The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-06-27
:::: BY 3. L. FARJEoN.

4
theft having horror Of police courts,
but when he met the lad and Little
Make-B Believe in the street, lac laid his
hand upon the girls shoulder and de-
tained her.
"You shouldn't be seem" he said,
with that young thief. He'll make
yer as bad as he is himself"
Here, slash thatp' cried Foxey,
while Little Make-Believe looked from
one to the other in fear and trembling.
Jest you mind yer own business, and
let Make Believe mind her'n."
you know I'm yer friend" said
Thomas Dexter, still addressing Little
Make Believe. THAT little villain there
stole a mirror from me, and when he
was caught shivered it to bits"
Foxey laughed loudly and malicious
| ", which caused Thomas Dexter to
exclaim, II could have had him locked
up for it."
"WeIl," retorted Foxey, defiantly,
why didn't yer? don't care for being
llocke6up. You're too much OF a sneak,
that's what you are. Yah! / say,
gov'ner, how much was that bit of
glass worth?"
at was worth half sovereign, you
rascal"
ut would have paid yer to give me
bob rather than have it broke, wouldn't
it,"
Eyes, it would"
"Why didn't you say so, then? a.
ways agreeable, goy'ner, to take any
think that's give to me. Sos Make
Believe, amt yer?"
But between these two stools Little
Make Believe was too frightened to
speak.
Il amt good enough for Make Be
lieve, amt I? Oh, no, not bit Of it.
There's bobby. Give me in charge
don't care! You amt got the sperrit
Of mouse, that's what you amt got.
Look here, Make Believe, I'll git a silk
hat and velvet westcut, and then I
shall be good enough to walk along
side YER Crikeyl what honor!''
And off walked Foxey, initiating the
gait of members of fashionable circles.
Before another twenty-four hours
had passed over his head, Thomas Dex-
ter had further experience Of Foxey.
He missed a small! piece of ivory,
carved into the hideous unlikeness of
a human being-one Of those Chinese
monstrosities which many persons, who
should know better. believe belongs to
high art.
He could not imagine where it had
got to. 1t was on his counter for few
minutes, during which no suspicious
person had been in the shop.
While he was hunting about and per-
picking himself over his loss, he saw
Foxey grinning in his shop windows.
He went to the door to hunt the
scamp away, when Foxey, touching his
cap with mock respect, said:
Il say, guv'nor, does yer want to
buy reg'lar keuriosimosity 2"
BE off with yer, yer 'vagabond,"
cried Thomas Dexter.
Don't be so uppy; amt CANNON
ing, shelp me later It's the FUNNIEST
bit of ivory you ever sor'-Thomas
Dexter pricked up his ears-"with a
face good deal ugiier nor mine, and
ears as large as his head. Come, now,
what'E yer give for it?"
Have yer got it about yer?'
"Not mel A particular friend of
mine found It in dust cart. Honor
bright and shiningl Win yer give half
a dollar for it?''
"Ill give yer a shilling" said Thomas
dor1t 10 44oT<~
was his own.
"A bobl Well, you are a mean cuss!
But you shall have it. | say, honor
among thieves, you know"
Bring it to me, and you shall have
your shilling"
Foxey departed, and In the course of
an hour returned with the ivory carv-
ing, for which, in a state of great in
dignation, Thomas Dexter gave him
shilling.
This kind Of persecution might have
developed into something serious for
Dexter, had not stop been put to it
by Foxey being taken into custody,
and put upon his trial for an unblush-
ing theft committed on a tradesman,
who was less tender of police courts
than the old curiosity dealer.
Foxey's proceedings at his trial were
the cause Of a great many leading arti-
cles in the newspapers.
He conducted his own defense with
extraordinary impudence and shrewd-
ness, and pleaded that he stole the
goods for the simple purpose Of pur-
chasing "a silk hat and velvet west
cut" SO that he might "cut reg'lar
swell"
AS further proof Of his efrrontery
and absolute recklessness, he called
Thomas Dexter as witness Of char
acter.
Loath as he was, Thomas Dexter
was compelled to appear in the witness
box and tell all he knew of Foxey, his
evidence being enlivened by the pris-
cner's running commentaries, to some
such effect as the following: "oh. what
whopperI'' Where do you expect
to go fer running down innocent
chap like that?' do yer know the
meaning of a oath?" "Oh, you out
and-out old sinner"
The trial was one of those which nre
4 occasionally made the medium of an
! Interchange Of much small wit be-
tween bar and bench, and Foxey's re-
marks were provocative Of convulsive
! laughter, in which the hardened young