New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-17
a FEMININE ERROR.
It Involves Handsome Girl, Ragged Boy
and a Policeman.

1T was on Twentieth-st.," said the man "She
was very handsome. IN the impertous style and
she was dressed-I couldn't say how but II vas +ha
real thing. She was walking with another girl
talking animatedly. and noticed that Tor sbop1in-
bag, which hung from her arm. was open I was
debating whether I'd get an Icy stare Tor nv mains
II called her attention to the fact when .ba
leisurely drew her handkerchief from the bag Ieav
ing It open. The next instant she gave a startled
exclamation
e Why, she said where's that ten-doIlar hill 7
had? Don't you remember Cora I got one in
change when paid for those flowers. and nut IL
right in here with my handkerchief. It must have
dropped out, and somebody suppose picked II IN
Both girls turned and looked along the pave
rnent quaked, for 1 walking Just behind
them, but my good clothes probably saved me. A
htte further 70 the rear a diminutive news
boy. who had good clothes TO protect him from
suspicion. Him the two girls swooped down upon
Boy, said the first one. in a tone of severe
accusation. did you happen to find any money on
the pavement Just now?'
so BILL said the other girl, breathlessly.
II you'll give it up Wen let you 60 but If you
don't we'll have to call policeman
The boy did not wait TO answer. At the word
policeman he cIutched his papers and silently and
swiftly departed for the nearest alley. To the
young this was indubitabe proof OF his
guilt Stop" they chorused stop thief, Oh
won't somebody please stop himT
Several passersby had paused TO what the
matter was and among them two young men As
I told you. the girl handsome, Both young
Immediately gave chase the boy and
brought him back between them. They held to
him vallantly ard looked nj the girl She
warded them with a charming smile. and ad-
dressed herself to the prisoner, adjuring him
give the money up at once on pain OF being
rested.
''The boy nluttered something IN italian Nobody
understood him, though by compact little
knot Of Mt least fifty people had collected. Some
body said Why. he's nothing but baby Some
body else said, Yes but with these Stun children
you never can tell They'll steal IN their cradles
The handsome girls companion. the other girl.
said, Oh Resale call policeman" but. usual
there no policeman In sight. The young men
who guarded the boy suggested that there might
be one in SiXth-are.. and We began 10 move toward
that thoroughfaTe. We were crowd of about
a hundred people. and stiu growing. Public opin-
ion seemed 10 be against the boy. though old
woman did remark thar any woman who carried
her money IN an open bag deserved 10 lose IT,
Tho handsome girl heard her, and said haughtIy
that she always carried her bag open; II
convenient EmbOldened by the old woman's
temerity. 1 ventured TO observe aside that
wouldn't blame tho boy much II he did have the
money; he looked Il he needed IT, Several peo-
pie looked at me askance. and well dressed man
with a penduous chin muttered, Humph! An
archist
Up TO this time the prisoner had remained ap-
parently petriaed in the hands or his captors but
Just or Sixth-ave something happened which re-
vived flicker Of lie in his breast A woman pre-
cipitated herself into the crowd brisk woman
IN short skirts, with a notebook
" w hats the matter here she demanded
'HaIf dozen people told her the story and she
wrote down several sentences in her notebook
Your name. please she said 10 the handsome
- The girl reared her chin 7 don't know she
D.. o i-''y ThsS al, isn't you have 70 ask my name
The BOYS tattered jacket and took the number ~
lA4S utGAr- NOW. my boy. she told him
make any trouble for you Wi look ont for you
And r,;e was gone as abruptly as she came. Who
Wa she No one appeared 10 know. A husky
iiyc on ne gls@ - Ise SIo|t remarked ienta-
girl said 20 the other girl. What outrageous
Re 6do and Sd srs that she didn't see where all
but at the corner OF sl1th-avs. at last police
man was found. He listened 20 tho handsome girls
story a Z i. took charge Of the accused sI
10 make eempiaiat ngai5t ' , hq bow At you want
III have TO trouble you 70 90 the police station
protesting shrek. Oh. I don't want 20 DO that
2du Ea. sa4 r. 70 h Es rFS hsre{ back Why can't
cant DO that. miss, III have 10 ask you to go
Accordingly We started or in procession. the
boy, the TWO girls and the two sympathetic young
officer had frightened Of US on with his baton
out-.tra2iling along IN the rear We ha4 gone abou,
thrust her hand into some hidden opening in her
rious handkerchieSs about her person With tie
handkerchief came little wad OF green paper. It
1t up ana handed It to the girl It was so bin
Well said the mans vis-a-vis. 20 whom he
telling the story at luncheon. what happened
ther?''
"Oh. nothing much. The girl flushed up and
stanmered. and said why she was sure she put
that bin In her bag; how could it have happened?
The Disguised officer released the small boy, who
Immediately and expedItlousy disappeared from
view. The sympathetic young men seemed sud |
denly lose interest in the handsome girl. and
strOlled away up SiXth-avs The girl called Cora
said. Oh good gracious, Rosale! and made for the
entrance Of the nearest department store. The
handsome girl. locking rather less imperous than
she had he BEGINNING OF the incident, hastily
followed suit The rest OF US went our several
ways"
''if YOU mean 10 imply by that story said the
mans vis-a-vis. who woman. that it's fem
mine rush at conclusions could tell you tale
about a man that more than matches yours.
"Oh, no: 7 don't TO imply that said the
man. II only thought the incident rather human, |
and ~, urh1 l ~ YOU