger remarked to himself. Il know we'll
enough l have seen him shown up at
Central times, and / think we took him
down once and had him mugged. He's
pickpocket, I'm certain, and one of the best
in the business I'll just keep my lamps
on him and when he tries his funny work
I'll pinch him.
pers in State street went the policeman and
his prey. Several times the officer saw his
man acting as though he had his hand in
some one else's pocket, but each time the
man sided away apparently without taking
anything. One time the policeman was GER
tain he had caught him in the act and
hastily stepping to the side of a man in
whose pockets he had seen the pickpocket
slip his hand said: You've just had your
pocket picked, sir; what have you lost?'
The man excitedly slipped his hand in his
pocket. Then he brought it up with a
puzzled expression. Why" he said, 1--WE
lost nothing but here's a dollar bill that
wasn't there before"
The policeman was amazed, but his sup
posed pickpocket on whom he had kept his
eyes liked was going on down the street
and there was danger of losing him; so the
policeman, with a hurried "all right, then,"
fastened on after his prey. He saw the man
slip his hand in the outside pocket of a
plainly dressed man limping along on
crutches. The policeman stepped up to the
cripple and asked: Have you lost any
thing? Feel in your pocket"
The cripple felt in his pocket and pulled
up SIS bill. Why" he said in mingled
Joy and surprise, 'how came that there?
didn't know it was there
Oh you must have made mistake and
SliDD0Q 0f p1,tf
back In your pocketbook," said the police
man, impatiently.
Affairs had taken such strange turn
that he couldn't pretend to understand them
and he was losing his temper.
but haven't a cent in the world" said
the cripple, that is, mean, haven't much
money. and don't suppose have right
to this.'
20. that's all right" put in the policeman
Il know how you got 1t. 1t was little
present. It's yours all right enough. Keep
1t for your Christmas present.
The policeman hurried away again after
his strange pickpocket. Hes the Queerest
kind Of pickpocket / ever heard Of said
the policeman. "Of course, this is some
new kind OF graft, but 1 don't see where
he makes his money out of it. What kind
Of game is this, anyhow
He followed on behind his man and saw
the latter slip a bill into q ragged boys
pocket linen ne next saw him slip bright
piece OF silver into the reticule OF poorly
dressed woman. Then he stepped up to his
man and touched him on the shoulder.
The man gave q guilty start and turned
pale. Then he regained his self possession
and asked: We'll, what do you want of
me?''
II am q police Officer said the police
man. II have q notion to arrest you as a
Suspicious character
i've done nothing wrong" said the man.
= "Come into this side street, out of the crowd,
where we can talk.
The two walked down the side street, and
the man said: Nov, then, officer, what
have done wrong?"
"WeH," said the policeman, II think l
remember your face as that of former
pickpocket. I saw you today with your
hands in other peoples pockets. We arrest
men for that"
DO you know that picked anybody's
pocket?" asked the man.
NO." replied the policeman. "Rut see
here. You're up to some game I want to
know what 1t is, that's all. You tell me Or
I'll pinch -yoa.''
III you have spoken to any Of the people
In whose pockets you have seen mo put my